Keywords:
Aneurysm - Subarachnoid Hemorrhage - Endovascular Procedures
Palavras-chave:
Hipertensão - Aneurisma - Hemorragia Subaracnóidea - Procedimentos Endovasculares
INTRODUCTION
Cerebral aneurysm is a local cystic swelling in the brain that is caused by a defect
in the vascular wall. Its prevalence is around 3.6%-6%, with a rupture rate of 1-2%
in the population[1],[2]. Rupture of cerebral aneurysms is considered to be the second most common cause
of subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAH), of which 20%-30% are serious cases[3],[4].
Endovascular embolization has been widely used for treating cerebral aneurysms. However,
the prognostic factors for endovascular therapy outcomes in this population have not
yet been clearly identified[5]. It has been shown that age, hypertension, intraoperative and postoperative complications,
surgical timing and surgical methods are important factors affecting the prognosis
for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). On the other hand, the impact of blood
pressure fluctuations on the prognosis for aSAH is still unclear.
Therefore, we conducted the current investigation in an attempt to investigate the
relationship between blood pressure variability and the prognosis for aSAH caused
by cerebral aneurysm, following endovascular treatment.
METHODS
Patients
A total of 120 patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms were prospectively enrolled
between January 2017 and December 2018. We included all patients who presented ruptured
cerebral aneurysm and aSAH, in line with the following inclusion criteria: (1) presenting
with a clinical picture of aSAH; (2) having a computed tomography (CT) scan showing
aSAH; and (3) having the presence of a ruptured cerebral aneurysm that was confirmed
through CT angiography or digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Patients with the
following conditions were excluded: negative results from the first head CT examination
or lumbar puncture examination; secondary aSAH caused by vascular malformation, cerebral
hemorrhage or trauma; no aneurysm identified through DSA; malignancies; severe diseases
of the heart, lung, kidney or liver; or contraindications for endovascular treatment.
In the same context, we also excluded patients who died within the first 24 hours
of admission and patients whose blood pressure records within the first 24 hours were
incomplete or unavailable. Our study was approved by the ethics committee of our hospital.
All patients gave written informed consent prior to participating in our study.
Surgical procedure
All surgeries were performed under general anesthesia with tracheal intubation. Dual
antiplatelet therapy in the form of aspirin (ASA) 300 mg and clopidogrel 300 mg was
administered two hours before the surgery. The femoral artery was catheterized using
the Seldinger method.
After systemic heparinization, aneurysms were embolized using an electrically detachable
coil (Axium, Microvention, USA). Wide-necked aneurysms were embolized with a stent
(Microvention, USA). In the case of multiple aneurysms, the culprit aneurysm was determined
according to the hemorrhage location, the aneurysm and the presence of a pseudoaneurysm.
Patients with stent-assisted embolization received oral clopidogrel 75 mg daily for
three months and aspirin 100 mg daily for six months.
Any occurrences of either intraoperative or postoperative complications during the
study period were recorded, for all patients. The intraoperative complications included
cerebral vasospasm, aneurysm rupture, thrombosis and apparatus-related complications.
The postoperative complications included hydrocephalus, cerebral infarction and cerebral
edema.
Hypertension needed to be induced within three hours following the initial presentation
with clinical symptoms of delayed cerebral ischemia. Fluids and norepinephrine were
used for inducing hypertension, through a central line positioned for this purpose
in accordance with the local protocol of our center. This was maintained until one
of the following conditions had been met: (1) improvement of neurological deficits;
(2) occurrence of complications; (3) maximum mean arterial pressure of 130 mmHg; or
(4) systolic blood pressure of 230 mmHg.
Occurrence of clinical improvement was judged by the treating surgeon. In cases with
clinical improvement, norepinephrine was maintained for at least 48 hours and was
then slowly tapered off. On the other hand, in cases of recurrence of symptoms during
tapering, use of norepinephrine was restarted and tapering off was resumed after 24
hours. Meanwhile, norepinephrine was tapered off in the case of absence of clinical
improvement.
