Cerebral vasospasm

Christopher D Baggott; Beverley Aagaard-Kienitz

doi:10.1016/j.nec.2014.04.008

Cerebral vasospasm

Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2014 Jul;25(3):497-528. doi: 10.1016/j.nec.2014.04.008.

Authors

Christopher D Baggott¹, Beverley Aagaard-Kienitz²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792, USA.
² Neuroendovascular Fellowship: Endovascular Neurosurgery/Neurointerventional Surgery, Neuroendovascular Section, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792, USA. Electronic address: BAagaard-Kienitz@uwhealth.org.

PMID: 24994087
DOI: 10.1016/j.nec.2014.04.008

Abstract

Cerebral vasospasm causes delayed ischemic neurologic deficits after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. This is a well-established clinical entity with significant associated morbidity and mortality. The underlying patholphysiology is highly complex and poorly understood. Large-vessel vasospasm, autoregulatory dysfunction, inflammation, genetic predispositions, microcirculatory failure, and spreading cortical depolarization are aspects of delayed neurologic deterioration that have been described in the literature. This article presents a perspective on cerebral vasospasm, as guided by the literature to date, specifically examining the mechanism, diagnosis, and treatment of cerebral vasospasm.

Keywords: Cerebral vasospasm; Delayed ischemic neurologic injury; Neurologic deficits; Subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Endovascular Procedures*
Humans
Inflammation
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / complications
Vasodilator Agents / therapeutic use*
Vasospasm, Intracranial / diagnosis*
Vasospasm, Intracranial / etiology
Vasospasm, Intracranial / metabolism
Vasospasm, Intracranial / therapy*

Substances

Vasodilator Agents