Korean J Cerebrovasc Dis.  2002 Sep;4(2):159-163.

Symptomatic Vasospasm and Chronic Hydrocephalus in Elderly Patients after Intracranial Aneurysm Rupture-Comparison with Younger Ones

• Cho MK
• Park BJ
• Sung JN
• Kim YJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to compare the incidence of shunt-dependent chronic hydrocephalus and symptomatic vasospasm in elderly patients following intracranial aneurysm rupture with those of younger patients.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 189 patients who were treated with open surgery between May 1994 and December 2000. They were divided into two groups; elderly (> or =60 yrs) and younger (< or =59 yrs) group. Incidence of shunt-dependent chronic hydrocephalus and symptomatic vasospasm was analysed in each group during 6 months after surgery.
RESULTS
Shunt-dependent chronic hydrocephalus has developed more frequently in the elderly group (27.8%) than in the younger group (7.3%). Incidence of symptomatic vasospasm was not significantly different between two groups, even though poor grade patients were more represented in the elderly group.
CONCLUSION
Meticulous clinical long-term follow-up is needed to detect shunt-dependent chronic hydrocephalus as early as possble in the elderly patients with operated ruptured intracranial aneurysms and in that case, shunt operation should be undertaken.

Keyword

Intracranial aneurysm rupture; Shunt-dependent chronic hydrocephalus; Symptomatic vasospasm

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hydrocephalus*
Incidence
Intracranial Aneurysm*
Medical Records
Retrospective Studies
Rupture