Published online Jul 6, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i19.5054
Peer-review started: January 26, 2021
First decision: February 28, 2021
Revised: March 8, 2021
Accepted: May 15, 2021
Article in press: May 15, 2021
Published online: July 6, 2021
Processing time: 148 Days and 21.9 Hours
High-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is a devastating disease with a low favorable outcome. Elevated intracranial pressure is a substantial feature of high-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage that can result to secondary brain injury. Early control of intracranial pressure including decompressive craniectomy and external ventricular drainage had been reported to be associated with improved outcomes. But in recent years, little is known whether external ventricular drainage and intracranial pressure monitoring after coiling could improve outcomes in high-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
To investigate the outcomes of high-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients with coiling and ventricular intracranial pressure monitoring.
A retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of high-grade patients treated between Jan 2016 and Jun 2017 was performed. In our center, followed by continuous intracranial pressure monitoring, the use of ventricular pressure probe for endovascular coiling and invasive intracranial pressure monitoring in the acute phase is considered to be the first choice for the treatment of high-grade patients. We retrospectively analyzed patient characteristics, radiological features, intracranial pressure monitoring parameters, complications, mortality and outcome.
A total of 36 patients were included, and 32 (88.89%) survived. The overall mortality rate was 11.11%. No patient suffered from aneurysm re-rupture. The intracranial pressure in 33 patients (91.67%) was maintained within the normal range by ventricular drainage during the treatment. A favorable outcome was achieved in 18 patients (50%) with 6 mo follow-up. Delayed cerebral ischemia and Glasgow coma scale were considered as significant predictors of outcome (2.066 and -0.296, respectively, P < 0.05).
Ventricular intracranial pressure monitoring may effectively maintain the intracranial pressure within the normal range. Despite the small number of cases in the current work, high-grade patients may benefit from a combination therapy of early coiling and subsequent ventricular intracranial pressure monitoring.
Core Tip: Ventricular intracranial pressure monitoring may effectively maintain the intracranial pressure within the normal range. Intractable intracranial hypertension in high-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients could be managed through external ventricular drainage and intracranial pressure monitoring. Combination therapy of early endovascular coiling followed by external ventricular drainage and intracranial pressure monitoring may also be suitable for high-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients.