Previous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Research Articles

Microsurgical clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: Clinical and radiological outcomes

Background and objectivesThe prevalence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms is 1–3%. The annual rupture rate increases in patients with multiple aneurysms that presented a previous hemorrhage from another aneurysm. ObjectivesTo evaluate outcomes of clipping unruptured aneurysms, comparing patients with single or multiple aneurysms clipped, describe the complications related to surgery and to identify risk factors predicting an unfavorable outcome. Materials and methodsRetrospective study including patients who underwent clipping of unruptured aneurysms between 2020–2023 at our center. Occlusion rate, complications, and functional outcome were analyzed. Risk factors for poor prognosis are identified using univariate model. Results82 patients with 114 aneurysms were treated with microsurgery. Multiple aneurysms were clipped in 22 patients. A mini-open approach was used in 86,5% of cases. Complete occlusion in angio3D was found in 78.6% of clipped aneurysms. Complication rate was 12.2%, including asymptomatic cases. Mortality was 0%. The probability of 1 point mRS worsening was 7.3% and 2 or more points was 1.2%, with a good functional outcome in 98.9%. Clipping multiple aneurysms, miniopen approaches, or surgery in patients with previous subarachnoid hemorrhage did not increase the risk of complications. Posterior circulation aneurysms surgery increased the risk of ischemia. ConclusionsThe management for unruptured intracranial aneurysms should be multimodal and based on clinical and radiological outcomes. Microsurgery is a valid and safe technique, with 0% mortality and bleeding rates and 1,2% rate of severe morbidity in our series.

Comparison of Thromboembolic Events Between Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) Shield and PED/PED Flex: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

The pipeline embolization device (PED) Flex with Shield technology is a third-generation flow diverter used for intracranial aneurysm treatment designed to decrease thrombogenicity through a phosphorylcholine coating. Herein, we aim to compare the rate of thromboembolic events in PED with Shield technology and PED without it through propensity score matching. We conducted a retrospective analysis of aneurysms treated with PED first-generation/PED Flex and PED with Shield between 2013 and 2023 at a single academic institution. Patients were matched through propensity score by controlling for confounding factors including age, smoking history, diabetes, previous subarachnoid hemorrhage, modified Rankin Scale pretreatment, location, aneurysm size, previous treatment, and clopidogrel or aspirin resistance. After matching, we evaluated for periprocedural and postoperative thromboembolic events. Data analysis was performed using Stata 14. A total of 543 patients with 707 aneurysms treated in 605 procedures were included in the analysis. From these, 156 aneurysms were treated with PED with Shield (22.07%) and 551 (77.93%) without Shield technology. Propensity score matching resulted in 84 matched pairs. The rate of thromboembolic events was 3.57% for PED Shield and 10.71% for PED first-generation/PED Flex (P = .07), while retreatment rates were 2.38% for PED Shield and 8.32% for PED Flex (P = .09). Complete occlusion at first (P = .41) and last imaging follow-up (P = .71), in-stent stenosis (P = .95), hemorrhagic complications (P = .31), and functional outcomes (P = .66) were comparable for both groups. This is the first study in the literature performing a propensity scored-matched analysis comparing PED with PED with Shield technology. Our study suggests a trend toward lower thromboembolic events for PED Shield, even after controlling for aspirin and clopidogrel resistance, and a trend toward lower aneurysm retreatment rates with PED Shield, without reaching statistical significance.

2023 Guideline for the Management of Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Guideline From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

The "2023 Guideline for the Management of Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage" replaces the 2012 "Guidelines for the Management of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage." The 2023 guideline is intended to provide patient-centric recommendations for clinicians to prevent, diagnose, and manage patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. A comprehensive search for literature published since the 2012 guideline, derived from research principally involving human subjects, published in English, and indexed in MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline, was conducted between March 2022 and June 2022. In addition, the guideline writing group reviewed documents on related subject matter previously published by the American Heart Association. Newer studies published between July 2022 and November 2022 that affected recommendation content, Class of Recommendation, or Level of Evidence were included if appropriate. Structure: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is a significant global public health threat and a severely morbid and often deadly condition. The 2023 aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage guideline provides recommendations based on current evidence for the treatment of these patients. The recommendations present an evidence-based approach to preventing, diagnosing, and managing patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, with the intent to improve quality of care and align with patients' and their families' and caregivers' interests. Many recommendations from the previous aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage guidelines have been updated with new evidence, and new recommendations have been created when supported by published data.

Why SWI? The sensitivity of susceptibility weighted imaging in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage in the chronic phase.

