Spinal axis imaging in non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a prospective cohort study

Nontraumatic Nonaneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Risk Factors, Complications, and Clinical Outcomes

Background The present study aimed to investigate the risk factors, complications, and clinical outcomes of patients with nontraumatic, nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (NNSAH).

Methods We retrospectively evaluated 78 consecutive patients with NNSAH admitted to our center between April 2009 and April 2019. Patients were divided into two groups based on the distribution of blood in the CT scan, perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage ( PM-SAH) and nonperimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage (nPM-SAH) groups. The outcome was assessed according to the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS). The demographic data and clinical records including age, sex, smoking history, hypertension, diabetes, history of anticoagulant medication, Glasgow coma score (GCS), Hunt–Hess (HH) grades, and in-hospital complications and clinical outcomes were retrospectively reviewed and compared between the two groups.

Results There were 45 patients (57.69%) in the PM-SAH group and 33 cases (42.30%) in the nPM-SAH group with the mean age of 53.98 ± 7.7 years. There were no significant differences between the two groups based on age, sex, smoking history, diabetes, hypertension, anticoagulation medication history, and HH grade at admission. The nPM-SAH group was significantly associated with a higher incidence of radiological and clinical vasospasm (p < 0.05). Moreover, the need for external ventricular drainage (EVD) placement because of the development of hydrocephalus was significantly higher in the nPM group (p < 0.05). Patients with PM-SAH had better clinical outcomes than those with nPM-SAH (p = 0.037).

Conclusions Our results showed that patients with nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (NSAH) had favorable clinical outcomes. The PM group had better clinical outcomes and lower complication rates in comparison with the nPM group. Repeated digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examinations are strongly recommended for patients with nPM-SAH.

Ruptured Thoracolumbar Perimedullary Arteriovenous Fistula during Pregnancy Complicated by Cerebral Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Brainstem Hematoma: A Case Report

Intradural spinal arteriovenous fistulas (sAVF) are spinal vascular lesions that usually manifest due to myelopathy or local symptoms caused by venous congestion and ischemia. In addition, perimedullary arteriovenous fistulas (PMAVF) in particular may rupture and cause subarachnoid or intramedullary hemorrhage along with relevant symptoms. Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) can propagate into cranial space with clinically dominant symptoms and signs of typical aneurysmal intracranial SAH. The standard workup for cerebral SAH, after excluding an intracranial source of hemorrhage, is usually limited to a cervical spine MRI; therefore, thoracolumbar sources of hemorrhage can be missed, or their diagnosis may be delayed. Here we present a case of a pregnant patient who presented with cerebral SAH. The source of hemorrhage was not initially identified, leading to a presumptive diagnosis of benign pretruncal non-aneurysmal SAH. The correct diagnosis of spinal thoracolumbar PMAVF was revealed 2.5 months later due to the progression of local symptoms. While the diagnosis was being refined and endovascular treatment was being planned (but delayed due to pregnancy), there was a recurrence of intraconal hemorrhage followed by brainstem hemorrhage. This led to significant clinical deterioration. The PMAVF was then treated microsurgically and the patient experienced partial recovery.

Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in a Patient with a Co-Existent Posterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm and Cervical Spine Aneurysm Associated with Ventral Arterio-Venous Fistula

Severe spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is predominantly caused by aneurysm rupture, with non-aneurysmal vascular lesions representing only a minority of possible causes. We present the case of a 58-year old lady with a coincidental posterior communicating artery (PCom) aneurysm and a high cervical spine arterio-venous fistula associated with a small ruptured aneurysm. After the emergency clipping of the PCom aneurysm, additional diagnostic procedures—repeated digital subtraction angiography and spinal magnetic resonance imaging, revealed the actual cause of the SAH, a type-A ventral intradural fistula at cervical level C2/3. The fistula was treated micro surgically via a ventral approach using C3 somatectomy and C2-4 stabilization after the initial failure of endovascular therapy. Furthermore, the patient was treated for complications associated with severe SAH, including acute hydrocephalus and meningitis. In cases where the SAH pattern and perioperative findings do not suggest an intracranial aneurysm as the source of SAH, further diagnostic investigation is warranted to discover the real cause. Patients with severe non-aneurysmal SAH require a similar algorithm in diagnosing the cause of the hemorrhage as well as complex conditions such as ruptured aneurysms.

