Isoelectric Electroencephalogram during a Planned Microsurgical Clipping of Ruptured Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm: A Case Report

Purpose: To determine the yield of catheter angiography for the detection of causative vascular lesions in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) who have a negative initial non-invasive neurovascular examination. Methods: Between January 1st, 2006 and August 1st, 2011, we instituted a prospective protocol by which patients who presented to our institution with SAH and had a negative initial non-invasive neurovascular examination (CT or MR angiogram [CTA, MRA]) were examined with catheter angiography to detect causative vascular lesions. Two experienced neuroradiologists evaluated the NCCTs to determine the pattern of SAH (diffuse, perimesencephalic or peripheral) and the catheter angiograms to assess for the presence of a causative vascular lesion. All differences in reader interpretation were resolved by consensus. Results: Forty-eight patients were included in our study, with a mean age of 58 years (median 59 years, range 25-84 years). Twenty-six patients were male (54.2%) and 22 female (45.8%). Twenty-eight patients had diffuse SAH (58.3%), 11 peripheral SAH (22.9%) and 9 perimesencephalic SAH (18.8%). The initial non-invasive neurovascular examination was a CTA in 41 patients (85.4%) and an MRA in 7 patients (14.6%). A second catheter angiogram was performed in 30 patients (62.5%). Mean time interval between the initial non-invasive neurovascular examination and the first catheter angiogram was 0.9 days (median 1 day, range 0-7 days) and the second catheter angiogram was 12.2 days (median 8.5 days, range 4-69 days). Catheter angiography demonstrated a causative vascular lesion in 4 patients (8.3%), 3 of which had diffuse SAH (yield of 10.7%) and 1 had peripheral SAH (yield of 9.1%). Of note, 1 of the causative vascular lesions was identified in a second catheter angiogram performed 8 days after the CTA in a patient with diffuse SAH. The vascular lesions identified were 2 dural arteriovenous fistulas, 1 pial cerebellopontine angle arteriovenous malformation with a 2-mm feeding artery aneurysm located in the internal auditory canal ( Figure ), and a 3-mm anterior communicating artery aneurysm. Two of the vascular lesions underwent endovascular embolization, 1 radiosurgery and 1 endovascular embolization followed by radiosurgery. In retrospect, the vascular lesion could be seen in the initial examination in 2 patients. Conclusion: Catheter angiography is a valuable tool in the evaluation of patients with diffuse and peripheral SAH who have a negative initial non-invasive neurovascular examination, demonstrating a causative vascular lesion in 10.7% and 9.1% of patients, respectively.

The cerebral angiography result is negative for an underlying vascular lesion in 15-20% of patients with nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Patients with angiogram-negative SAH include those with perimesencephalic SAH and diffuse SAH. Consensus suggests that perimesencephalic SAH confers a more favorable prognosis than diffuse SAH. Limited data exist to contextualize the clinical course and prognosis of diffuse SAH in relation to aneurysmal SAH in terms of critical care complications, neurologic complications, and functional outcomes. Here we compare the clinical course and functional outcomes of patients with perimesencephalic SAH, diffuse SAH, and aneurysmal SAH to better characterize the prognostic implications of each SAH subtype. We conducted a retrospective cohort study that included all patients with nontraumatic SAH admitted to a tertiary care referral center between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2017. Bleed patterns were radiographically adjudicated, and patients were assigned to three groups: perimesencephalic SAH, diffuse SAH, and aneurysmal SAH. Patient demographics, complications, and clinical outcomes were reported and compared. Eighty-six patients with perimesencephalic SAH, 174 with diffuse SAH, and 998 with aneurysmal SAH presented during the study period. Patients with aneurysmal SAH were significantly more likely to be female, White, and active smokers. There were no significant differences between patients with diffuse SAH and perimesencephalic SAH patterns. Critical care complications were compared across all three groups, with significant between-group differences in hypotension and shock (3.5% vs. 16.1% vs. 38.4% for perimesencephalic SAH vs. diffuse SAH vs. aneurysmal SAH, respectively; p < 0.01) and endotracheal intubation (0% vs. 26.4% vs. 48.8% for perimesencephalic SAH vs. diffuse SAH vs. aneurysmal SAH, respectively; p < 0.01). Similar trends were noted with long-term supportive care with tracheostomy and gastrostomy tubes and length of stay. Cerebrospinal fluid diversion was increasingly required across bleed types (9.3% vs. 54.6% vs. 76.3% for perimesencephalic SAH vs. diffuse SAH vs. aneurysmal SAH, respectively, p < 0.001). Vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia were comparable between perimesencephalic SAH and diffuse SAH but significantly lower than aneurysmal SAH. Patients with diffuse SAH had intermediate functional outcomes, with significant rates of nonhome discharge (23.0%) and poor functional status on discharge (26.4%), significantly higher than patients with perimesencephalic SAH and lower than patients with aneurysmal SAH. Diffuse SAH similarly conferred an intermediate rate of good functional outcomes at 1-6months post discharge (92.3% vs. 78.6% vs. 47.3% for perimesencephalic SAH vs. diffuse SAH vs. aneurysmal SAH, respectively; p < 0.016). We confirm the consensus data that perimesencephalic SAH is associated with a more benign clinical course but demonstrate that diffuse SAH confers an intermediate prognosis, more malignant than perimesencephalic SAH but not as morbid as aneurysmal SAH. These results highlight the significant morbidity associated with diffuse SAH and emphasize need for vigilance in the acute care of these patients. These patients will likely benefit from continued high-acuity observation and potential support to avert significant risk of morbidity and neurologic compromise.