Incidentally detected unruptured intracranial aneurysms have a prevalence of 3% with some predisposed to rupture and others remaining static. Diagnostic knowledge of previous aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (ASAH) in the chronic phase could identify patients requiring treatment. To assess the sensitivity of susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) in the detection of ASAH at 3 months post ictus and determine any influencing effects. A retrospective chart analysis of 46 patients with ASAH who underwent post-embolisation SWI imaging at 3 months. The SWI and available initial CT brain scans or CT reports were evaluated and correlated with patient demographics and clinical severity. Susceptibility weighted imaging indicated a sensitivity of 95.7% in the detection of ASAH at 3 months. Increased number of haemosiderin zones on SWI correlated with older patient age (p = 0.0003). Clinical severity (World Federation Neurosurgical Societies Score) showed a tendency towards a statistically relevant relationship (p = 0.07). No statistically significant relationship was identified between the number of haemosiderin zones and initial CT modified Fisher score (p = 0.34) or the causative aneurysm location (p = 0.37). Susceptibility weighted imaging is sensitive in the detection of ASAH at 3 months, increasing in sensitivity with patient age and higher initial clinical severity. In patients presenting in the subacute to chronic phase with a clinically suspicious history of previous aneurysm rupture but without convincing CT or spectrophotometry evidence, SWI can detect previous rupture. This can identify patients who could benefit from endovascular treatment and those who can safely undergo follow-up imaging.

Abstract Number ‐ 124: Spinal hemorrhage due to ruptured radicular artery aneurysm in patient with coarctation of the aorta

Introduction Spinal artery aneurysms associated with previously undiagnosed coarctation of the aorta in adults are exceptionally rare. Aortic coarctation often results in aberrant collateral circulation with hyperdynamic flow. Abundant and fragile collaterals provide favourable conditions for spinal artery aneurysm formation, growth and rupture. There are very few reports of spinal artery aneurysms associated with coarctation of the aorta in the literature, with even less describing current endovascular methods of their treatment. Management of such lesions is especially challenging due to aberrant anatomy and the presence of collaterals. We describe a case of a 67‐year old woman with a previously unrecognized coarctation of the aorta who presented a ruptured radicular artery aneurysm. The patient was treated with endovascular embolization using microcoils. Methods Case report. Results A 67‐year old female presented to the emergency room with severe bilateral lower extremity paresis. Patient’s history was significant of hypertension, ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation and a previous subarachnoid hemorrhage of an unknown cause. An initial computed tomography scan done at an outside hospital showed a spinal canal hemorrhage at the cervical level and was suspicious for vascular malformation of cervical spine. Diagnostic angiogram via radial approach revealed a previously undiagnosed coarctation of the aorta. The examination showed an extensive network of collaterals between both subclavian arteries and thoracic aorta. A spinal artery aneurysm was identified as the source of the hemorrhage. At the C7/Th1 level on the left side a dilated radicular artery providing collateral blood flow to the left subclavian artery was detected, with an irregularly shaped lobulated aneurysm (11×7 mm) on its course. The following day endovascular embolization of the aneurysm was performed. Both radial arteries were punctured. On the left side, a pigtail catheter was placed in the left subclavian artery, and on the right side, a 5F guiding catheter was placed in the left vertebral artery. A balloon catheter was introduced to the left vertebral artery and advanced to the branching point of the radicular artery with the aneurysm on its course. Functional test was performed and upon balloon inflation no neurological deterioration was observed. The radicular artery feeding the aneurysm was accessed with a microcatheter. Embolisation was performed and microcoils were deployed in the radicular artery proximal to the aneurysm site. A control angiogram via left subclavian showed retrograde inflow into radicular artery from which the anterior spinal artery branched off. Conclusions As our case demonstrates, spinal and radicular artery aneurysms induced by aortic coarctation are complex entities and pose a unique surgical and medical challenge. Treating the aneurysm should be prioritized in cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Transradial approach for interventional procedures can avoid anatomic restrictions posed by coarctation.

Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures Cause Lumbar Spine Fracture

A 28-year-old man presented to the emergency department after a witnessed GTC seizure. The patient had a history of systemic lupus erythematosus, previous subarachnoid hemorrhage, and pulmonary embolism. He was on regular methylprednisolone 16 mg, enoxaparin 60 mg once daily, and levetiracetam (LEV) 500 mg twice daily. The patient had recently stopped taking LEV. There was no trauma in the history. Neurological examination was normal. He had severe lower back pain that failed to subside despite treatment with analgesics and opioids; therefore, this patient had an indication for radiological imaging. Urgent non-contrast computerized tomography (CT) scan of the lumbar spine revealed a burst fracture of L1. Non-contrast lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a bursal fracture in the L1 vertebral corpus that caused approximately 50% height loss, and there was compression of the posterior corpus of the vertebra on the thecal sac; however, no stenosis of the spinal canal was detected. At this level, there was bone marrow edema in the vertebral corpus (Figure 1,2). He was transferred to the neurosurgery department. Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for the publication of this case.

Bartonella henselae Infective Endocarditis: A Rare Cause of Pauci-Immune Necrotizing Glomerulonephritis—A Case Report

Bartonella sp. are the most common causes of culture-negative infective endocarditis (IE) cases in the United States. Although, infection-related glomerulonephritis can frequently mimic primary vasculitis due to pauci-immune pattern, majority of previously reported cases of Bartonella henselae-associated glomerulonephritis have immune-complex deposits on immunofluorescence. We present a rare case of B henselae IE-related pauci-immune necrotizing glomerulonephritis. Timely recognition of this atypical presentation led to appropriately directed medical therapy. A 33-year-old Caucasian male with a history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), alcohol abuse, previous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and recent wisdom tooth extraction (on amoxicillin) was transferred from an outside hospital for further evaluation of severe headache. He was diagnosed with an SAH and right anterior cerebral artery mycotic aneurysm. The serum creatinine at the outside hospital was 292 umol/L (3.3 mg/dL) with a previously normal baseline around 2 years ago. The serum creatinine at our institution was 256 umol/L (3.0 mg/dL). The urinalysis demonstrated +100 protein, +3 blood and 29 red blood cells/high power field. The urine protein creatinine ratio (UPC) was 1.7 g/g. Serologic evaluation was positive for a low C4 10.2 mg/dL, elevated rheumatoid factor 40 IU/mL and an elevated proteinase 3 (PR-3) antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA Ab) 4.0 U/mL. A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) showed echo densities on both mitral and aortic valve. Blood cultures were negative. Further serologic evaluation was positive for B henselae IgG titer of 1:2560 (normal <1:320) with a negative IgM titer. A percutaneous kidney biopsy revealed pauci-immune necrotizing glomerulonephritis, with 14/16 glomeruli globally sclerotic, and 2 glomeruli with active segmental necrotizing lesions. There was no evidence of immune-complex deposition on immunofluorescence or electron microscopy. Clinical findings were consistent with B henselae IE associated mycotic aneurysm and necrotizing glomerulonephritis. Empiric treatment for an active glomerulonephritis with immunosuppressive agents was deferred on admission, given concern for an underlying infectious process and mycotic aneurysms in an HIV-positive patient. He received antibiotic treatment with doxycycline and ceftriaxone with gentamicin for synergy. Despite this, the mitral and aortic valve regurgitation worsened, and he developed congestive heart failure requiring aortic valve replacement and mitral valve repair. The explanted aortic valve was positive for B henselae by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirming the diagnosis of B henselae IE. Immunosuppression was deferred due to timely identification of an atypical presentation of B henselae-associated ANCA antibodies-positive, pauci-immune necrotizing glomerulonephritis. A course of antibiotic treatment resulted in improved renal functions along with undetectable B henselae and PR3 Ab titers. The serum creatinine decreased to 176 umol/L (2 mg/dL) and remained stable 12 months after discharge. B henselae IE should be suspected in patients with pauci-immune necrotizing glomerulonephritis and culture-negative IE. This is imperative for optimal decision making in the management of such patients. Having high clinical suspicion can avoid unnecessary and potentially deleterious use of immunosuppressive agents.

Outcomes with IV tenecteplase and IV alteplase for acute ischemic stroke with or without thrombectomy in real-world settings in the United States

Background and PurposeAlthough many stroke centers in United States are using intravenous (IV) tenecteplase (TNK) for acute ischemic stroke patients, there is paucity of comparative data between IV TNK and IV alteplase from real-world settings. Materials and MethodsWe analyzed the data from 122 healthcare facilities in Cerner Real World Data and included patients admitted between February 2016 to April 2022 to determine the effect of IV TNK (compared with IV alteplase) on occurrence of two outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients stratified by use of thrombectomy: non-routine discharge or death, and intracranial hemorrhage after adjusting for potential confounders. ResultsAmong 30,643 acute ischemic stroke patients analyzed, 29,480 (96.2%) and 1,163 (3.8%) patients received IV alteplase and IV TNK, respectively. The proportion of patients who received thrombectomy was significantly higher among patients who received IV TNK compared with those who received IV alteplase (16.7% versus 11.0%, p<0.001). Occurrence of intracranial hemorrhage was more common among patients treated with IV TNK in acute ischemic stroke patients who did not receive thrombectomy (7.9% versus 5.1%, p<0.001) but not in those who received thrombectomy (20.1% versus 16.8%, p = 0.234). In the logistic regression analysis, patients treated with IV TNK who did not receive thrombectomy were at higher risk of intracranial hemorrhage (OR, 1.34, 95% CI 1.05-1.72, p = 0.02) after adjusting for age (age strata), gender, race/ethnicity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, hyperlipidemia, malignancy, nicotine dependence, previous ischemic stroke, previous transient ischemic attack, previous intracerebral hemorrhage, previous subarachnoid hemorrhage, previous acute myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis of aorta, previous AKI, congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, and hospital type, aphasia, hemiplegia, neglect, somnolence, stupor and coma, dysphagia, and homonymous hemianopsia. There was no difference in the rate of non-routine discharge or death between patients treated with IV TNK and those treated with IV alteplase in the multivariate analyses. ConclusionsIn an analysis of real-world data, IV TNK was associated with higher rates of intracranial hemorrhage compared with IV alteplase in patients with acute ischemic stroke who did not undergo thrombectomy.

