Variabilidad en el manejo de la hemorragia subaracnoidea aneurismática en España: análisis de la base de datos multicéntrica del Grupo de Trabajo de Patología Vascular de la Sociedad Española de Neurocirugía

Endovascular treatment and neurosurgical clipping in subarachnoid hemorrhage: a systematic review of economic evaluations

INTRODUCTION

There are two treatment modalities for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: endovascular treatment (EVT) and neurosurgical clipping. Results of economic evaluations are needed to gain insight into the relationship between clinical effectiveness and costs of these treatment modalities. This important information can inform both clinical decision-making processes and policymakers in facilitating Value-Based Healthcare.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, EBSCO, and Web of Science) were searched for studies published until October 2020 that had performed economic evaluations in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients by comparing EVT with neurosurgical clipping. The quality of reporting and methodology of these evaluations was assessed using the associated instruments (i.e. CHEERS statement and CHEC-list, respectively).

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

A total of 6 studies met the inclusion criteria. All included studies reported both effects and costs, however five did not relate effects to costs. Only one study related effects directly to costs, thus conducted a full economic evaluation. The reporting quality scored 81% and the methodological quality scored 30%.

CONCLUSIONS

The quality of published cost-effectiveness studies on the treatment of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is poor. Six studies reported both outcomes and costs, however only one study performed a full economic evaluation comparing EVT to neurosurgical clipping. Although the reporting quality was sufficient, the methodological quality was poor. Further research that relates health-related quality of life measures to costs of EVT and neurosurgical clipping is required - specifically focusing on both reporting and methodological quality. Different subgroup analyses and modeling could also enhance the findings.

[Long-term cognitive and functional status in survivors of an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: Analysis of a retrospective cohort]

OBJECTIVE

Little data is available on long-term functional and cognitive outcomes in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (ASH). The main objective of this study was to assess cognition, functional state, mood disorders, and quality of life in patients with SAH at least six months following the ASH.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Cross-sectional study of 40 patients (aged 58.2 [SD 9.9] years) with ASH, discharged from a Neurologic Rehabilitation unit between January 2010 and July 2017.

MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLES

functional status (Barthel index), cognition (Pfeiffer questionnaire), depression (Hamilton scale), and health-related quality of life (European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions [EQ-5D]), as well as type and duration of therapeutic rehabilitation procedures after discharge.

RESULTS

From 35 patients with cognitive disorders, only 12 received cognitive therapy at hospital discharge. In the long-term follow-up, cognitive impairment persisted in 22 patients. When compared with those without cognitive impairment, they presented significantly worse mean differences in the Barthel index (15.5 [95% CI: 1.2-29.7]), Hamilton scale (-0.8 [95% CI: -1.27 to -0.37]), and EQ-5D (27.6 [95% CI: 12.4-19]).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of long-term cognitive impairments in survivors of a SAH episode is high, and their presence is associated with worse functional status, more depression and worse quality of life. The low percentage of subjects who received cognitive therapies through their recovery process and the clinical implications observed, support the need of including neuropsychological therapies in the rehabilitation programs after an SAH event.

Variability of Clinical and Angiographic Results Based on the Treatment Preference (Endovascular or Surgical) of Centers Participating in the Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Database of the Working Group of the Spanish Society of Neurosurgery

OBJECTIVES

Since the introduction of endovascular treatment for cerebral aneurysms, hospitals in which subarachnoid hemorrhage is treated show different availability and/or preferences towards both treatment modalities. The main aim is to evaluate the clinical and angiographic results according to the hospital's treatment preferences applied.

METHODS

This study was conducted based on use of the subarachnoid hemorrhage database of the Vascular Pathology Group of the Spanish Neurosurgery Society. Centers were classified into 3 subtypes according to an index in the relationship between endovascular and surgical treatment as: endovascular preference, high endovascular preference, and elevated surgical preference. The clinical results and angiographic results were evaluated among the 3 treatment strategies.

RESULTS

From November 2004 to December 2017, 4282 subarachnoid hemorrhage patients were selected for the study: 630 (14.7%) patients from centers with surgical preference, 2766 (64.6%) from centers with endovascular preference, and 886 (20.7%) from centers with high endovascular preference. The surgical preference group obtained the best angiographic results associated with a greater complete exclusion (odds ratio: 1.359; 95% confidence interval: 1.025-1.801; P = 0.033). The surgical preference subgroup obtained the best outcome at discharge (65.45%), followed by the high endovascular preference group (61.5%) and the endovascular preference group (57.8%) (odds ratio: 1.359; 95% confidence interval: 1.025-1.801; P = 0.033).

CONCLUSIONS

In Spain, there is significant variability in aneurysm exclusion treatment in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Surgical centers offer better results for both surgical and endovascular patients. A multidisciplinary approach and the maintenance of an elevated quality of surgical competence could be responsible for these results.

[Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: Results after introducing endovascular therapy in a medium-low volume centre]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of introducing endovascular therapy for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) in a medium-low volume centre.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective observational study was conducted by comparing the clinical outcome of patients with aSAH before and after introducing endovascular therapy in our centre. The main variables analysed were: type of treatment, hospital and late mortality, intra-procedural morbidity, rate of re-bleeding and vasospasm, and clinical outcome according to the Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS).

RESULTS

Seventy-one patients were treated in two periods: 2010-2011 (32 patients; 19 clipped, 6 coiled, 7 untreated), and 2012-2013 (39 patients, 3 clipped, 34 coiled, 2 untreated). No significant differences were found in age, sex, clinical grade at admission, type and location of aneurysm, Fisher score, or in hospital mortality (28.1% vs 25.6%, P=.35), GOS (except for GOS 5: 43.37% vs 53.8%, P=.045), rate of hydrocephalus and rate of vasospasm. The second cohort obtained better results for aggregated GOS 1+2+3 (36.3% vs 43.75%, P=.034) and for GOS 4+5 (61.5% vs 56.25%, P=.078). The percentage of patients left untreated was significantly lower in the second period (5.1% vs 21.8%, P<.01), as well as the rate of re-bleeding (0% vs 9.4%, P<.01). Patients were treated earlier (2.51 vs 3.95 days), and hospital and total stay were lower (15.2 and 24.6 vs 10.3 and 18 days) in the second period, these differences not reaching statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Endovascular therapy allowed treating more patients with aSAH, and with a lower re-bleeding rate. This led to a modest reduction in morbidity and mortality.