Objective. The aim of our prospective study was to investigate the applicability and the diagnostic value of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in SAH patients using the cerebral oximeter INVOS 5100C. Methods. Measurement of cerebral oximetry was done continuously after spontaneous SAH. Decrease of regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) was analyzed and interpreted in view of the determined intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Changes of rSO2 values were matched with the values of ICP, tipO2, and TCD and the results of additional neuroimaging. Results. Continuous measurement of rSO2 was performed in nine patients with SAH (7 females and 2 males). Mean measurement time was 8.6 days (range 2–12 days). The clinical course was uneventful in 7 patients without occurrence of CVS. In these patients, NIRS measured constant and stable rSO2 values without relevant alterations. Special findings are demonstrated in 3 cases. Conclusion. Measurement of rSO2 with NIRS is a safe, easy to use, noninvasive additional measurement tool for cerebral oxygenation, which is used routinely during vascular and cardiac surgical procedures. NIRS is applicable over a long time period after SAH, especially in alert patients without invasive probes. Our observations were promising, whereby larger studies are needed to answer the open questions.

After performing a decompressive craniectomy, a cranioplastic surgery is usually warranted. The complications of this reconstructive procedure may differ from the initial operation. The authors of this study report on their experience to define patient-specific and procedural risk factors for possible complications following cranioplasty influencing the outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS)), mobility, shunt dependency, and seizures. A retrospective analysis of 263 patients of all ages and both sexes who had undergone cranioplasty after craniectomy for traumatic brain injury (including chronic subdural hematoma), subarachnoidal hemorrhage (including intracerebral hemorrhage), ischemic stroke, and tumor surgery in one single center in 12 years from January 2000 to March 2012 has been carried out. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify potential risk factors (age, gender, used cranioplasty material, initial diagnosis, clipped or coil-embolized subarachnoidal hemorrhage (SAH) patients, time interval, complications especially hydrocephalus and seizures, mobility) upon the prognosis described as a dichotomized Glasgow Outcome Scale. Two hundred forty-eight patients met the study criteria. The overall complication rate after cranioplastic surgery was 18.5% (46 patients). Complications included: surgical site infection, epidural hematoma, hydrocephalus with or without former SAH, and new-onset seizures. Logistic regression analysis identified significant correlation between a low GOS (2 or 3) and postoperative seizures (OR 2.37, CI 1.35-4.18, p < 0.05), shunt-depending hydrocephalus (OR 5.83, CI 3.06-11.11, p < 0.05), and age between 51 and 70 years (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.09-5.29, p = 0.029). However, gender, time interval between craniectomy and cranioplasty, initial diagnosis, and used cranioplasty material had no significant influence on post-cranioplasty complications as surgical site infections, hematoma, wound healing disturbance, seizures, or hydrocephalus. Evaluation of treatment modality in aneurysmal SAH clip vs. coil showed no significant relation to postoperative complications either. Complications after cranioplastic surgery are a common problem, as prognostic factors could identify a shunt-depending hydrocephalus and epilepsia to develop a major deficit after cranioplastic surgery (GOS 2 or 3). We detected a significant extra risk of people between the age of 51 and 70 years to end up in GOS level 2 or 3.

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