Radiological follow-up of endovascularly treated intracranial aneurysms: a survey of current practice in the UK and Ireland.

Due to the risk of intracranial aneurysm (IA) recurrence and the potential requirement for re-treatment following endovascular treatment (EVT), radiological follow-up of these aneurysms is necessary. There is little evidence to guide the duration and frequency of this follow-up. The aim of this study was to establish the current practice in neurosurgical units in the UK and Ireland. A survey was designed with input from interventional neuroradiologists and neurosurgeons. Neurovascular consultants in each of the 30 neurosurgical units providing a neurovascular service in the UK and Ireland were contacted and asked to respond to questions regarding the follow-up practice for IA treated with EVT in their department. Responses were obtained from 28/30 (94%) of departments. There was evidence of wide variations in the duration and frequency of follow-up, with a minimum follow-up duration for ruptured IA that varied from 18months in 5/28 (18%) units to 5years in 11/28 (39%) of units. Young patient age, previous subarachnoid haemorrhage and incomplete IA occlusion were cited as factors that would prompt more intensive surveillance, although larger and broad-necked IA were not followed-up more closely in the majority of departments. There is a wide variation in the radiological follow-up of IA treated with EVT in the UK and Ireland. Further standardisation of this aspect of patient care is likely to be beneficial, but further evidence on the behaviour of IA following EVT is required in order to inform this process.

Contour-Assisted coiling with jailed microcatheter May result in better occlusion (CoCoJaMBO) in wide-necked intracranial aneurysms: Proof of principle and immediate angiographic results.

Wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms, partially thrombosed, and recurrences of large and giant aneurysms are challenging to treat. We report our preliminary experience with a Contour-assisted coiling technique and discuss the periprocedural safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of the approach. We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients who received endovascular treatment for intracranial aneurysms with an intra-aneurysmal flow disruptor (Contour) at two neurovascular centres between October 2018 and December 2020 and identified patients treated with a combination of Contour and platinum coils. Clinical and procedural data were recorded. For this analysis, 8 patients (5 female) aged 60.1 ± 9.2 years on average were identified. Three of 8 aneurysms were associated with previous acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The mean average dome height was 12.8 ± 7.6 mm, mean maximum dome width 10.3 ± 5.4 mm, and neck width 5.5 ± 2.5 mm. The mean dome-to-neck ratio was 1.9 ± 1.0. Immediate complete occlusion of the aneurysm was seen in 5 of 8 cases. In one SAH patient, a parent vessel was temporarily occluded but could be reopened rapidly. One device detached prematurely without any sequelae. No other procedural adverse events were recorded. From this initial experience, Contour with adjunctive coiling is a safe and technically feasible method for endovascular treatment of large, wide-necked, partially thrombosed, recurrent, or ruptured bifurcation aneurysms. Further studies with larger numbers of patients and longer follow-up are needed to confirm our results.

Effect of Aneurysm and Patient Characteristics on Intracranial Aneurysm Wall Thickness.

Background: The circle of Willis is a network of arteries allowing blood supply to the brain. Bulging of these arteries leads to formation of intracranial aneurysm (IA). Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to IA rupture is among the leading causes of disability in the western world. The formation and rupture of IAs is a complex pathological process not completely understood. In the present study, we have precisely measured aneurysmal wall thickness and its uniformity on histological sections and investigated for associations between IA wall thickness/uniformity and commonly admitted risk factors for IA rupture.Methods: Fifty-five aneurysm domes were obtained at the Geneva University Hospitals during microsurgery after clipping of the IA neck. Samples were embedded in paraffin, sectioned and stained with hematoxylin-eosin to measure IA wall thickness. The mean, minimum, and maximum wall thickness as well as thickness uniformity was measured for each IA. Clinical data related to IA characteristics (ruptured or unruptured, vascular location, maximum dome diameter, neck size, bottleneck factor, aspect and morphology), and patient characteristics [age, smoking, hypertension, sex, ethnicity, previous SAH, positive family history for IA/SAH, presence of multiple IAs and diagnosis of polycystic kidney disease (PKD)] were collected.Results: We found positive correlations between maximum dome diameter or neck size and IA wall thickness and thickness uniformity. PKD patients had thinner IA walls. No associations were found between smoking, hypertension, sex, IA multiplicity, rupture status or vascular location, and IA wall thickness. No correlation was found between patient age and IA wall thickness. The group of IAs with non-uniform wall thickness contained more ruptured IAs, women and patients harboring multiple IAs. Finally, PHASES and ELAPSS scores were positively correlated with higher IA wall heterogeneity.Conclusion: Among our patient and aneurysm characteristics of interest, maximum dome diameter, neck size and PKD were the three factors having the most significant impact on IA wall thickness and thickness uniformity. Moreover, wall thickness heterogeneity was more observed in ruptured IAs, in women and in patients with multiple IAs. Advanced medical imaging allowing in vivo measurement of IA wall thickness would certainly improve personalized management of the disease and patient care.

