Predictive factors for improvement of symptomatic cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage by selective intra-arterial administration of fasudil hydrochloride

Evolving frontiers: endovascular strategies for the treatment of delayed cerebral ischemia

Cerebral vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia represent a very challenging aspect of cerebrovascular pathophysiology, most commonly subarachnoid hemorrhage, with significantly high mortality if left untreated. Considerable advances have been made in medical treatment and prompt diagnosis, while newer endovascular modalities have recently been proposed for cases of resistant cerebral vasospasm. However, there is still paucity of data regarding which and whether a single endovascular technique is non inferior to the pharmacological standard of care. In this review, we aim to summarize the current funds of knowledge concerning cerebral vasospasm and the emerging role of the endovascular techniques for its treatment.

Cardiopulmonary Events of the Elderly (≥75 Years) during Clazosentan Therapy after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Stroke Center in Japan

Clazosentan has been shown to prevent vasospasm and reduce mortality in patients after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and has been approved for clinical use in Japan; however, its systemic events in the elderly (aged ≥ 75 years) have not been well-documented. Here, we report serious/intolerable cardiopulmonary complications requiring discontinuation of drug therapy in elderly SAH patients. In this single-center case series study, medical records of consecutive SAH patients treated postoperatively with clazosentan (10 mg/h) between June 2022 and May 2023 were reviewed retrospectively. Thirty-three patients received clazosentan therapy, of whom six were elderly with a mean age of 80.3 ± 5.2 (range 75-89) years. Among them, despite no obvious medical history of systemic abnormalities, clazosentan was discontinued in three (50%) patients due to pleural effusion and hypoxemia with or without hypotension at 5 ± 3 days after therapy initiation, which was higher than the incidence for younger patients (15%). The elderly patients had significantly lower urine output (1935 ± 265 vs. 1123 ± 371 mL/day, p = 0.03) and greater weight gain (2.1 ± 1.1 vs. 4.2 ± 1.9 kg from baseline, p = 0.04) than patients who completed the therapy. One 89-year-old female developed congestive heart failure and hydrostatic pulmonary edema associated with increased intravascular and lung volumes even after therapy was discontinued, while the remaining two cases recovered within 2 days after drug cessation. These results suggest that elderly patients are more vulnerable to fluid retention and have a higher risk of cardiopulmonary complications during clazosentan therapy than younger patients. Careful monitoring of urine volume and weight gain and caution regarding age- and therapy-related hemodynamic insufficiencies are required.

Preventing Fluid Retention After Subarachnoid Haemorrhage During Administration of Endothelin Receptor Antagonist

Prevention of delayed cerebral infarction (DCI) due to cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) has been done with intravenous Rho kinase inhibitors (ROCKI), ozagrel sodium (TXA2I), selective ROCKI infusion (ROCKI i.a.), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage. The endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA, clazosentan) became available in 2022 and is said to be highly recommended for DCI prevention, while fluid retention such as pleural effusion and pulmonary oedema accumulation is often experienced. We investigated the relationship between patient background, fluid retention, and ERA. Ten consecutive SAH patients treated with ERA from July to December 2022 were included. We examined the results of blood sampling on admission, echocardiography, chest computed tomography (CT), with postoperative DCI, and hydrocephalus requiring cerebrospinal fluid shunt (hydro), and symptomatic fluid retention requiring albumin and furosemide (third fluid space). Two males and eight females, mean age 63 years, mean preoperative World Federation Neurosurgical Surgeons (WFNS) grade 3.5, mean creatinine 0.94, mean brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). In 1883, two patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and four patients with neurogenic pulmonary oedema are present. All patients underwent coil embolisation, and postoperative CSF drainage, ROCKI, TXA2I systemic administration, and ROCKI i.a. There were one DCI, three hydro, and five third fluid cases. Concerning the third fluid, the only significant difference was found in the age. An improvement in fluid retention after ERA discontinuation in old patients was shown. Our experience suggests that age may be the most influential factor. Based on these results, we have also found that by avoiding the use of ERA in patients older than 80 years, strictly limiting the infusion volume when using ERA, and actively using the drugs for heart failure early on, the frequency of suffering from third fluid space is reduced.