Background: Intracranial blister aneurysms are a rare and an historically difficult to treat subset of aneurysms. They are distinct from typical saccular aneurysms with different pathophysiology and treatment options.
Methods: A prospectively maintained database of subarachnoid hemorrhage patients was queried for those presenting prior to the pandemic (2017-2019), and those presenting during the height of the pandemic in our locality (2021). Aneurysm characteristics and patient demographics associated with rupture risk/formation were collected.
Results: 334 aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients were reviewed. 86 of these patients presented in 2021, with a statistically significant increase in the proportion of ruptured ICA blister aneurysms as compared to 2017-2019 (7/86, 8% vs 5/248, p = .02). Mean patient age, presenting grade, other aneurysm location proportions, aneurysm size, and incidence of delayed cerebral ischemia were not different between the groups.
Conclusions: Patients presenting with SAH during the height of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in 2021 were more likely to have ICA blister type aneurysms.
Keywords: Aneurysm; COVID-19; Subarachnoid hemorrhage.
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