Abstract 1122‐000130: Prediction of Risk of Rupture of Intracranial Aneurysms in a Latin‐American Population: A Restrospective Study

Introduction : The Population, Hypertension, Age, Size, Earlier Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH), Site (PHASES) score was developed in North America, Europe, and Japan and it is a widely used model in day‐to‐day clinical practice for intracranial aneurysm (IA) rupture risk stratification. Here, we aimed to determine the predictors of aneurysm rupture and assess the components of the PHASES score in a Latin American population. Methods : Four hundred eighty‐six Peruvian patients presented at our institution with ruptured IAs between 2010 and 2020. We retrospectively collected the following variables: age, sex, a hypertension or diabetes mellitus history, previous SAH, the aneurysm size in millimeters (&lt;5, 5–6.9, 7–9.9, 10–19.9, and ≥20), aneurysm morphology (saccular or non‐saccular), neck diameter (≤4 and &gt;4), presence of a pseudoaneurysm, and aneurysm location. We then performed two separate multivariate analysis. For the first one, we included variables using a stepwise approach with a cut‐off p‐value of 0.2 in univariate logistic regression. For the second one, we evaluated the PHASES score components. A p‐value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results : The median age was 56 years old, and 114 females were included. One hundred seventy‐five patients had a hypertension history, 21 had a diabetes history, and 11 had a previous SAH. Seventy‐eight patients had an aneurysm with &lt;5mm, 118 with 5–6.9mm, 125 with 7–9.9mm, 85 with 10–19.9, and 10 patients with an aneurysm &gt;20mm. There were 372 patients with a saccular aneurysm and an associated pseudoaneurysm was found in 197 patients. The most common location was posterior communicating artery (n = 219), followed by the anterior cerebral artery (n = 125), the middle cerebral artery (MCA) (n = 58), branches from the posterior circulation (n = 33), and finally by a paraclinoid aneurysm (n = 33). In our initial multivariate analysis, only the presence of an associated pseudoaneurysm was an independent predictor for aneurysm rupture (OR 7.93; 95% CI 3.45 – 18.25). An age &gt;70 years (OR 1.12; 95% CI 0.3 – 4.12), the male sex (OR 1.39; 95% CI 0.54 – 3.62), a hypertension history (OR 1.14; 95% CI 0.53 – 2.44), a size of 10–20mm (OR 1.46; 95% CI 0.46‐ 4.64), and location in the MCA (OR 1.07; 95% CI 0.25 – 4.57) also predicted a higher rupture risk but without statistical significance. When we performed a multivariate logistic regression of the factors making up the PHASES score, we found that only the age (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.11‐ 2.88) and a hypertension history (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.14 – 2.27) were independent predictors of aneurysm rupture. Conclusions : Based on our findings and its limitations, we observed that the presence of an associated pseudoaneurysm was a predictor for aneurysm rupture. Moreover, we found that only two of the five components of the PHASES score were predictors of the event in our population: the age and a hypertension history. Therefore, new research should be carried out in the Latin American population to establish predictors for the development of clinical predictive models in this field.

