Clipping of intracranial aneurysms--3 years study

Subarachnoid haemorrhage is a fairly common condition and a neurosurgical emergency. The commonest cause of subarachnoid haemorrhage is a ruptured intracranial aneurysm. Less common causes include an arteriovenous malformation, and occasionally a tumour, bleeding diathesis or anticoagulant therapy.

This was an analytical, retrospective study and conducted at the department of neurosurgery unit-I, Lahore General Hospital, Lahore. The study period was from January 2003 to December 2005. It included all patients who were operated for clipping of intracranial aneurysms during the study period. The total number of patients included was 75. Four patients were found to have double aneurysms. So a total of 79 aneurysms were clipped in 75 patients.

About half of the patients (49.3%) were between 40-60 years of age. The commonest site of the aneurysm was anterior communicating artery (53%) followed by middle cerebral artery (25.3%) and posterior cerebral artery (12.6%). Four (5.3%) patients had double aneurysms. Almost all the patients (97.3%) underwent a pterional craniotomy.

We conclude that the commonest age of presentation of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage in our population is 40-60 years and the commonest site of intracranial aneurysm is the anterior communicating artery.