Risk of Seizures after Operative Treatment of Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysms

Chang, In Bok; Cho, Byung Moon; Shin, Dong Ik; Shim, Young Bo; Park, Se Hyuck; Oh, Sae Moon

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Postoperative seizure is a well documented complication of aneurysm surgery. The purpose of the present study was to analyze risk factors for postoperative seizure.
METHODS
Between January 1990 and December 1996, we performed craniotomy for ruptured cerebral aneurysms in 321 patients. Among them 206 patients who could be followed up for more than 1 year(range, 1 to 4.6 years) were enrolled to present study. All patients were treated with anticonvulsants for 3 to 18 months postoperatively. We analyze the incidence of postoperative seizure in different sex and age groups, and risk factors associated with postoperative seizures following aneurysm rupture. For statistical processing chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used.
RESULTS
In the follow-up period of 1 to 4.6 years(mean, 1.8 years) postoperative seizure appeared in 18 out of 206 patients(8.7%). Mean latency between the operation and the first seizure was 6 months(range, 3 weeks to 18 months). The age of the patients has significant influence on the risk of seizure, it occurred more often in younger patients(p =0.0014). Aneurysm location in the MCA was associated with a significantly a higher risk of seizure(p =0.042). Eight patients(19%) out of 42 patients who suffered delayed ischemic neurologic deficit(DID) developed seizure. Delayed ischemic neurologic deficit was associated with significantly a higher risk of seizure(p =0.019). Infarct and hypertension were associated with significantly a higher risk of seizure(p < 0.05). pre- or postoperative intracranial hematoma(intracerebral or epidural hematoma) was associated with significantly a higher risk of seizure(p < 0.0001). H-H grade, Fisher grade, Glasgow Outcome Scale of patients and timing of operation after subarachnoid hemorrhage had no significant relation with the risk of seizure.
CONCLUSION
Factors associated with the development of postoperative seizure were middle cerebral artery aneurysm, delayed ischemic neurologic deficit, infarct on late postoperative CT scan, hypertension, pre or postoperative intracranial hematoma(intracerebral or epidural hematoma). Identification of the risk factors may be help to focus the antiepileptic drug threapy in cases prone to develop seizures. Prospective evaluation is indicated.