Abstract 1122‐000046: A Latin American Model of the PHASES Score

Introduction : The PHASES score was developed to predict the 5‐year risk of rupture for intracranial aneurysms (IAs). However, only populations from North America, Europe, and Japan were included in the original study. As the population of origin is an item in the score, it has yet to be applied in a Latin American population. We aimed to determine the best approximation to employ this model in this previously unstudied population. Methods : We extracted the data of 848 Peruvian patients with ruptured (n = 486) and unruptured (n = 362) IAs from 2010 to 2020. According to the PHASES score, the North American and European (other than Finish), Japanese, and Finnish populations are rated with 0, 3 and 5 points, respectively. Therefore, we developed three PHASES‐derived models in which our Peruvian population is rated with 0 (Model A), 3 (Model B), and 5 (Model C) points. We compared the observed probability of each model to the expected probability reported by the original PHASES score using a scatter plot. We then compared the goodness‐of‐fit of each model using the Hosmer‐Lemeshow test in STATA version 14. Results : Nineteen percent of the patients were female. Hypertension was found in 34% of patients and 15% were &gt;70 years. Fifty‐four percent of the aneurysms were smaller than 7mm, 25% ranged between 7 and 9.9mm, 18% were between 10 and 19.9mm, and 3% were larger than 20mm. Previous subarachnoid hemorrhage was found in 4%. The location of the aneurysms was the internal carotid artery in 4%, the middle cerebral artery in 4%, and arteries of the anterior and posterior circulation (including the anterior and posterior communicating artery) in 92%. When Model A was applied, 63% of the patients among the ruptured subgroup have an estimated 5‐year risk of rupture of &lt;3% while 77% of the patients have an estimated risk of &lt;3% in the unruptured subgroup. When Model B was applied, 30% of the patients among the ruptured subgroup have an estimated 5‐year risk of rupture of &lt;3% and 42% of patients among the unruptured subgroup have an estimated risk of &lt;3%. When Model C was applied, 96% of the patients among the ruptured subgroup have an estimated 5‐year risk of rupture of &gt;3% while in the unruptured subgroup an estimated risk of &lt;3% was observed only in 4% of the patients. When comparing observed to expected frequencies, model B presented a better calibration to the values reported by the original PHASES score. Additionally, the Hosmer‐Lemeshow showed Model B to have improved goodness‐of‐fit, compared to other models, although all presented adequate fit. Conclusions : We found that rating the Peruvian population with 3 points was the best approximation to the estimated risk calculated by the PHASES score to predict the 5‐year risk of rupture for IAs.

Oxygen toxicity seizure mimics.

Oxygen toxicity seizures (OTS) are a well-recognised complication of hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT). As such, seizure-like activity during HBOT is usually presumed to be a result of central nervous system oxygen toxicity (CNS-OT). Four cases are reported here where causes other than CNS-OT were determined as being the likely cause of the seizure; causes we have labelled 'OTS mimics'. Through review of the current literature, and our hyperbaric medicine unit's experience to date, we aimed to highlight the relevance of these OTS mimics, as the potential for significant morbidity and mortality exists with incorrect diagnoses. A retrospective review of the medical records of all patients treated at the Fiona Stanley Hospital and Fremantle Hospital hyperbaric medicine units who had a seizure during HBOT between November 1989 and June 2020. These events were reviewed to determine whether causes for seizures other than oxygen toxicity were evident. Four OTS mimics were identified: posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, pethidine toxicity, previous subarachnoid haemorrhage with resultant epilepsy, and severe hypoglycaemia. This case series highlights the need for caution when diagnosing an apparent OTS. Multiple conditions may mimic the signs and symptoms of oxygen toxicity. This creates scope for misdiagnosis, with potential for consequent morbidity and mortality. A pragmatic approach is necessary to any patient exhibiting seizure-like activity during HBOT, with suspicion for other underlying pathologies.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage survivors show long-term deficits in spatial reference memory in a pilot study of a virtual water maze paradigm

BackgroundLimited data exists on the long-term effects of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) on spatial memory. Herein, we used a computerized virtual water maze to evaluate the feasibility of spatial memory testing in pilot cohort of ten patients who survived previous SAH. MethodsTen SAH survivors (5.8 ± 5.1 years after initial hemorrhage) and 7 age-matched controls underwent testing in a virtual water maze computer program. Additional subgroup analyses were performed to evaluate spatial reference memory correlation for ventricular size on admission, placement of an external ventricular drain and placement of a shunt. ResultsWith respect to the spatial memory acquisition phase, there was no significant difference of pathway length traveled to reach the platform between SAH survivors and control subjects. During the probe trial, control subjects spent significantly longer time in target quadrants compared to SAH survivors (F(3, 24) = 10.32, p = 0.0001; Target vs. Right: Mean percent difference 0.16 [0–0.32], p = 0.045; Target vs. Across: Mean percent difference 0.35 [0.19–0.51], p < 0.0001; Target vs. Left: Mean percent difference 0.21 [0.05–0.37], p = 0.0094). Furthermore, patients who initially presented with smaller ventricles performed worse that those patients who had ventriculomegaly and/or required surgical management of hydrocephalus. ConclusionsOur data demonstrate that SAH survivors have persistent spatial reference memory deficits years after the hemorrhage. Hydrocephalus at presentation and external ventricular drainage were not found to be associated with poor spatial memory outcomes in this pilot cohort. Therefore, other causes such as global cerebral edema or magnitude of initial ICP spike, need to be considered to be examined as root cause as well in subsequent studies. The protocol described in this manuscript is able to demonstrate a spatial reference memory deficit and can be used to study risk factors for spatial memory impairment on a larger scale.

Comparison of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm Treatment Score and PHASES Score in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients With Multiple Intracranial Aneurysms.

