Cisternal drainage after early operation of ruptured intracranial aneurysm

The authors reviewed 22 cases of intracranial aneurysm of the anterior part of the circle of Willis. All patients presented with the signs and symptoms of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and were in good neurological condition on admission. In all cases, early operation was performed to obliterate aneurysm. Subarachnoid blood clots were extensively removed and cisternal drainage was done. With topical application of povidone-iodine and intravenous administration of antibiotics, cisternal drainage continued for 14 days or more after the onset of SAH in 21 cases. Five patients developed symptomatic vasospasm, which was treated with hypervolemia and hypertension, and three received shunts later for chronic hydrocephalus. The overall result demonstrated that 21 patients were independent and had returned to their previous social lives. Therefore, it was strongly recommended that patients is good neurological condition after SAH secondary to ruptured intracranial aneurysm be treated with early operation, removal of subarachnoid clots, and long term application of cisternal drainage.