Predicting factors affecting clinical outcomes for saccular aneurysms of posterior inferior cerebellar artery with subarachnoid hemorrhage

J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2011 Oct;50(4):327-31. doi: 10.3340/jkns.2011.50.4.327. Epub 2011 Oct 31.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical outcomes of surgery and coiling and analyze the predicting factors affecting the clinical outcomes of ruptured posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysms.

Methods: During the last 15 years, 20 consecutive patients with ruptured PICA aneurysms were treated and these patients were included in this study. The Fisher's exact test was used for the statistical significance of Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) according to initial Hunt-Hess (H-H) grade, treatment modalities, and the presence of acute hydrocephalus.

Results: Eleven (55%) and nine (45%) patients were treated with surgical clipping and endovascular treatment, respectively. Among 20 patients, thirteen (65.0%) patients had good outcomes (GOS 4 or 5). There was the statistical significance between initial poor H-H grade, the presence of acute hydrocephalus and poor GOS.

Conclusion: In our study, we suggest that initial H-H grade and the presence of acute hydrocephalus may affect the clinical outcome rather than treatment modalities in the ruptured PICA aneurysms.

Keywords: Aneurysm; Endovascular treatment; Posterior inferior cerebellar artery; Subarachnoid hemorrhage; Surgical clipping.