Sudden neuropathological deaths: An autopsy study

Trends for in-hospital metrics in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (ASAH) and unruptured aneurysm (URA) are particularly important because of the high mortality rates, and physical and cognitive impairment, which affect the economically active population. The present work aims at describing the scenario regarding in-hospital indicators related to the following therapeutic approaches: vascular microsurgery (VMS) and endovascular therapy (EVT) in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in order to gather information to construct hypotheses and plan actions. Methods: The study has an ecological design and it is also analytical for the time trends of 2008-2014. Trends for VMS and EVT therapies and mortality are estimated using linear regression, followed by the Prais-Winsten procedure. Data were obtained through Hospital Information System (Sistema de Informações Hospitalares - SIH) of Brazilian Public Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS). Results: In 2014, 601 procedures were performed, and out of these, 373 (62%) were triggered by SAH and 228 (38%) by URA. The frequency of procedures performed in males and in females results in a ratio of 1:2 for SAH procedures and 1:3 for URA procedures. A heterogeneous distribution of therapeutic approaches was seen among the hospital studied, suggesting a technological preference, which determines the therapeutic approach. Conclusion: Technological bias was observed for aneurysm treatment in Minas Gerais's hospitals. EVT is seen to have a growing trend to detriment of VMS (β₁ = 0.024; p = 0.025), with a stable mortality for both therapeutics in both pathologies (SAH and URA). EVT has been associated with a shorter hospital stay, with higher expenses for both ASAH and URA treatment. EVT showed an inverse correlation with in-hospital fatality for ASAH treatment.