Subarachnoid Blood Clearance and Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Outcomes: A Retrospective Review

BACKGROUND

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) continues to be a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Subarachnoid blood and its degradation products have been implicated in DCI, and faster blood clearance has been hypothesized to confer better outcomes. This study evaluates the relationship between blood volume and its clearance on DCI (primary outcome) and location at 30 days (secondary outcome) after aSAH.

METHODS

This is a retrospective review of adult patients presenting with aSAH. Hijdra sum scores (HSS) were assessed independently for each computed tomography (CT) scan of patients with available scans on post-bleed days 0-1 and 2-10. This cohort was used to evaluate the course of subarachnoid blood clearance (group 1). A subset of patients in the first cohort with available CT scans on both post-bleed days 0-1 and post-bleed days 3-4 composed the second cohort (group 2). This group was used to evaluate the association between initial subarachnoid blood (measured via HSS post-bleed days 0-1) and its clearance (measured via percentage reduction [HSS %Reduction] and absolute reduction [HSS-Abs-Reduction] in HSS between days 0-1 and 3-4) on outcomes. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify outcome predictors.

RESULTS

One hundred fifty-six patients were in group 1, and 72 patients were in group 2. In this cohort, HSS %Reduction was associated with decreased risk of DCI in univariate (odds ratio [OR] = 0.700 [0.527-0.923], p = 0.011) and multivariable (OR = 0.700 [0.527-0.923], p = 0.012) analyses. Higher HSS %Reduction was significantly more likely to have better outcomes at 30 days in the multivariable analysis (OR = 0.703 [0.507-0.980], p = 0.036). Initial subarachnoid blood volume was associated with outcome location at 30 days (OR = 1.331 [1.040-1.701], p = 0.023) but not DCI (OR = 0.945 [0.780-1.145], p = 0.567).

CONCLUSIONS

Early blood clearance after aSAH was associated with DCI (univariable and multivariable analyses) and outcome location at 30 days (multivariable analysis). Methods facilitating subarachnoid blood clearance warrant further investigation.

Use of Anticoagulation Agents After Traumatic Intracranial Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE

Anticoagulant therapy (ACT) after traumatic intracranial hemorrhage may lead to progression of hemorrhage, but in the presence of thromboembolic events, the clinician must decide if the benefits outweigh the risks. Currently, no data exist to guide therapy in the acute setting.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified all patients admitted to our institution with traumatic intracranial hemorrhage that received intravenous heparin, full-dose enoxaparin, or warfarin during their initial hospitalization over a 3-year period. We reviewed their demographics, hospital course, clinical indication and timing for initiation of ACT, and complications.

RESULTS

A total of 112 patients were identified. The median age and Glasgow Coma Scale score of these patients was 50.5 years and 9.5, respectively. Twenty-two patients required neurosurgical procedures for their presenting injury, including intracranial pressure monitors and/or open surgeries. Fifty-four patients had deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism prior to initiation, and the remaining 20 patients had preexisting conditions or other indications for initiating ACT. The median time from injury to starting ACT was 8 days. Immediate complications occurred in 6 patients; however, none of these patients required a neurosurgical intervention. Delayed complications included progression of acute to chronic subdural hematoma that required intervention in 2 patients. One patient died from delayed hemorrhage.

CONCLUSIONS

For this patient population, the risk of immediate and delayed intracranial hemorrhages from initiating ACT therapy in intracranial injury must be weighed against the morbidity of delaying treatment. Although further studies are needed, our review provides the first rates of complications for this patient population.

Vestibular schwannoma or tanycytic ependymoma: Immunohistologic staining reveals

Background:

The cerebellopontine angle (CPA) is a common location for primary tumors, most often vestibular schwannomas, and also meningiomas, dermoids, and a host of other neoplasms. Our case report illustrates how radiologic and histopathologic presentations of an unusual variant of ependymal neoplasm can be diagnostically challenging and how accurate diagnosis can affect treatment protocols.

Case History:

Our patient had a CPA mass that was a variant of ependymoma known as tanycytic ependymoma that mimicked vestibular schwannoma radiologically and during intraoperative pathologic examination. Diagnosis as a World Health Organization (WHO) grade II tanycytic ependymoma was supported by its appearance on evaluation of the permanent sections, its diffuse immunoreactivity for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and the perinuclear dot-and-ring-like staining for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA).

Conclusions:

Our patient's CPA mass initially believed to be a vestibular schwannoma on preoperative evaluation, surgical appearance, and intraoperative pathologic consultation was then correctly diagnosed as a WHO grade II tanycytic ependymoma on permanent histologic sections with the assistance of immunohistochemical stains, including EMA. After this definitive diagnosis, our patient's adjuvant treatment was adjusted. Earlier diagnosis could have provided guidance for goals of resection and prompt initiation of adjuvant treatment.