• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.392-394
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• 2010

Trochlear nerve palsy associated with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is known to be a rare malady. We report here on a patient who suffered with left trochlear nerve palsy following rupture of a right posterior communicating artery aneurysm. A 56-year-woman visited our emergency department with stuporous mental change. Her Hunt-and-Hess grade was 3 and the Fisher grade was 4. Cerebral angiography revealed a ruptured aneurysm of the right posterior communicating artery. The aneurysm was clipped via a right pterional approach on the day of admission. The patient complained of diplopia when she gazed to the left side, and the ophthalmologist found limited left inferolateral side gazing due to left superior oblique muscle palsy on day 3. Elevated intracranial pressure, intraventricular hemorrhage or a dense clot in the basal cisterns might have caused this trochlear nerve palsy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.155-159
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• 2012

The treatment of bilateral vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms (VADAs) presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is still challenging. The authors report a rare case of bilateral VADA treated with coil trapping of ruptured VADA and covered stents implantation after multiple unsuccessful stent assisted coiling of the contralateral unruptured VADA. A 44-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of severe headache and sudden stuporous consciousness. Brain CT showed thick SAH and intraventricular hemorrhage. Cerebral angiography demonstrated bilateral VADA. Based on the SAH pattern and aneurysm configurations, the right VADA was considered ruptured. This was trapped with endovascular coils without difficulty. One month later, the contralateral unruptured VADA was protected using a stent-within-a-stent technique, but marked enlargement of the left VADA was detected by 8-months follow-up angiography. Subsequently two times coil packing for pseudosacs resulted in near complete occlusion of left VADA. However, it continued to grow. Covered stents graft below the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) origin and a coronary stent implantation across the origin of the PICA resulted in near complete obliteration of the VADA. Covered stent graft can be used as a last therapeutic option for the management of VADA, which requires absolute preservation of VA flow.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.273-276
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• 2014

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) during pregnancy is quite rare, however it has a high maternal mortality rate. A pregnant woman in the 16th gestational week was admitted to our hospital with a drowsy level of consciousness. A brain magnetic resonance (MR) image showed hemorrhage on the prepontine cistern, and both sylvian fissures, and MR angiography and cerebral digital subtraction angiography demonstrated an aneurysm at the left posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA). We performed endovascular coil embolization attempting to minimize radiation exposure. She was discharged with no neurologic deficit and delivered a healthy baby by cesarean section at the 38th week of gestation. This case study reported the shortest gestational period and this is the first report on an aneurysmal rupture arising from PICA which was treated using an endovascular method. Using an appropriate technique for reduced radiation exposure to the fetus and limited alterations in maternal-fetal physiology, endovascular coil embolization could guarantee good results in treatment of aneurysmal SAH in pregnant women.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.337-340
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• 2014

An 11-year-old male Maltese dog was presented with sudden onset of convulsion and right sided circling. On neurological examination, left side proprioception and menace reflexes were delayed. Blood examinations indicated severe thrombocytopenia and increased hepatic enzymes. On brain magnetic resonance imaging, lesions were founded on the left lateral subarachnoid space area. Those lesions showed hyperintense on T1-weighted images, hyperintense on T2-weighted images and hyperintense on fluid attenuated inversion recovery images. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed xanthochromia and erythrophagocytosis. Coagulation test results demonstrated that fibrin degradation product and D-dimer concentrations were higher than normal range. The patient expired few hours after presentation. This case report demonstrates intracranial hemorrhage with disseminated intravascular coagulation in a dog.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.134-138
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• 2011

Pediatric patients with dissecting aneurysms usually present with ischemia rather than bleeding. We report a case of a 15-year-old boy with a dissecting aneurysm of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) presenting with hemorrhage. He was first treated with stent-assisted coil embolization, in an attempt to avoid trapping of the PCA and preserve the perforators. After the procedure, he recovered well from general anesthesia, but rebleeding occurred from the same lesion 6 hours after the procedure, therefore endovascular segmental occlusion of the parent artery was performed secondarily. Apparently, a reconstructive method of stent-assisted coiling is worth trying to preserve the parent vessel and perforators, but it is not always efficient and durable for dissecting aneurysms.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.95-99
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• 2007

Objective : The purpose of this reports is to describe the influence of continuous external ventricular drainage [EVD] on delayed ischemic neurologic deficit [DIND] after early surgery in ruptured aneurysmal patients. Methods : The authors reviewed 229 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH] who had been treated with clipping at a single institution between 1998 and 2004. Of these, 121 patients underwent continuous EVD [Group A] postoperatively, whereas 108 patients did not [Group B]. EVD was performed at ipsilateral Kocher's point and maintained 2 to 14 days postoperatively. Results : DIND occurred in 15.7% [19 cases] of patients in Group A, 25% [27 cases] from Group B [P value=0.112]. Compared with Group A, Group B was more likely to suffer acute symptom of DIND and showed poor response to 3- H therapy. Major symptoms of DIND in Group A were mild confusion [36.8%] and mild deterioration of mental state [26.3%], contrary to weakness of extremities [59.2%] in Group B. At discharge, Glasgow Outcome Scales [GOS] of Group A were : good recovery [63.2%], moderately disabled [21%], severely disabled [10.5%], dead [5.3%] and Group B : good recovery [48.1%], moderately disabled [37%], severely disabled [14.8%] and dead [0%]. Of 121 patients from group A, 35 patients [28.9%] suffered ventriculitis. Conclusion : Continuous EVD after aneurysmal clipping in patients with SAH reduced the risk of DIND and its sequelae, relieved its symptoms, and improved the outcome.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.100-104
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• 2007