Blood pressure monitoring
Ambulatory blood pressure was monitored for 24 hours after the endovascular treatment,
using a dynamic blood pressure monitor (MCY-ABP1, Meigao, Beijing, China). The monitoring
interval was every 30 minutes from 05:00 to 21:00 and every 60 minutes from 21:00
to 05:00. Blood pressure variability was defined as the standard deviation of the
24-hour systolic blood pressure (24hSSD), and that of the 24-hour diastolic blood
pressure (24hDSD).
Risk factors for treatment outcomes
Risk factors for treatment outcomes and recurrence of aSAH were analyzed. These factors
included sex, age, hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, Hunt-Hess grade,
Fisher grade, surgical timing (< 3 or ≥ 3 days after the rupture), aneurysm diameter,
aneurysm site, aneurysm neck (> 4 or < 4 mm), intraoperative complications and postoperative
complications.
Transcranial Duplex ultrasonography examination was done twice daily, starting from
the first 72 hours after disease onset, for the detection of cerebral vasospasm. Cerebral
vasospasms were diagnosed through measurement of the mean flow velocity (MFV) of each
of the middle, anterior and posterior cerebral arteries, and using the Lindegaard
ratio (LR), i.e. the ratio of middle cerebral artery velocity to ipsilateral extracranial
internal carotid artery velocity. In the same context, presence of vasospasm was identified
through any of the following situations: (1) MFS of the posterior, anterior or middle
cerebral artery rising above 60, 90 or 120 cm/s, respectively; (2) MFV of the middle
cerebral artery rising to more than 50 cm/s above the first TCD assessment value;
or (3) LR rising above three[6],[7]. In addition, delayed cerebral ischemia was defined as follows: (1) presentation
of focal neurological deficit/deterioration lasting for at least one hour; or (2)
reduction in GCS ≥ 2 points overall; and (3) after ruling out other causes that might
lead to this neurological impairment, by means of clinical, laboratory and imaging
studies. When more than one condition was identified, the decision regarding whether
this clinical deterioration was attributable to delayed cerebral ischemia or not was
made at the discretion of the operating surgeon[8],[9].
Follow-up
All the patients were followed up by telephone or through a visit to our clinic three
months postoperatively. The outcomes were assessed using the modified Rankin scale:
0-2 points for good outcomes and 3-6 points for poor outcomes.
Statistical analysis
Continuous data were presented as means and standard deviations (SD) and were compared
using Student’s t test. On the other hand, categorical data were presented as frequencies
or percentages and were compared using the chi-square test. Univariate analysis was
used to determine the possible risk factors predictive of poor outcomes from a ruptured
cerebral aneurysm. Variables with P < 0.20 were included in the multivariate logistic
regression analysis through a forward stepwise selection strategy. The 24hSSD and
the 24hDSD were forced-in covariates in the final model. All statistical analyses
were carried out using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 24.0
software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). P-values < 0.05 were considered to be the
cutoff point for statistical significance.
RESULTS
Patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics
A total of 120 patients were included in the present study. There were 62 males and
58 females, and their ages ranged from 35 to 85 years. There was a history of essential
hypertension in 74 patients (61.7%) and diabetes in 12 (10%). The diameter of the
aneurysm was < 5 mm in 62 patients (51.7%) and ≥ 5 mm in 58 (48.3%). Twenty-one patients
(17.5%) had multiple cerebral aneurysms. The time from admission to surgery was four
days for 108 patients (90%) and 4-14 days for 12 (10%). At admission, the Hunt-Hess
grade was 1-2 in 76 patients (63.3%) and 3-4 in 44 (36.7%). The Fisher grade was 1-2
in 60 (50%) patients and 3-4 in the other 60 (50%).
Treatment outcomes
All the patients completed the three-month follow-up. Among them, 86 patients (71.7%)
had good outcomes and 34 (28.3%) had poor outcomes. Complete embolization was achieved
in 49 patients (40.8%) and near-complete embolization was achieved in 71 (59.2%).
Intraoperative complications occurred in 39 patients (32.5%) and postoperative complications
occurred in 43 (35.8%). The most common complication was intractable cerebral vasospasm
(71/120; 59.2%). The data on other complications are provided in [Table 1].