Corpus callosum haematoma is a rare feature in subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), which may result from aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery (ACoA) or pericallosal artery (PCA). In 348 patients with aneurysmal SAH, bleeding from ACoA aneurysms in 88 cases produced no abnormality on CT in 7. Blood in the cistern of the lamina terminalis was the most frequent abnormality (76/88); haematomas of the septum pellucidum, confined to patients with ACoA aneurysms, were seen in 26 (30%). Rupture of PCA aneurysms in 12 patients gave rise to blood in the pericallosal cistern, anterior interhemispheric fissure and cistern of the lamina terminalis in 11. There was no blood in the septum pellucidum or the ventricular system in any case, but haematomas in the corpus callosum occurred in 8 (67%). In all of these, blood extended into the anterodorsal aspect of the callosum and spread posteriorly along its dorsal border. An identical, supracallosal pattern was seen in 2 patients (2.5%) with ACoA aneurysms, in whom haemorrhage was more extensive, with a large frontal lobe haematoma extending up from the cistern of the lamina terminalis in 1 and a haematoma of the septum pellucidum, with intraventricular extension in the other. In 8 patients (9%) with ACoA aneurysms a corpus callosum haematoma appeared to result from passage of blood up through the cistern of the lamina terminalis into the septum pellucidum and thence into the ventral aspect of the anterior corpus callosum; blood was present within the cistern, the septum and the ventricles.

Internal carotid artery (ICA) agenesis is rare and clinically silent due to well-developed collateral circulation. We present an unusual case of ICA agenesis (Type D) with ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm. A 65-year-old female presented with a history of sudden onset severe headache and vomiting 1 day before admission, suggestive of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). At presentation, the Glasgow Coma Scale was E3M5VT with WFNS Grade 4 and Hunt and Hess Scale-4. Noncontrast Computed tomography (CT) brain was suggestive of gyrus rectus bleed and SAH with intraventricular hemorrhage with hydrocephalus (Modified Fischer grade 4). A bone window in the CT brain showed the absence of the right carotid canal. Digital subtraction angiogram was performed, which showed agenesis of the right ICA with transcavernous anastomosis from the left cavernous ICA and anterior communicating artery aneurysm. An External ventricular drain was placed at 5 h of admission, followed by pterional craniotomy and clipping of the aneurysm. Postoperatively, the patient had vasospasm, which improved with intra-arterial nimodipine. At discharge, the Glasgow Outcome score was 3. Unilateral ICA agenesis with Transcavernous anastomosis presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage due to ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm is an unusual presentation. Knowledge of such variants is important for planning the management of these aneurysms.