Objective: Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm (UIA) Treatment Score (UIATS) and PHASES score are used to inform treatment decision making for UIAs (treatment or observation). We assessed the ability of the scoring systems to discriminate between ruptured aneurysms and UIAs in a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) cohort with multiple aneurysms.Methods: We retrospectively applied PHASES and UIATS scoring to the aneurysms of 40 consecutive patients with SAH and multiple intracranial aneurysms.Results: PHASES score discriminated better between ruptured aneurysms and UIAs than UIATS. PHASES scores and the difference between the UIATS subscores were higher for ruptured aneurysms compared with UIAs, which reached significance for the PHASES score. PHASES score estimated a low 5-year rupture risk in a larger proportion of the UIAs (≤0.7% in 62.3%, ≤1.7% in 98.4%) than of the ruptured aneurysms (≤0.7% in 22.5%, ≤1.7% in 82.5%). In the 40 ruptured aneurysms, UIATS provided recommendation for treatment in 11 (27.5%), conservative management in 14 (35.0%), and was inconclusive in 15 cases (37.5%). In the 61 UIAs, UIATS recommended treatment in 16 (26.2%), conservative management in 29 (47.5%), and was inconclusive in 16 (26.2%) cases.Conclusion: Similar to previous SAH cohorts, a significant proportion of the ruptured aneurysms exhibited a low-rupture risk. Nevertheless, PHASES score discriminated between ruptured aneurysms and UIAs in our cohort; the lower discriminatory power of UIATS was due to high weights of aneurysm-independent factors. We recommend careful integration of the scores for individual decision making. Large-scale prospective trials are required to establish score-based treatment strategies for UIAs.

Clinical Factors Associated with the Risk of Intracranial Aneurysm Rupture in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Background: The occurrence of intracranial aneurysms is higher in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) than in the healthy population. However, research concerning the factors related to the risk of intracranial aneurysm rupture in patients with ADPKD is still insufficient. Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of intracranial aneurysms and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and to analyze the systemic factors associated with high-risk aneurysms in patients with ADPKD. Methods: We screened patients who underwent cerebral angiography between January 2007 and May 2017 in the ADPKD registry. Patients were examined for the presence of intracranial aneurysms and subsequently reclassified into 3 groups based on the risk of aneurysmal rupture: the aneurysm-negative (group 1), low-risk aneurysm (group 2), or high-risk aneurysm (group 3). Various systemic factors were compared, and independent factors associated with high-risk aneurysms were analyzed. Results: Among the 926 patients, 148 (16.0%) had intracranial aneurysms and 11 (1.2%) had previous aneurysmal SAH. Patients with intracranial aneurysms were further classified into group 2 (low-risk aneurysms, 15.5%) or group 3 (high-risk aneurysms, 84.5%). Age (odds ratio [OR] 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–1.05, p = 0.004), female sex (OR 3.13, 95% CI 1.94–5.0 6, p < 0.001), dolichoectasia (OR 8.57, 95% CI 1.53–48.17, p = 0.015), and mitral inflow deceleration time (DT) (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00–1.01, p = 0.046) were independently associated with high-risk aneurysms, whereas hypercholesterolemia (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.29–0.72, p = 0.001) was negatively associated. Conclusion: In the present study among patients with ADPKD, the prevalence of intracranial aneurysms and aneurysmal SAH was 16 and 1.2%, respectively. Age, female sex, dolichoectasia, and mitral inflow DT were positively associated with high-risk aneurysms, whereas hypercholesterolemia was negatively associated. A subsequent large-scaled longitudinal study is needed to define the plausibility of the clinical parameters.

Alternative Splicing of Putative Stroke/Vascular Risk Factor Genes Expressed in Blood Following Ischemic Stroke Is Sexually Dimorphic and Cause-Specific.

