Тhe contribution of computed tomography to the diagnosis of multiple aneurysm in the acute period of aneurysmal intracranial hemorrhage

Abstract

Introduction. Multiple aneurysms are detected in patients with non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (nSAH) in 14–45% of cases. The diagnostic algorithm for this pathology can be shortened by performing the non-enhanced CT of head, CT-angiography, and if the localization of hemorrhage according to non-enhanced CT data matches, there is enough evidence to perform direct surgery without obtaining preoperative DCA.Objective. Determination of the diagnostic efficiency of CT and CTA of brachiocephalic arteries (CTA BCA) for planning the surgical treatment in the case of multiple aneurysms of intracranial arteries in the acute period of non-traumatic ICH in an emergency room.Material and methods. Retrospective analysis of the records of radiological examinations in the preoperative period in patients in an acute period of non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage in the acute period performed in an emergency room of the Research Institute — Ochapovsky Regional Hospital no. 1. in the period from September 2017 to July 2018 (cerebral angiography, non-enhanced CT of the brain, CTA BCA).Results. According to the CTA BCA, 60 aneurysms were found: 21 patients had 2 aneurysms each one, 2 patients had 3 aneurysms, one patient had 8 aneurysms, and 4 patients had one aneurysm each. In comparison with DCA, which was performed in 10 patients, additionally there were found 3 miliary aneurysms, one aneurysm was excluded. For patients who did not obtain DCA, CTA scans were compared with intraoperative data on the side of surgical intervention (n=18). According to the CTA BCA, 18 aneurysms were found, according to the intraoperative record were found 17 aneurysms, while in one case a large bilobulated aneurysm was defined by a radiologist as two oppositely directed. The rest of the data was consistent.Conclusion. The presence of nICH on the non-contrast CT of the brain, and the correspondence of the localization of hemorrhage according to the results of CT-angiography, is sufficient for direct surgery without obtaining preoperative DCA, which is especially important in difficult patients. The use of DCA in patients with multiple aneurysms is recommended only in controversial and difficult cases.