Severe intraventricular hemorrhage caused by extension from subarachnoid hemorrhage or intracerebral hemorrhage leads to hydrocephalus and often to poor outcome. We conducted a systematic review to compare conservative treatment, extraventricular drainage, and extraventricular drainage combined with fibrinolysis. We carried out a search in Medline of the literature between January 1966 and December 1998 and an additional hand-search from January 1990 to December 1998. Pharmaceutical companies were contacted to gather unpublished data. We reviewed the reference lists of all relevant articles. Two authors independently assessed eligibility of the studies and extracted data on characteristics of study design, patients, and treatment. Patients with primary intraventricular hemorrhage were excluded. Main outcome measures were death and poor outcome (defined as death or dependency) at the end of follow-up. No randomized clinical trial has yet been conducted so far, and we therefore reviewed only observational studies. The case fatality rate for conservative treatment (ten studies) was 78%. For extraventricular drainage (seven studies) it was 58% [relative risk versus conservative treatment (RR) 0.74; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.55-0.99]. For extraventricular drainage with fibrinolytic agents (five studies) the case fatality rate was 6% (RR 0.08; 95% CI 0.02-0.24). The poor outcome rate for conservative treatment was 90%, that for extraventricular drainage 89% (RR 0.98; 95% CI 0.75-1.30) and that for extraventricular drainage with fibrinolytic agents 34% (RR 0.38; 95% CI 0.21-0.68). All RR values remained essentially the same after adjusting for age, sex, World Federation of Neurological Surgeons scale, study design, and year of publication for the studies that provided these data. Outcome is thus poor in patients with intraventricular extension of subarachnoid or intracerebral hemorrhage. This meta-analysis suggests that treatment with ventricular drainage combined with fibrinolytics may improve outcome for such patients, although this impression is derived only from an indirect comparison between observational studies. A randomized clinical trial is warranted.

Objective To analyze the factors that influence the prognosis in patients with unruptured anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysm through pterional approach. Methods We performed a retrospective study of 113 cases with ACoA aneurysms admitted to Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2014 to July 2018. All cases underwent clipping of aneurysms through pterional approach. Clinical follow-up was performed at 6 months post surgery through telephone at outpatient clinics. The Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was used for outcome assessment: grade Ⅳ-Ⅴ for good outcome and grade Ⅰ-Ⅲ for poor outcome. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the prognostic factors in patients with ACoA aneurysm. Results All 113 patients underwent successful operation. During postoperative period, there were 33 cases of cerebral ischemic events, 23 cases of brain contusion, 4 cases of hydrocephalus, 9 cases of intracranial infection and 1 case of lung infection. After symptomatic treatment, the patient's symptoms were relieved. One case died of massive cerebral infarction. There were 112 patients who were followed up. Good outcomes were achieved in 97 (86.6%) patients and poor outcomes in 15 (13.4%) patients. Univariate analysis revealed that age, history of hypertension and Hunt-Hess grade were closely related to the prognosis (all P 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that Hunt-Hess grade (OR=3.470, 95% CI: 1.775-6.782, P<0.001) was the independent risk factor affecting the outcomes of patients. Conclusion Hunt-Hess grade seems to be the independent risk factor affecting the outcomes of clipping surgery for unruptured ACoA aneurysm via pterional approach. Key words: Intracranial aneurysm; Prognosis; Factor analysis, statistical; Anterior cerebral artery; Pterional approach

Background:Intracranial aneurysms pose significant challenges due to their potential to rupture, leading to subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) with severe neurological consequences. Endovascular treatment has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to surgical clipping, offering distinct advantages in terms of morbidity and recovery. This study aims to compare the clinical profiles, treatment outcomes, and prognostic factors between microsurgical clipping and endovascular treatment in the management of intracranial aneurysms.Materials and Methods:This study analyzed 103 patients treated for intracranial aneurysms at a tertiary care institution in North India between January 2018 and December 2023. Of these, 53 underwent microsurgical clipping and 50 underwent endovascular treatment. Data on demographics, clinical presentations, aneurysm characteristics, and treatment details were meticulously collected. Immediate and long-term outcomes, including neurological status and complications, were assessed. Statistical analyses, including Chi-square tests and t-tests, were used to identify significant predictors of poor outcomes.Results:The mean age was 52.43 years for the clipping group and 54.42 years for the endovascular treatment group, with no significant difference (P = 0.951). The most common clinical presentations were headache and altered sensorium, with similar frequencies in both groups. Anterior communicating artery aneurysms were the most common location in both cohorts. The mean duration of operation was significantly longer for clipping (120.5 ± 30.6 min) compared to endovascular treatment (68.53 ± 25.23 min, P < 0.001). Postoperative complications were higher in the clipping group, including vasospasm (22.6% vs. 38.0%, P = 0.090) and cerebral infarcts (22.6% vs. 20.0%, P = 0.741). Endovascular treatment patients had a shorter hospital stay (18.30 ± 9.40 days vs. 27.55 ± 22.43 days, P = 0.162).Conclusion:Both endovascular treatment and microsurgical clipping are effective treatment modalities for intracranial aneurysms, each with distinct advantages. Endovascular treatment offers a less invasive approach with shorter hospital stays and potentially better long-term outcomes. Microsurgical clipping provides durable aneurysm occlusion and remains critical for complex aneurysms. The choice of treatment should be individualized based on aneurysm characteristics, patient condition, and available expertise.

