Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Effectivity and safety of endovascular coiling versus microsurgical clipping for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There is an ongoing lack of consensus among clinicians regarding on the optimal aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) management approach between endovascular coiling and microsurgical clipping.

METHODS

Comprehensive literature search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted in Medline and Cochrane databases until January 1st, 2023 without language constraints. Effectivity outcomes included one-year mortality, one-year poor outcomes, and one-year complete aneurysmal occlusion, while safety outcomes comprised the incidence of vasospasms, rebleeding, post-operative complications, and cerebral ischemia.

RESULTS

Eight RCTs, involving 3585 aSAH patients, underwent comprehensive quantitative analysis. Among them, 1792 underwent endovascular coiling and 1773 patients had microsurgical clipping. Regarding effectivity, the rates of one-year mortality (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.61-1.03, p = 0.08) exhibited no significant difference. However, endovascular coiling demonstrated an inferior one-year complete aneurysmal occlusion rate (OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.21-0.53, p < 0.00001), although with significantly lower rates of poor outcomes (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.57-0.81, p < 0.00001) compared to the microsurgical clipping group. As for safety, endovascular coiling group exhibited lower rates of vasospasm (OR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.36-0.92, p = 0.02), post-operative complications (OR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.23-0.71, p = 0.02), and cerebral ischemia (OR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.20-0.63, p = 0.0004). No significant effect on the incidence of rebleeding was observed (OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.73-1.63, p = 0.68).

CONCLUSIONS

Endovascular coiling proves superior and safer for aSAH patients, but consideration of resources, patient condition, and surgeon preferences is crucial for selecting the optimal approach.

Management of neurological complications related to aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: A comparison of the bedside therapeutic algorithms

BACKGROUND

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is of the most serious emergencies in neurosurgical practice and continues to be associated with high morbidity and mortality. Beyond securing the ruptured aneurysm to prevent a rebleed, physicians continue to be concerned about potential complications such as cerebral vasospasm-delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), an area where management remains highly variable. This study aimed at reviewing the most recent literature and assessing any up-to-date schemes for treating the most common aSAH neurological complications in adults that can be applied in daily clinical practice towards optimising outcomes.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines on the management of aSAH neurological complications in adults. The literature surveyed was between 2016 and 2022 inclusive, using the Pubmed search engine. Comparisons between the methods suggested by existing therapeutic algorithms were discussed.

RESULTS

Six stepwise algorithms assisting the decision-making for treating cerebral vasospasm-DCI were recognised and compared. No algorithm was found for the management of any other neurological complications of aSAH. Despite differences in the algorithms, induced hypertension and endovascular therapy were common treatments in all approaches. Controversy in the therapeutic process of these complications surrounds not only the variability of methods but also their optimal application towards clinical outcome optimisation.

CONCLUSIONS

A universal approach to managing aSAH complications is lacking. Despite advances in the techniques to secure a ruptured aneurysm, there persist a high rate of neurological deficit and mortality, and several unanswered questions. More research is required towards stratification of current treatment algorithms as per the quality of their evidence.

Trends in Utilization of Temporary and Permanent Cerebrospinal Fluid Diversion and Catheter Cerebral Angiography for Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in the United States

INTRODUCTION

We sought to analyze the rate of utilization of methods of cerebrospinal fluid diversion over time in a nationally representative cohort of patients admitted with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

METHODS

The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried for patients admitted with aSAH from 2006 to 2018. Patients who received external ventricular drainage (EVD), lumbar drainage, ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS), and cerebral angiography were then identified. A Cochrane-Armitage test was conducted to assess the linear trend of proportions of EVD, lumbar drains, VPS, and mean cerebral angiograms per admission. Four regression analyses were conducted to infer the association of baseline variables to EVD, lumbar drain, VPS, and mean number of cerebral angiographies.

RESULTS

A total of 133,567 admissions were identified from 2006-2018 involving aSAH. Of these, 41.82% received EVD, 6.22% received lumbar drainage, 10.58% received VPS, and 75.03% had cerebral angiograms. There was an average upward trend of 1.57% in annual EVD utilization, downward trend of -0.28% in utilization of lumbar drainage, no changes in VPS utilization, and an upward trend of 0.04 angiograms per year (P < 0.001). There was a higher proportion of Black patients treated with EVD and VPS in both urban teaching hospitals and large hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show the temporal trends in utilization of temporary and permanent methods of cerebrospinal fluid diversion and catheter cerebral angiography among patients with aSAH in the United States. The underutilization of VPS following EVD and the differences in EVD and VPS utilization depending on race and hospital size deserve further exploration.

Quantitative Modeling of External Ventricular Drain Output to Predict Shunt Dependency in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Acute hydrocephalus is a common complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH); however, attempts to predict shunt-dependent chronic hydrocephalus using clinical parameters have been equivocal.

