Objective: Acutely ruptured aneurysms can be treated by endovascular intervention or via surgery (clipping). After endovascular treatment, the risk of thromboembolic complications is reduced by the use of anticoagulative agents, which is not required after clipping. The aim of the study is to investigate the rate of ventriculostomy-related hemorrhage after endovascular treatment and clipping.
Methods: A consecutive series of 99 patients treated for a ruptured aneurysm which required an external ventricular drainage between 2010 and 2015 were included. Their CT scans were investigated retrospectively for ventriculostomy-related hemorrhage. Furthermore, the extent of bleeding, the rate of revision surgery, and the rate of bacterial ventriculitis have been analyzed.
Results: Ventriculostomy-related hemorrhage was observed in 20 of 45 patients after endovascular treatment compared to 7 of 54 patients after clipping (chi-squared test, p < 0.001). Revision surgery was indicated in 75%. In 50% of these patients, revision surgery was required more than once and nearly 50% developed additional cerebral infections. Intraventricular or intracerebral extension of the bleeding was observed only in the endovascular treatment group (chi-squared test, p = 0.003). Glasgow outcome scale showed a significant better outcome in the surgical group (t test, p = 0.005).
Conclusions: Ventriculostomy-related hemorrhage is an underestimated complication after endovascular treatment leading to revision surgeries, bacterial infections, and may have a negative impact on long-term outcome. The probability of occurrence is increased when anticoagulation is performed by heparin in combination with antiplatelet drugs as compared to heparin alone. Lumbar drainage should be considered as an alternative for treatment of acute hydrocephalus in patients with Hunt and Hess grade 1-3.
Keywords: Anticoagulation; Clipping; Coiling; Endovascular treatment; External ventricular drain; Stenting; Ventriculostomy-related hemorrhage.