Large, giant, and complex anterior communicating artery (ACoA) and A2 anterior cerebral artery (ACA) aneurysms may require a bifrontal interhemispheric approach for better exposure of the aneurysm and bilateral A2-ACA branches and the ability to perform a bypass if needed. The authors sought to investigate the operative techniques and long-term outcomes of ACoA and proximal A2-ACA aneurysms treated with the bifrontal interhemispheric approach. The authors reviewed ACoA and proximal A2-ACA aneurysms treated by microsurgical clipping with or without a bypass via the bifrontal interhemispheric approach from 2005 to 2024 as a subset of all ACoA aneurysms surgically treated at their institution. The indications for this approach were 1) a complex neck requiring exposure of bilateral A1 and A2 vessel segments, and/or 2) need for bypass. Demographic, clinical, and radiographic data were collected and reviewed. Aneurysm occlusion, bypass patency, functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score), and complications were assessed at the 3-month and long-term (> 12 months) follow-up. Of 383 patients with ACoA or proximal A2-ACA aneurysms treated with microsurgery at the authors' institution, 30 patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean radiographic follow-up was 3.1 years. Sixty percent of patients (18/30) had a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Twenty-five (83.3%) aneurysms were ACoA and 5 (16.7%) were proximal A2-ACA. Bypasses were performed for 16 (53%) aneurysms. Direct side-to-side bypasses were the most common, accounting for 81% (13/16) of all bypasses. Complete aneurysm occlusion was achieved in 90% of aneurysms at the last follow-up. Immediate postoperative patency of the bypass was 100% (16/16). Long-term bypass patency was 87.5% (7/8). Postoperative stroke occurred in 2 patients (6.7%), both of whom recovered with mRS scores < 2 at the 3-month follow-up. The bifrontal interhemispheric approach offers the ability to expose large and giant ACoA aneurysms and bilateral A2 vessel aneurysms, which allows an operative corridor for possible bypass revascularization. The results of this approach were excellent, with a low rate of aneurysm recurrence and complications.

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid diversion may be necessary in the acute period after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) if patients develop hydrocephalus. Though there is an opinion that certain ‘severe grade’ patients, e.g. Hunt and Hess (HH) grades 3-5, should have external ventricular drain (EVD) placement, regardless of hydrocephalus, there is no firm data, leaving the decision up to the judgement of the evaluating clinical team. Objective: We sought to measure changes in HH grades among grade 3-5 patients based on whether or not they had EVD placement. Methods: We prospectively collect demographic, clinical, and radiographic data on our SAH patients since January 2014. We selected HH grades 3-5 patients and compared admission and discharge HH grades among groups of patients who underwent EVD placement or surgical decompression within the first 24 hours and those who did not, using chi square test. Results: Among 54 total patients, there were 37 grades 3-5 patients (HH 3, n=26, 70.3%; HH 4, n=5, 13.5%; HH 5, n=6, 16.2%) in two groups: no EVD, n=22 (59.5%) and EVD, n=14 (37.8%, data unavailable for 1 patient). At discharge HH grades were: HH 1, n=10 (27%); HH 2, n=1 (2.7%); HH 3, n=10 (27%); HH 4, n=3 (8.1%); HH 5, n=1 (2.7%); dead, n=11 (29.7%); missing data, n=1. Mean age of 37 HH 3-5 patients was 58 years with no significant difference between the 2 groups. Hydrocephalus was seen in 11 of the 22 no EVD group and 13 of the 14 EVD group, p=0.007. Improvement in HH score between admission and discharge was seen in 10/14 EVD group, compared with 5/22 of the no EVD group, p=0.010. Worsening of HH score was found in 8/17 no EVD group (5 HH grade 5 patients excluded from this analysis), and 1 HH 4 patient (out of 14) in the EVD group, p=.014. Mortality occurred in 11/22 of the no EVD group (HH 3=5; HH 4-5=6) and 1/14 of the EVD group (HH 4, p=0.007). Conclusion: While the presence of hydrocephalus could potentially be a determinant in the decision to place EVDs among HH grades 3-5 patients, clinical change in patients who did not have an EVD placed occurred independently of hydrocephalus. Improvement of HH grade was more frequent, while its worsening was less common, among patients who underwent EVD or surgery within the first 24 hours. Mortality of HH grade 3 patients may also be impacted with EVD placement.