Genome-wide association studies have identified putative ischemic stroke risk genes, yet, their expression after stroke is unexplored in spite of growing interest in elucidating their specific role and identifying candidate genes for stroke treatment. Thus, we took an exploratory approach to investigate sexual dimorphism, alternative splicing, and etiology in putative risk gene expression in blood following cardioembolic, atherosclerotic large vessel disease and small vessel disease/lacunar causes of ischemic stroke in each sex compared to controls. Whole transcriptome arrays assessed 71 putative stroke/vascular risk factor genes for blood RNA expression at gene-, exon-, and alternative splicing-levels. Male (n = 122) and female (n = 123) stroke and control volunteers from three university medical centers were matched for race, age, vascular risk factors, and blood draw time since stroke onset. Exclusion criteria included: previous stroke, drug abuse, subarachnoid or intracerebral hemorrhage, hemorrhagic transformation, infection, dialysis, cancer, hematological abnormalities, thrombolytics, anticoagulants or immunosuppressants. Significant differential gene expression (fold change > |1.2|, p < 0.05, partial correlation > |0.4|) and alternative splicing (false discovery rate p < 0.3) were assessed. At gene level, few were differentially expressed: ALDH2, ALOX5AP, F13A1, and IMPA2 (males, all stroke); ITGB3 (females, cardioembolic); ADD1 (males, atherosclerotic); F13A1, IMPA2 (males, lacunar); and WNK1 (females, lacunar). GP1BA and ITGA2B were alternatively spliced in both sexes (all patients vs. controls). Six genes in males, five in females, were alternatively spliced in all stroke compared to controls. Alternative splicing and exon-level analyses associated many genes with specific etiology in either sex. Of 71 genes, 70 had differential exon-level expression in stroke patients compared to control subjects. Among stroke patients, 24 genes represented by differentially expressed exons were male-specific, six were common between sexes, and two were female-specific. In lacunar stroke, expression of 19 differentially expressed exons representing six genes (ADD1, NINJ2, PCSK9, PEMT, SMARCA4, WNK1) decreased in males and increased in females. Results demonstrate alternative splicing and sexually dimorphic expression of most putative risk genes in stroke patients' blood. Since expression was also often cause-specific, sex, and etiology are factors to consider in stroke treatment trials and genetic association studies as society trends toward more personalized medicine.

Predictors of Complications, Functional Outcome, and Morbidity in a Large Cohort Treated With Flow Diversion.

A dramatic improvement in obliteration rates of large, wide-necked aneurysms has been observed after the FDA approved the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) in 2011. To assess the predictors of complications, morbidity, and unfavorable outcomes in a large cohort of patients with aneurysms treated with PED. A retrospective chart review of a prospectively maintained database for subjects treated with flow diversion from 2010 to 2019. A total of 598 aneurysms were treated during a period extending from 2010 to 2019 (84.28% females, mean age 55.5 yr, average aneurysm size 8.49 mm). Morbidity occurred at a rate of 5.8% and mortality at a rate of 2.2%. Ischemic stroke occurred at a rate of 3%, delayed aneurysmal rupture (DAR) at 1.2%, and distal intraparenchymal hemorrhage (DIPH) at 1.5%. On multivariate analysis, the predictor of stroke was aneurysm size>15 mm. Predictors of DAR were previous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), increasing aneurysm size, and posterior circulation aneurysm. Predictors of DIPH were using more than 1 PED and baseline P2Y12 value. Predictors of in-stent stenosis were the increasing year of treatment and balloon angioplasty, whereas increasing age and previous treatment were negatively associated with in-stent stenosis. Predictors of morbidity were posterior circulation aneurysms, increasing aneurysm size, and hypertension, and incidental aneurysm diagnosis was protective for morbidity. Flow diversion is a safe and effective treatment option for aneurysms. A better understanding of predictive factors of complications, morbidity, and functional outcomes is of high importance for a more accurate risk assessment.

Risk factors predicting a higher grade of subarachnoid haemorrhage in small ruptured intracranial aneurysm (< 5 mm).

To identify the risk factors for clinical and radiographic grades of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) in small (< 5 mm) intracranial aneurysms (SIAs). We retrospectively analysed patients with SIAs treated in our centre between February 2009 and June 2018. The clinical status was graded using the Hunt and Hess (H&H) score and the radiological severity of SAH was graded by Fisher grades (FG). The risk factors were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis. A total of 160 patients with ruptured SIAs (< 5 mm) were included. In univariate analysis, smoking (P = 0.007), alcohol use (P = 0.048), aspirin use (P = 0.001), and higher size ratio (SR) (P = 0.001) were significantly associated with a higher H&H grade (3-5) in SIAs; and smoking (P = 0.019), aspirin use (P = 0.031), inflow angle < 90 degrees (P = 0.011), and aneurysm size (P = 0.039) were significantly associated with a higher FG score (3-4). In the adjusted multivariate analysis, previous SAH (OR, 12.245, 95% CI, 2.261-66.334, P = 0.004), aspirin use (OR, 4.677, 95% CI, 1.392-15.718, P = 0.013), alcohol use (OR, 3.392, 95% CI, 1.146-10.045, P = 0.027), inflow angle < 90 (OR, 3.881, 95% CI, 1.273-11.831, P = 0.017), and higher SR (OR, 6.611, 95% CI, 2.235-19.560, P = 0.001) were independent risk factors for a higher H&H grade in ruptured SIAs; smoking (OR, 2.157, 95% CI, 1.061-4.384, P = 0.034), and inflow angle < 90 degrees (OR, 2.603, 95% CI, 1.324-5.115, P = 0.006) were independent risk factors for a higher FG (3-4). This study revealed that inflow angle < 90 degrees and size ratio, but not absolute size, may highly predict poorer grade of SAH in SRA. Aspirin use, previous SAH, and alcohol use were significantly associated with a higher H&H grade in ruptured SIAs, and smoking was a significant predictor of poorer FG.