METHODS

Cohort study of aSAH is treated with external ventricular drainage (EVD) placement at our institution, 2001-2016, via logistic regression. EVD-related parameters included mean/total EVD output (days 0-2), EVD days, EVD days ≤ 5 mmHg, and wean/clamp fails. aSAH outcomes assessed included ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) placement, delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), radiographic infarction (RI), symptomatic vasospasm (SV), age, and aSAH grades.

RESULTS

Two hundred and ten aSAH patients underwent EVD treatment for a median 12 days (range 1-54); 85 required VPS (40%). On univariate analysis, EVD output, total EVD days, EVD days ≤ 5 mmHg, and wean/clamp trial failures were significantly associated with VPS placement (p < 0.01 for all parameters). No EVD output parameter demonstrated a significant association with DCI, RI, or SV. On multivariate analysis, EVD output was a significant predictor of VPS placement, after adjusting for age and clinical and radiological grades; the optimal threshold for predicting VPS placement was mean daily output > 204 ml on days 0-2 (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.31-5.07). Multiple wean failures were associated with unfavorable functional outcome, after adjusting for age, grade, and VPS placement (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.10-2.47). We developed a score incorporating age, grade and EVD parameters (MAGE) for predicting VPS placement after aSAH.

CONCLUSIONS

EVD output parameters and wean/clamp trial failures predicted shunt dependence in an age- and grade-adjusted multivariable model. Early VPS placement may be warranted in patients with MAGE score ≥ 4, particularly following 2 failed wean trials.

Secondary White Matter Injury and Therapeutic Targets After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is one of the special stroke subtypes with high mortality and mobility. Although the mortality of SAH has decreased by 50% over the past two decades due to advances in neurosurgery and management of neurocritical care, more than 70% of survivors suffer from varying degrees of neurological deficits and cognitive impairments, leaving a heavy burden on individuals, families, and the society. Recent studies have shown that white matter is vulnerable to SAH, and white matter injuries may be one of the causes of long-term neurological deficits caused by SAH. Attention has recently focused on the pivotal role of white matter injury in the pathophysiological processes after SAH, mainly related to mechanical damage caused by increased intracerebral pressure and the metabolic damage induced by blood degradation and hypoxia. In the present review, we sought to summarize the pathophysiology processes and mechanisms of white matter injury after SAH, with a view to providing new strategies for the prevention and treatment of long-term cognitive dysfunction after SAH.

Interleukin 6 and Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. A Narrative Review

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a prominent proinflammatory cytokine. Neuroinflammation in general, and IL-6 signaling in particular, appear to play a major role in the pathobiology and pathophysiology of aneurysm formation and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Most importantly, elevated IL-6 CSF (rather than serum) levels appear to correlate with delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI, “vasospasm”) and secondary (“vasospastic”) infarctions. IL-6 CSF levels may also reflect other forms of injury to the brain following SAH, i.e., early brain damage and septic complications of SAH and aneurysm treatment. This would explain why many researchers have found an association between IL-6 levels and patient outcomes. These findings clearly suggest CSF IL-6 as a candidate biomarker in SAH patients. However, at this point, discrepant findings in variable study settings, as well as timing and other issues, e.g., defining proper clinical endpoints (i.e., secondary clinical deterioration vs. angiographic vasospasm vs. secondary vasospastic infarct) do not allow for its routine use. It is also tempting to speculate about potential therapeutic measures targeting elevated IL-6 CSF levels and neuroinflammation in SAH patients. Corticosteroids and anti-platelet drugs are indeed used in many SAH cases (not necessarily with the intention to interfere with detrimental inflammatory signaling), however, no convincing benefit has been demonstrated yet. The lack of a robust clinical perspective against the background of a relatively large body of data linking IL-6 and neuroinflammation with the pathophysiology of SAH is somewhat disappointing. One underlying reason might be that most relevant studies only report correlative data. The specific molecular pathways behind elevated IL-6 levels in SAH patients and their various interactions still remain to be delineated. We are optimistic that future research in this field will result in a better understanding of the role of neuroinflammation in the pathophysiology of SAH, which in turn, will translate into the identification of suitable biomarkers and even potential therapeutic targets.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage rebleeding in the first 24 h is associated with external ventricular drain placement and higher grade on presentation: Cohort study

BACKGROUND

Rebleeding after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) confers a poor prognosis; however, risk factors and differential outcomes associated with early rebleeding in the first 24 h after symptom presentation are incompletely understood.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of all aSAH presenting to our institution between 2001 and 2016 was performed. Early rebleeding events were defined as clinical neurologic decline with radiographically confirmed acute intracranial hemorrhage within 24 h after symptom presentation. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess clinical associations, with a specific focus on baseline Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), and modified Fisher scores.