The extent of obliteration of ruptured intracranial aneurysms treated with coil embolization has been correlated with the risk of rerupture. However, many practitioners consider that a small neck remnant is unlikely to result in significant risk after coiling. To report our recent experience with ruptured anterior cerebral artery aneurysms treated with endovascular coiling, which recurred or reruptured, requiring microsurgical clipping for subsequent treatment. Retrospective review of patients with intracranial aneurysms treated at our institution since August 2018. Patient and aneurysm characteristics, initial and subsequent treatment approaches, and outcomes were reviewed. Six patients were included. Out of those 6 patients, 5 patients had anterior communicating artery aneurysms, and 1 patient had a pericallosal aneurysm. All initially presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and were treated with coiling. Recurrence occurred at a median of 7.5 mo. In 2 cases, retreatment was initially performed with repeat endovascular coiling, but further recurrence was observed. Rerupture from the residual or recurrent aneurysm occurred in 3 cases. In 2 cases, the aneurysm dome recurred; in 1 case, rerupture occurred from the neck. All 6 patients underwent treatment with microsurgical clipping. Follow-up catheter angiography demonstrated a complete occlusion of the aneurysm in all cases with the preservation of the parent vessel. Anterior cerebral artery aneurysms may recur after endovascular treatment, and even small neck remnants present a risk of rerupture after an initial SAH. Complete treatment requires a complete exclusion of the aneurysm from the circulation. Even in cases that have been previously coiled, microsurgical clipping can represent a safe and effective treatment option.

IntroductionThe placement of an external ventricular drain (EVD) is widely practiced in neurosurgery for various diseases and conditions accompanied by impaired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation, intracranial hypertension (ICHyp), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), and hydrocephalus. Specialists have been using this method in patients with acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) for more than 50 years. Extensive experience gained at the Burdenko Neurosurgical Center (BNC) in Moscow, the Russian Federation, in the surgical treatment of patients with acute aSAH enabled us to describe the results of using an EVD in patients after microsurgery. The objective of the research was to assess the effectiveness and safety of the EVD and clarify the indications for the microsurgical treatment of aneurysms in patients with acute SAH.Materials and methodsFrom 2006 until the end of 2018, 645 patients registered in the BNC database underwent microsurgery for acute (0-21 days) aSAH. During the case study, we assessed the severity of hemorrhage according to the Fisher scale, the condition of patients on the Hunt-Hess (H-H) scale during surgery, the time of placement of EVD (before, during, and after surgery), and the duration of EVD. The number of patients with parenchymal intracranial pressure (ICP) transducers was assessed by the degree of correlation of ICP data through the EVD and parenchymal ICP transducer. One of the aims of the research was to compare the frequency of using EVD and decompressive craniectomy (DCH). The incidence of EVD-associated meningitis was analyzed. The need for a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) in patients after using EVD was also assessed. Overall outcomes were assessed using a modified Rankin scale (mRS) at the time of patient discharge. Exclusion criteria were as follows: patients aged less than 18 years and the lack of assessed data. Patients undergoing endovascular and conservative treatments also were excluded.ResultsAmong the patients enrolled in the study, 22% (n=142) had EVD. Among these, 99 cases (69.7%) had EVD installed in the operating room just before the start of the surgical intervention. In some cases, ventriculostomy was performed on a delayed basis (16.3%). A satisfactory outcome (mRS scores of 1 and 2) was observed in 24.7% (n=35). Moderate and profound disability at the time of discharge was noted in 55.7% (n=79). Vegetative outcome at discharge was noted in 8.4% (n=12), and mortality occurred in 12.3% (n=15).ConclusionEVD ensures effective monitoring and reduction of ICP. EVD is associated with a relatively low risk of infectious, liquorodynamic, and hemorrhagic complications and does not worsen outcomes when used in patients with aSAH. We propose that all patients in the acute stage of SAH with H-H severity of III-V should receive EVD immediately before surgery.

