Management and Outcomes of Delayed Cerebral Ischemia Associated with Vasospasm Post Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Retrospective Cohort Study in the National Neurosurgical Center in Ireland

Abstract

Background Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is the leading cause of adverse outcome in patients who survive the initial phase of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). While guidelines recommend induced hypertension as a first-line treatment for DCI, there is no high-level evidence confirming outcome benefit. Methods Patients admitted with nontraumatic SAH over 3 years period were identified. Demographics, clinical/radiological presentation, aneurysm repair method, and Glasgow outcome score (GOS) 3 months postdischarge were recorded. A subgroup of patients who suffered clinically significant vasospasm were identified, and their hypertensive therapy and outcomes were examined. Results A total of 532 patients were admitted with SAH; 68 developed vasospasm. The vasospasm subgroup was divided based on vasopressor treatment—norepinephrine alone (n = 27) versus norepinephrine plus vasopressin (n = 35). No correlation was found between percentage of days that mean arterial pressure (MAP) targets were met and GOS outcome. Patients treated with both agents had worse GOS outcomes at than those treated with norepinephrine alone. Conclusion In our study, 12.8% of patients SAH developed vasospasm. Twenty-seven patients were treated with norepinephrine alone and 35 were treated with norepinephrine plus vasopressin to achieve augmented MAP targets. There was no correlation between percentage of days that MAP targets were met and improved patient outcome. The 68 patients stayed a total of 783 days in ICU, with a mean length of stay of 11.5 days. Patients who required dual therapy to achieve MAP targets had significantly worse neurological outcomes.