[Ruptured cerebral aneurysm associated with chronic renal failure: case report and evaluation of dialysis]

Two cases of ruptured cerebral aneurysm with chronic renal failure were successfully treated by selecting an appropriate dialysis during the pre- and postoperative period. Case 1; a 41-year-old male, who had been receiving hemodialysis for 4 years, complained of sudden onset of headache, and his consciousness deteriorated abruptly afterwards. A ruptured basilar-left superior cerebellar artery aneurysm was diagnosed, and an external ventricular drainage device was installed. The patient slowly recovered consciousness and was scheduled for delayed operation. During this period hemodialysis was suspended and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) was performed instead. On the 24th day, the aneurysm was clipped, and CAPD switched to ordinary hemodialysis three days after the operation. However, consciousness deteriorated and CT scan showed diffuse cerebral swelling due to disequilibrium syndrome. The patient recovered consciousness 24 hours after hemodialysis. Frequent short-term dialysis eventually eliminated this syndrome. Case 2; a 60-year-old male, who had been receiving hemodialysis for 6 years, complained of a sudden severe headache, and a ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm was diagnosed. Emergency clipping of the aneurysm was performed and, except for mild vasospasm on the seventh day, the patient's recovery was uneventful postoperatively, with non-anticoagulative agent hemodialysis. These two cases demonstrate that chronic renal failure of a ruptured cerebral aneurysm patient can, with good prognosis, be treated by CAPD preoperatively, and non-anticoagulative agent hemodialysis postoperatively, followed by ordinary dialysis carefully avoiding the disequilibrium syndrome.