eMedicine Specialties > Neurology > Neuro-vascular Diseases
Cerebral Aneurysms: Follow-up
Updated: Mar 10, 2009
Follow-up
Further Inpatient Care
Following neurosurgical or endovascular intervention, continued care in the ICU generally includes the following:
- Serial neurologic examinations
- Avoidance of hypotension or hypertension (mean arterial pressure [MAP] should be in the range of 70-130 mm Hg)
- Use of isotonic solutions, such as normal saline, to minimize cerebral edema
- Treatment or prophylaxis of seizures
- Treatment of urinary tract infections
- Prevention of venous thrombosis
- Prophylaxis for gastric ulcers
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Repeat CT scan in case of clinical deterioration
Further Outpatient Care
- After hospital discharge, continue physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
- Administer medications for vasospasm and to prevent complications such as seizures, urinary tract infections, or venous thromboses.
- Following definitive treatment of a cerebral aneurysm with either endovascular or surgical obliteration, serial imaging studies should be obtained as an outpatient. Various imaging modalities, including CTA, 1.5 or 3T MRA, and conventional angiography may be used. The use of noninvasive angiographic techniques for serial evaluation has grown in recent years.8
Inpatient & Outpatient Medications
- Nimodipine for vasospasm
- Phenytoin for prevention or treatment of seizures
Transfer
Immediately after prehospital evaluation and emergent stabilization, transfer patients with aneurysmal SAH to a center with neurosurgical expertise.
Deterrence/Prevention
- Prevention of neurological injury necessitates definitive treatment of a diagnosed cerebral aneurysm.
- Patient education regarding symptoms of aneurysmal rupture may be important, as 10% of individuals die before reaching medical attention.
- Noninvasive screening with CTA or MRA is important in patients with medical conditions associated with cerebral aneurysms or a family history of SAH or aneurysms.
- Recent data showing superior functional outcomes and reduced complications for those on statins prior to aneurysmal SAH may promote the use of statins.
Complications
- Vasospasm
- Recurrent hemorrhage
- Seizures
- Hydrocephalus
- Hyponatremia
- Cardiac arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, or congestive heart failure
- Neurogenic pulmonary edema, pneumonia, or atelectasis
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Anemia
- Venous thromboembolism
Prognosis
- Prognosis of aneurysmal SAH has been associated with the following:
- Age
- Neurological status on admission
- Aneurysm location
- Number of days after SAH of admission (ie, delay from SAH to hospital admission)
- Presence of hypertension and other medical illnesses
- Degree of vasospasm
- Degree of SAH
- Extent of intraparenchymal or intraventricular hemorrhage
- Outcome assessments following aneurysmal SAH may not be properly evaluated with the use of a single scale or measure. Cognitive dysfunction and subjective experience of recovery should also be considered.
Patient Education
- Educate regarding the warning signs and symptoms of SAH.
- Educate regarding potential risk factors for aneurysmal SAH, including the following:
- Hypertension
- Cigarette smoking
- Illicit drug use
- Alcohol
- For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Headache Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education article, Aneurysm, Brain.
Miscellaneous
Medicolegal Pitfalls
- Failure to consider the diagnosis of aneurysmal SAH
- Failure to order a CT scan for a severe headache that is atypical for the patient
- Failure to perform an LP if aneurysmal SAH is suspected and CT scan is negative
- Failure to recognize signs and symptoms of cerebral vasospasm or rebleeding
Special Concerns
- Aneurysmal SAH accounts for about 7% of maternal deaths during pregnancy. For women who are pregnant, the fetus should be shielded during CT scan and angiography.
- The teratogenic potential of nimodipine is unknown; therefore, use caution in pregnant women.
- Because of the risk of rebleeding, surgical or endovascular treatment of the aneurysm is recommended.
- Ischemic lesions on follow-up CT after aneurysmal SAH may be predicted by the severity of bleeding, delayed cerebral ischemia, excess weight, duration of temporary artery occlusion, and occurrence of nocturnal aneurysm rupture.
More on Cerebral Aneurysms |
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| Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Cerebral Aneurysms |
| Treatment & Medication: Cerebral Aneurysms |
Follow-up: Cerebral Aneurysms |
| Multimedia: Cerebral Aneurysms |
| References |
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Further Reading
Keywords
intracranial aneurysm, intracerebral aneurysm, saccular aneurysm, berry aneurysm, giant aneurysm, fusiform aneurysm, dolichoectasia, infectious aneurysm, mycotic aneurysm
Follow-up: Cerebral Aneurysms