Remote Intracerebral Hemorrhage Complicating Aneurysm Surgery

Park, Sang Joon; Oh, Sae Moon; Shin, Dong Ik; Park, Se Hyuck

Abstract

To clarify possible causes, pathogenesis, and appropriate prevention method of remote intracerebral hemorrhage (RICH), we analyzed the clinical findings and the possible predisposing factors of six cases who developed RICH among the 206 surgical series of cerebral aneurysm operated in our hospital over recent 5-year period. The locations of aneurysm were anterior communicating artery in three cases and internal carotid artery in three other cases. The sites of RICH were dependent regions considering the operative position in five of six cases, con-tralateral cerebellum in three cases, bilateral cerebellum in one case, and contralateral occipital area in one case. Peripheral low density around the RICH, suggesting hemorrhagic infarction, was observed on computed tomography in four cases. No patient had preoperative hypertension; however, significant elevation of blood pressure was observed intraoperatively or postoperatively in three cases. The factors which could have induced brain shift(large amount of removed or drained cerebrospinal fluid, large amount of infused mannitol, too low PaCO2) were observed in all cases except one case. There was no case with coagulopathy or underlying occult lesion. Two patients in whom detection of RICH was delayed showed poor outcomes. The possible underlying mechanisms involved in such complication seem to be shifting of brain due to sudden decreased intracranial pressure and excessive removal of cerebrospinal fluid, and subsequent injury of blood vessels such as compression or breakdown of vein. Moreover, the sudden elevation of blood pressure may have played a role as contributing factor. Therefore, consideration should be given to the maintenance of an adequate volume of intracranial cerebrospinal fluid and the appropriate blood pressure to prevent this complication. Early detection and immediate treatment with awareness of the possibility of this complication should be borne in mind when treating these patients to prevent such complications and to obtain good results.