CT angiogram negative perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage: is a subsequent DSA necessary? A systematic review

Background

Perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage (PMSAH) is a benign subtype with distinct clinical-radiologic features. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) remains the gold standard investigation for exclusion of a macrovascular cause, although increasingly more clinicians rely solely on CT angiography (CTA). The primary aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the current literature regarding the negative predictive value of CTA.

Methods

A systematic search in concordance with the PRISMA checklist was performed for studies published between 2000 and 2018. Studies with ≥10 adult patients diagnosed on a non-contrast brain CT with a PMSAH, who underwent a negative CTA and were subsequently subject to a DSA, were included. Simple pooled analysis was performed to inform the negative predictive value (95% CI) of CTA and the risk of DSA- and CTA-related complications.

Results

Eighteen studies (669 patients) were included. All patients were subject to at least one DSA, the first one mostly performed within 24 hours of CTA (68.6%). 144 patients (21.5%) underwent a second DSA and a third repeat DSA was performed in one patient. The overall negative predictive value of CTA was 99.0% (95% CI 97.8% to 99.5%). The risk of complications following DSA and CTA were 1.35% (3/222) and 0% (0/41), respectively.

Conclusions

Undertaking a DSA after a negative CTA may not add any further diagnostic value in patients with PMSAH and may lead to net harm. This observation needs to be validated in a large-scale prospective multicenter study with complete case ascertainment and robust data on CTA and DSA complications.

MRI-detection rate and incidence of lumbar bleeding sources in 190 patients with non-aneurysmal SAH

BACKGROUND

Up to 15% of all spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAH) have a non-aneurysmal SAH (NASAH). The evaluation of SAH patients with negative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is sometimes a diagnostic challenge. Our goal in this study was to reassess the yield of standard MR-imaging of the complete spinal axis to rule out spinal bleeding sources in patients with NASAH.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the spinal MRI findings in 190 patients with spontaneous NASAH, containing perimesencephalic (PM) and non-perimesencephalic (NPM) SAH, diagnosed by computer tomography (CT) and/or lumbar puncture (LP), and negative 2nd DSA.

RESULTS

190 NASAH patients were included in the study, divided into PM-SAH (n = 87; 46%) and NPM-SAH (n = 103; 54%). Overall, 23 (22%) patients had a CT negative SAH, diagnosed by positive LP. MR-imaging of the spinal axis detected two patients with lumbar ependymoma (n = 2; 1,05%). Both patients complained of radicular sciatic pain. The detection rate raised up to 25%, if only patients with radicular sciatic pain received an MRI.

CONCLUSION

Routine radiological investigation of the complete spinal axis in NASAH patients is expensive and can not be recommended for standard procedure. However, patients with clinical signs of low-back/sciatic pain should be worked up for a spinal pathology.

Combined surgical and endovascular treatment of complex high-flow conus medullaris arteriovenous fistula associated with Parkes Weber syndrome: case report

Parkes Weber syndrome (PWS) is a congenital overgrowth disorder characterized by unilateral limb and axial hypertrophy, capillary malformations of the skin, and high-flow arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs). Spinal AVFs in the setting of PWS are challenging vascular lesions that often contain multiple arteriovenous (AV) shunts. The present case report highlights an adolescent girl with PWS who presented with a ruptured complex high-flow conus medullaris AVF. She was successfully treated with endovascular embolization and microsurgery. At the 2-year follow-up, the patient remained free of neurological symptoms and had no recurrence of the vascular malformation.