Endovascular management of cerebral vasospasm following aneurysm rupture: outcomes and predictors in 116 patients.
OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively assess the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment of cerebral vasospasm with different modalities and assess predictors of outcome. METHODS: Endovascular treatment was indicated in the event of neurological deterioration refractory to medical therapy. Data were collected for 116 patients treated at our institution. RESULTS: Vasospasm was treated with balloon angioplasty in 52.6%, intra-arterial nicardipine infusion in 19.8%, or both in 27.6%. Angiographic vasospasm was reversed in all but 4 (96.6%) patients. The complication rate was 0.9%. Twenty patients (17.2%) had incipient pre-procedure hypodensities; 3 (15%) hypodensities were reversed and neurological improvement occurred in 60% of these patients. Retreatment was required in 22 (19%) patients. Higher Hunt and Hess grades and treatment with nicardipine alone predicted retreatment. Neurological improvement was noted in 82%. Male gender, pre-procedure hypodensities, and posterior communicating artery aneurysm location negatively predicted neurological recovery. Favorable outcomes were noted in 73%. Higher Hunt and Hess grades, pre-procedure hypodensities, posterior circulation aneurysms, and no neurological recovery predicted poor outcome. CONCLUSION: Endovascular therapy for vasospasm has an excellent safety-efficacy profile. Balloon angioplasty and nicardipine are equally effective but effects of nicardipine are less durable. Patients with incipient pre-procedure hypodensities benefit from endovascular intervention and should probably not be excluded from treatment.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Young Adult
- Vasospasm, Intracranial
- Treatment Outcome
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Risk Factors
- Retrospective Studies
- Recovery of Function
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Nicardipine
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Young Adult
- Vasospasm, Intracranial
- Treatment Outcome
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Risk Factors
- Retrospective Studies
- Recovery of Function
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Nicardipine