Pathogenesis and prognosis of chronic hydrocephalus following aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage treated by endovascular embolization with Guglielmi detachable coils

Abstract

Objective To explore the risk factors and the prognosis of chronic hydrocephalus following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) treated by endovaseular embolization with Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs). Methods Endovascular embolization with GDCs were performed in 132 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage that satisfied our research standard. After endovascular embolization, ventricular drainage was conventionally performed in patients who occurred intraventricular hemorrhage combined with obstruction in the ventricular system, while cerebrospinal fluid permutation was performed in other patients. Chronic hydrocephalus was evaluated by CT 1 month after SAH. Ventricle-peritoneal shunt was carried out for patients with severe chronic hydrocephalus while only clinical observation was needed for patients with mild chronic hydrocephalus. Clinical follow-up evaluation was carried out 6 months after SAIl according to the modified Rankin scale score. The risk factors related to chronic hydrocephalus were noted through the statistical analysis of the patients' data and the relation between the appearing of chronic hydrocephalus and clinical prognosis of SAH was analyzed. Results The overall incidence rate of chronic hydrocephalus following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage was 12.12% and age, Fisher grade and Hunt-Hess grade had important value in the prognosis of chronic hydrocephalus. Clinical prognosis of SAH was not significantly related to chronic hydrocephalus following SAH (P >0.05). Conclusion Chronic hydrocephalus following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is not only resulted from one single risk factor and good clinical prognosis can be achieved by promptly performing ventricle-peritoneal shunt in patients with severe chronic hydrocephalus. Key words: Anenrysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage; Endovascular embolization; Chronic hydrocephalus