Correlation between tomographic scales and vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Abstract

Objective To determine the prevalence of sonographic vasospasm and delayed ischemic deficit in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, to evaluate the correlation between different tomographic scales and these complications, and to study prognostic factors in this group of patients. Methods This was a prospective study of patients admitted to the intensive care unit with a diagnosis of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. The prevalence of sonographic vasospasm and radiological delayed cerebral ischemia was analyzed, as was the correlation between different tomographic scales and these complications. Results A total of 57 patients were studied. Sixty percent of the patients developed sonographic vasospasm, which was significantly associated with delayed cerebral ischemia and mortality. The Claassen and Hijdra scales were better correlated with the development of cerebral vasospasm (areas under the curve of 0.78 and 0.68) than was Fisher’s scale (0.62). Thirty-two patients (56.1%) developed cerebral infarction on CT; the significantly associated factors were poor clinical grade at admission (p = 0.04), sonographic vasospasm (p = 0.008) and severity of vasospasm (p = 0.015). Only the semiquantitative Hijdra scale was significantly correlated with the development of radiological delayed cerebral ischemia (p = 0.009). The patients who presented cerebral infarction had worse neurological evolution and higher mortality. Conclusion This is the first study in our environment on the subject. The Claassen and Hijdra tomographic scales showed better prognostic performance than the Fisher scale for the development of cerebral vasospasm. The finding of sonographic vasospasm could be a noninvasive criterion for the early detection of delayed cerebral ischemia and neurological deterioration in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Automated Hemorrhage Volume Quantification in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

“…23 Variability in reported incidences of radiological vasospasm, symptomatic vasospasm, and DCI across studies highlights the lack of standardized de nitions and outcomes in this research area. 24 In our analysis, an aSAH volume of 9.95 mL achieved a higher accuracy for the occurrence of hydrocephalus (sensitivity of 74.2% and speci city of 69%). This volume is notably smaller than the volumes associated with vasospasm, and death within 7 days.…”