RESULTS

Of 471 aSAH cases, 33 (7%) experienced early rebleeding. Multivariate regression identified extraventricular drain (EVD) placement (OR = 2.16, P = 0.04) and WFNS 3-5 (OR = 2.69, P = 0.02) as significant predictors of early rebleeding. Good functional outcomes were observed in 8 patients with early rebleeding (24%), all of whom underwent aneurysm treatment. Higher SAH grade prior to rebleeding (WFNS 3-5) was significantly associated with increased odds of an unfavorable functional outcome (OR = 8.09, P < 0.01). Anticoagulation, aneurysm size and location were not significantly associated with either early rebleeding incidence or functional outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Early rebleeding in aSAH is associated with unfavorable functional outcomes. EVD placement and higher SAH grade on presentation appear to be significantly and independently associated with increased risk of rebleeding within first 24 h, as well as unfavorable long-term functional outcome; however, the clinical benefit of hyper-acute aneurysm treatment requires further investigation.

Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: the Last Decade

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) affects six to nine people per 100,000 per year, has a 35% mortality, and leaves many with lasting disabilities, often related to cognitive dysfunction. Clinical decision rules and more sensitive computed tomography (CT) have made the diagnosis of SAH easier, but physicians must maintain a high index of suspicion. The management of these patients is based on a limited number of randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Early repair of the ruptured aneurysm by endovascular coiling or neurosurgical clipping is essential, and coiling is superior to clipping in cases amenable to both treatments. Aneurysm repair prevents rebleeding, leaving the most important prognostic factors for outcome early brain injury from the hemorrhage, which is reflected in the neurologic condition of the patient, and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). Observational studies suggest outcomes are better when patients are managed in specialized neurologic intensive care units with inter- or multidisciplinary clinical groups. Medical management aims to minimize early brain injury, cerebral edema, hydrocephalus, increased intracranial pressure (ICP), and medical complications. Management then focuses on preventing, detecting, and treating DCI. Nimodipine is the only pharmacologic treatment that is approved for SAH in most countries, as no other intervention has demonstrated efficacy. In fact, much of SAH management is derived from studies in other patient populations. Therefore, further study of complications, including DCI and other medical complications, is needed to optimize outcomes for this fragile patient population.

[Long-term clinical outcomes of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in Yunnan Province]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical outcomes of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) after surgeries in Yunnan Province.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the demographic features, vascular risk factors, severity at admission, and aneurysm locations in 85 patients with aSAH receiving surgical interventions in Yunnan Province. All the patients were treated by aneurysm clipping or coiling and followed up for clinical outcomes and recovery of daily activities evaluated by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale, respectively.

RESULTS

Thirty-four of the patients (40.0%) underwent aneurysm clipping and 51 (60.0%) underwent aneurysm coiling. During a median follow- up period of 66.23 months (IOR, 12.03 months), 84.7% of the patients had low mRS scores, and 78.8% lived independently. The WFNS grade at admission was significantly correlated with the follow-up mRS scores (95%CI: 1.48-19.09, P=0.011) and ADL (95%CI: 2.55-28.77, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that age (95%CI: 1.02-1.23, P=0.017; 95%CI: 1.00-1.15, P=0.038) and a high WFNS grade at admission (95%CI: 2.19-141.48, P=0.007; 95%CI: 2.84-82.61, P=0.002) were independent predictors of both mRS and ADL scores at follow-up. There was no significant difference in clinical outcomes or the length of hospital stay between the two treatment strategies (P > 0.05), but the cost of hospitalization was significantly higher in coiling group than in the clipping group (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Both aging and a high WFNS grade at admission are associated with a poor prognosis of aSAH, for which aneurysm clipping and coiling have similar long- term outcomes, but for patients with a high WFNS score, aneurysm clipping is favored over coiling in terms of health economics.

Outcomes in a Case Series of Elderly Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhages in the Barrow Ruptured Aneurysm Trial (BRAT)

BACKGROUND

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is debilitating in elderly patients, but literature regarding this population is scarce, and clinical decision-making remains debated. Outcomes of elderly patients with aSAH stratified by age and clinical presentation were analyzed.

METHODS

Patients treated for aSAH were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were trichotomized into a young cohort (aged <60 years [n = 268]) and 2 elderly cohorts (aged 60-65 years [n = 60] and ≥65 years [n = 77]). The elderly cohorts were analyzed by poor or good scores at presentation (Hunt and Hess [HH] score >3 vs. ≤3, respectively) and poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score >2).

RESULTS

Of 137 elderly patients, 121 had a 6-year follow-up. The >65-year-olds (75% [52/69]) were more likely to have poor functional outcomes than the 60 to 65-year-olds (48% [25/52]) (odds ratio, 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-7.1; P = 0.002). Among those with an HH score ≤3 at presentation (n = 90), the >65-year-old cohort had poorer outcomes than the 60 to 65-year-old cohort at 6-year follow-up (69% [35/51] vs. 36% [14/39], respectively; odds ratio, 3.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-9.4; P = 0.003). Among patients with an HH score >3, no statistically significant differences in functional outcome were observed between the >65-year-old (n = 18) and 60 to 65-year-old (n = 13) cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly patients with aSAH are at high risk for poor functional outcomes. However, among those presenting with good HH scores, younger-elderly patients (aged 60-65 years) tend to fare better than older-elderly patients (aged >65 years). Elderly patients presenting with high-grade aSAH fare poorly regardless of age, which can inform clinical decision-making and prognostication.