The Current Status of Treatment Strategies for Cerebral Aneurysms in Nagoya University and Affiliated Hospitals Based on a Questionnaire Survey

Abstract

<jats:p> We investigated differences in the treatment strategies for ruptured aneurysms among 26 hospitals affiliated with Nagoya University and any changes in those strategies based on responses to a questionnaire. We also surveyed the data concerning patients with a ruptured aneurysm collected from our affiliated hospitals between 2001 and 2002. In half of the institutes, angiography is performed immediately after an urgent medical examination, there are only five hospitals (20%) which have a basic policy of terminating the angiography within three to six hours after onset. In half of the institutes, the timing of the treatment also depends on the location of the aneurysm. In particular, the treatment for vertebro-basilar aneurysms tends to be done the next day or later. Low-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients with mild symptoms tended not to be given any sedative drugs (46%), while patients with SAH in some institutes were sedated without informed consent regardless of the severity. The main treatment method for most anterior circulation aneurysms was clipping. Concerning aneurysms located in the posterior circulation and the origin of the ophthalmic artery, clipping and coiling were equally selected. Almost all the hospitals (92%) responded that their treatment strategy had not changed even after the report of the International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial (ISAT). There is a great deal of difference in treatment strategies and indications among institutions. In particular, institutions without neuroendovascular interventionists (NETists) frequently persist in the conventional policy, making it urgently necessary to bring NETists up-to-date on the latest advance in endovascular treatment. </jats:p>