Introduction Patients with subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAH) with external ventricular drains (EVD) candevelop chronic hydrocephalus (HCP), requiring permanent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion via an external shunt. Two different strategies have been used to assess for dependence on EVD: 1) prompt closure, and 2) gradual weaning.Gradual weaning of EVDs is performed by increasing drainage resistance to outflow over days.However, when to start one strategy or the other is up to the physician. No uniform guidelines exist raising a question: Are standardized criteria necessary to initiate the EVD weaning process for SAH patients to increase the safety of EVD discontinuation and reduce the need for a shunt? This study shares criteria used to initiate EVD weaning that displayed increased safety of EVD discontinuation for patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage requiring EVD, particularly with regards to length of hospital stay (LOS), hospital-acquired infection rates, and ventriculoperitoneal shunt/endoscopic third ventriculostomy (VPS/ETV) placement. Methods One hundred and fifty-one SAHpatients from January 2016 to January 2019 were analyzed. 60 aneurysmal SAH (aSAH) and 18 non-aneurysmal nontraumatic SAH (naSAH) patients required EVD placement.A gradual EVD weaning protocol was initiated if patients met the following criteria: 1. The reason for EVD placement has resolved or is resolving, 2. The quantity of CSF output is <250mL over 24 hours, 3. Quality of CSF is nonbloody, 4. Intracranial Pressure (ICP) must be within normal limits, and 5. The patient must be neurologically stable. It was acceptable to initiate the weaning process when the patient had mild cerebral vasospasm, but not moderate to severe cerebral vasospasm. EVD weaning was performed by increasing the drain (chamber) height by 5 millimeters of mercury every 24 hours if the criteria were met. Charts were reviewed for LOS, infection rates, and rate of VPS/ETV. Gender, age, race, wean failure incidence, Hunt-Hess scores, modified Fisher scores, and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone/cerebral salt wasting (SIADH/CSW) rates were obtained. Results The average LOS for aSAH patients with EVD was 20.35 days. The incidence of VPS/ETV was 11%. A chi-square analysis revealed that aSAH patients had higher rates of VPS/ETV placement (p<0.001) and EVD wean failures (p<0.001) than naSAH patients. aSAH patients had a lower incidence of VPS/ETV placement of 11% compared to 21% nationally. Conclusions Standardized criteria to initiate EVD weaning provided a reduction in VPS/ETV placement among aSAH patients compared to national averages and provided a uniform approach to EVD management. Comparable infection rates and LOS for SAH patients requiring EVDs compared to national averages were found.

Insertion of an external ventricular drain (EVD) is one of the most common and most important lifesaving procedures encountered in the neurologic intensive care unit, but often done by the junior members of the team. A good number of complications may follow the insertion of EVD. In the available literature, only one case was reported with the placement of EVD in suprasellar cistern. There is no report of insertion or replacement of an EVD in the sella. Diabetes insipidus (DI) is also an unheard of complication of EVD. Here, we report a case where a patient with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) with acute hydrocephalus needed CSF diversion and had an EVD, during replacement of which through the same tract, the new EVD went into the sellar floor and she developed diabetes insipidus (DI) eventually. The catheter was pulled out and the DI settled. DI may occur as a consequence of SAH. The rationale behind reporting this case is to differentiate the cause of DI; as following insertion of EVD in a patient of SAH, the development of DI should raise the suspicion of misplaced EVD, should not be left as a consequence of SAH and appropriate imaging should be obtained. To prevent this happening, preoperative verification of CT, image-guided insertion, measurement of the length of the tubing and careful anchorage of EVD to surrounding tissue are necessary.

Based on the author's experience with the last 20 consecutive cases of anterior circulation aneurysm and on a review of the literature, this paper emphasizes to the medical community in Sa...

External ventricular drainage, or ventriculostomy, refers to surgical placement of a catheter into the ventricle to achieve temporary cerebrospinal fluid diversion and remains one of the most frequently performed neurosurgical interventions. External ventricular drainage is an essential therapeutic strategy for a myriad of neurological disease processes causing hydrocephalus or increased intracranial pressure including traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and intracranial hemorrhage with intraventricular extension. In select cases, lumbar drains may provide a suitable alterative to an external ventricular drain (EVD). Complications related to both EVD and lumbar drain placement include malfunction, infection, and hemorrhage. This chapter reviews the indications, surgical technique, postoperative management strategies, and potential complications associated with external ventricular drainage.