Outcomes following surgical clipping of re-ruptured previously untreated intracranial aneurysms

Neurosurg Rev. 2024 Aug 20;47(1):442. doi: 10.1007/s10143-024-02657-w.

Abstract

Re-rupture of untreated intracranial aneurysm is a potentially life-threatening condition. Despite tremendous advances in the diagnosis and treatment of intracranial aneurysms, such events are not rare and continue to pose a management dilemma. In this study, we examined the clinical, radiological and treatment details of patients who underwent microsurgical clipping for re-rupture of previously untreated intracranial aneurysms. Re ruptures were categorized as early and late re ruptures (< or > 7 days of inter ictus interval respectively). Modified Rankin Score (mRS) was used for functional outcome assessment and logistic regression analysis was used to test the predictors of long-term outcome. Re-ruptured intracranial aneurysms comprised 5% (n = 32/637) of the aneurysm clippings done at our center in this time span. The mean mRS score at discharge and at last follow-up were 3 and 3.04 respectively. Twenty-four (75%) patients were alive at a mean follow-up of 36 months. Early re-ruptures were associated with worse mean mRS scores at discharge (3.9 vs 2.5, p = 0.03) including the perioperative deaths (n = 4, 12.5%). The functional status at discharge and a poor preoperative clinical grade predicted a poor long-term outcome. Therefore, the long-term outcomes are primarily dependent on the short-term outcomes and to a lesser extent, the clinical grade at presentation. Those presenting with poor preoperative clinical grade, especially in the setting of an early re rupture, have a very poor prognosis and do not benefit from surgery.

Keywords: Death; In hospital; Prognostic factors; Re-rupture; Surgery; Vasospasm.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aneurysm, Ruptured* / surgery
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Aneurysm* / surgery
  • Male
  • Microsurgery / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurosurgical Procedures* / methods
  • Recurrence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Surgical Instruments
  • Treatment Outcome