Abstract TP463: Treatment of Asymptomatic Angiographic Cerebral Vasospasm in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage May Prevent Progression to Delayed Cerebral Ischemia

Abstract

Objective: Endovascular treatment of angiographic cerebral arterial vasospasm (CVS) in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), who do not fulfill criteria for delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), remains controversial. We sought to investigate the relationship of endovascular intervention with the development of DCI. Method: Consecutive patients admitted between 2017 and 2019 with aSAH were analyzed retrospectively. Rates of development of DCI were compared between two groups - the treated group: patients not in DCI who underwent conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA) between days 3 and 14 of ictus and were treated endovascularly for CVS, - the untreated group: patients who did not undergo DSA or did get DSA but did not receive endovascular treatment for CVS. Pearson’s chi-square test for independence was used to compare progression to DCI and t-test for independent samples was used to compare modified fisher scale (mFS) among the 2 groups. Multivariate logistic regression using stepwise backward selection was used to evaluate the predictors of DCI. Results: A total of 83 patients were analyzed. 21 patients (25%) were treated for angiographic vasospasm. 70% of these patients had moderate or severe CVS. 15 (15%) underwent DSA but were not treated angiographically. DSA was performed on an average of day 8 [5-12] post-ictus. 47 (57%) did not received DSA. Although, patients treated for angiographic CVS had higher modified Fisher Scale mFS (p=0.11), the rate of progression to DCI was higher among the untreated group 20 (32%) compared to the treated group (10%) (p =0.04). Delayed cerebral ischemia occurred at an average of day 6 [2-16] post-ictus. Although 15 out of 36 (42%) had DSA but were untreated due to absence or visualization of non-significant CVS, the treated group (68%) had significantly higher mFS (p=0.02) and elevated TCD velocities (p=0.03). mFS (p=0.04) and lack of past medical history of hypertension (p=0.03) were predictors of DCI. Conclusion: Endovascular treatment of angiographic CVS in asymptomatic patients was associated with lower risk of progression to DCI. A large prospective study is needed to evaluate its potential to prevent progression to DCI in high risk patients.