Objective : Despite the widespread use of preoperative ventriculostomy in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH], there is no general consensus regarding the risk of bleeding associated with its use before aneurysm repair. This study was conducted to define the efficacy and rebleeding risk of ventriculostomy in aneurysmal SAH. Methods : The authors reviewed 339 consecutive patients with aneurysmal SAH who were treated at our hospital between January 1998 and December 2004. Results : Preoperative ventriculostomy was performed on 73 patients for acute hydrocephalus after aneurysmal SAH. The Hunt-Hess[H-H] grades of patients who underwent ventriculostomy were higher. Out of the 73 patients who underwent preoperative ventriculostomy, 58 [79%] demonstrated immediate clinical improvement after ventriculostomy. Of those same 73 patients 22 [30%] suffered aneurysmal rebleeding, whereas only 11 [4%] of the 266 patients who did not undergo ventriculostomy showed preoperative aneurysm rebleeding. The causes of rebleeding in the 22 patients who underwent ventriculostomy before surgery were related to the ventriculostomy procedure itself, subsequent cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] drainage, angiography and patient care procedures, such as endotracheal suction and nursing care. The mean time interval between SAH and surgery in the patients who underwent ventriculostomy was not statistically different from those who did not receive preoperative ventriculostomies [44.66 compared with 42.13 hours; p=0.73]. Conclusion : The preoperative ventriculostomy improved patients' clinical condition but increased the risk of rebleeding after aneurysmal SAH. When necessary, however, rapid change in transmural pressure during ventriculostomy must be avoided, careful management during ventricular drainage is needed, and surgery should be performed as soon as possible to prevent or reduce the incidence of rebleeding.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1013-1018
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• 2001

Objective : About 40% of patients who admit to the hospital after subarachnoid hemorrhage are poor clinical grade(Hunt-Hess grade IV, V). The majority of these patients have been excluded from early, aggressive treatment. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the outcome of urgent surgery for Hunt-Hess grade IV aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Materials and Methods : We reviewed hospital records and radiographic studies of 36 patients who were Hunt-Hess grade IV among 201 cases with ruptured intracranial aneurysm admitted between Sep. 1995 and Dec. 2000. Operated patients were treated with urgent angiography and surgery within 24 hours of presentation, except six patients, and medical records of these patients were reviewed for the clinical course and Glasgow outcome scale(GOS). Results : Overall management results of the 36 patients were good recovery in 13(36.1%), moderate disability in 12 (33.3%), severe disability in 1(2.8%), vegetative state in 1(2.8%) and 9(25.0%) of surgically treated patients had died. Conclusion : Although with limited number of patients, we conclude that urgent surgery for Hunt-Hess grade IV patients results in a better neurologic outcome and urgent surgery combined with aggressive postoperative management can minimize mortality.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.153-156
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• 2007

Objective : Cerebral vasospasm is a devastating medical complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH]. Therefore, prompt detection of vasospasms in aneurysmal SAH is important to the clinical outcome of the patient. For better prediction and effective management of vasospasms, identifying risk factors is essential. This study is aimed at evaluating the relationship between clinical hematologic values, especially white blood cell count, and cerebral vasospasms. Methods : A retrospective review was conducted on 249 patients with aneurysmal SAH who underwent surgical clipping [230 cases] or endovascular intervention [19 cases] between 2003 and 2005. The underlying clinical conditions assessed were leukocytosis, fever, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, Hunt and Hess grade, Fisher grade, aneurysm location, and direct clipping versus endovascular intervention. Results : Two hundred forty-nine patients were treated for aneurysmal SAH during this period. We selected 158 patients in Hunt and Hess grade I - III. Cases of infectious conditions, rebleeding and other surgical/clinical complications were excluded. Vasospasms occurred $7.0{\pm}3.1$ days after the onset of SAH. There were several independent predictors of vasospasm : Fisher grade III [p=0.002], fever within two weeks on admission [p<0.001], and a serum leukocyte count >$10.8{\times}10^3/mm^3$ on admission [p=0.018]. Conclusion : This study results indicate that leukocytosis and fever increase the risk of vasospasms. However, other known risk factors, such as hypertension and smoking, were not correlated with respect to predicting of cerebral vasospasm. Monitoring the serum leukocyte count may be a helpful and useful marker of vasospasms after aneurysmal SAH.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.328-333
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• 2015

Objective : The goal of this study was to assess the effect of high-dose simvastatin on cerebral vasospasm and its clinical outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in Korean patients. Methods : This study was designed as a prospective observational cohort study. Its subjects were aneurysmal SAH patients who had undergone aneurysm clipping or coiling. They were assigned to 1 of 3 groups : the 20 mg, 40 mg, and 80 mg simvastatin groups. The primary end-point was the occurrence of symptomatic vasospasm. The clinical outcome was assessed with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score after 1 month and 3 months. The risk factors of the development of vasospasm were assessed by logistic regression analysis. Results : Ninety nine patients with aneurysmal SAH were treated and screened. They were sequentially assigned to the 20 mg (n=22), 40 mg (n=34), and 80 mg (n=31) simvastatin groups. Symptomatic vasospasm occurred in 36.4% of the 20 mg group, 8.8% of the 40 mg group, and 3.2% of the 80 mg group (p=0.003). The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that poor Hunt-Hess grades (OR=5.4 and 95% CI=1.09-26.62) and high-dose (80 mg) simvastatin (OR=0.09 and 95% CI=0.1-0.85) were independent factors of symptomatic vasospasm. The clinical outcomes did not show a significant difference among the three groups. Conclusion : This study demonstrated that 80 mg simvastatin treatment was effective in preventing cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal SAH, but did not improve the clinical outcome in Korean patients.