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The Rabbit Blood-shunt Model for the Study of Acute and Late Sequelae of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Technical Aspects
Published on: October 2, 2014
Acute hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Neurosurgery
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Acute hydrocephalus complicates about 20% of ruptured intracranial aneurysms. External ventricular drainage offers prompt improvement in most patients with this serious complication.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Neurology
- Radiology
Background:
- Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage frequently leads to acute hydrocephalus.
- Understanding the incidence and clinical presentation is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the incidence and clinical features of acute hydrocephalus following ruptured intracranial aneurysms.
- To identify characteristic computed tomographic (CT) findings.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of external ventricular drainage (EVD).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 200 patients with recently ruptured intracranial aneurysms.
- Clinical grading and assessment of symptoms.
- Review of CT scans for hydrocephalus indicators.
- Evaluation of treatment outcomes with EVD.
Main Results:
- Acute hydrocephalus occurred in approximately 20% of cases, correlating with clinical grade.
- Impaired consciousness was the primary clinical sign (93%).
- Distinct CT signs included frontal horn ballooning, ventricular enlargement, and periventricular hyperdensity.
Conclusions:
- Acute hydrocephalus is a significant complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
- CT imaging provides distinctive diagnostic signs.
- External ventricular drainage is an effective treatment, yielding significant improvement in about two-thirds of patients.
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