Table 1
Intraoperative and postoperative complications.
|
Complications
|
Good outcomes (n, %)
|
Poor outcomes (n, %)
|
|
Intraoperative complications
|
|
Cerebral vasospasm
|
20 (23.3)
|
14 (42.2)
|
|
Aneurysm rupture
|
1 (1.2)
|
2 (5.9)
|
|
Thrombosis
|
1 (1.2)
|
1 (2.9)
|
|
Apparatus-related complications
|
0 (0.0)
|
0 (0.0)
|
|
Postoperative complications
|
|
Cerebral vasospasm
|
22 (25.6)
|
15 (44.1)
|
|
Hydrocephalus
|
1 (1.2)
|
0 (0.0)
|
|
Cerebral infarction
|
0 (0.0)
|
1 (2.9)
|
|
Cerebral edema
|
2 (2.3)
|
2 (5.9)
|
Results from risk factor analysis
Univariate analysis showed that age ≥ 65 years, intraoperative complications, postoperative
complications, Hunt-Hess grade 3-4 and Fisher grade 3-4 were associated with poor
outcomes (all with P < 0.05; [Table 2]).
The patients with poor outcomes had significantly higher 24hSSD than those with good
outcomes (19.3 ± 5.5 vs 14.1 ± 4.8 mmHg; P < 0.001). The 24hDSD did not significantly
differ between patients with good outcomes and those with poor outcomes (9.5 ± 2.3
vs 9.9 ± 3.5 mmHg; P = 0.464).
Table 2
Comparison of patients with good outcomes with those with poor outcomes.
|
|
Good outcomes (n = 86)
|
Poor outcomes (n = 34)
|
P
|
|
Age (years)
|
< 65 years
|
63 (73.3)
|
31 (91.2)
|
0.032
|
|
≥ 65 years
|
23 (26.7)
|
3 (8.8)
|
|
Sex (n, %)
|
Male
|
46 (53.5)
|
16 (47.1)
|
0.525
|
|
Female
|
40 (46.5)
|
18 (52.9)
|
|
Diabetes (n, %)
|
Yes
|
8 (9.3)
|
4 (11.8)
|
0.685
|
|
No
|
78 (90.7)
|
30 (88.2)
|
|
Hypertension (n, %)
|
Yes
|
50 (58.1)
|
24 (70.6)
|
0.206
|
|
No
|
36 (41.9)
|
10 (29.4)
|
|
Coronary artery disease (n, %)
|
Yes
|
42 (48.8)
|
17 (50.0)
|
0.909
|
|
No
|
44 (51.2)
|
17 (50.0)
|
|
Intraoperative complications (n, %)
|
Yes
|
22 (25.6)
|
17 (50.0)
|
0.01
|
|
No
|
64 (74.4)
|
17 (50.0)
|
|
Postoperative complications (n, %)
|
Yes
|
25 (29.1)
|
18 (52.9)
|
0.014
|
|
No
|
61 (70.9)
|
16 (47.1)
|
|
Hunt-Hess grade (n, %)
|
1-2
|
61 (70.9)
|
15 (44.1)
|
0.006
|
|
3-4
|
25 (29.1)
|
19 (55.9)
|
|
Fisher grade (n, %)
|
1-2
|
62 (72.1)
|
14 (41.2)
|
0.002
|
|
3-4
|
24 (27.9)
|
20 (58.8)
|
|
Aneurysm diameter (n, %)
|
< 5 mm
|
46 (53.5)
|
16 (47.1)
|
0.525
|
|
≥ 5 mm
|
40 (46.5)
|
18 (52.9)
|
|
Location of aneurysm (n, %)
|
Anterior circulation
|
45 (52.3)
|
17 (50.0)
|
0.818
|
|
Posterior circulation
|
41 (47.7)
|
17 (50.0)
|
|
Aneurysm neck (n, %)
|
Narrow
|
48 (55.8)
|
19 (55.9)
|
0.995
|
|
Wide
|
38 (44.2)
|
15 (44.1)
|
|
Surgical timing (n, %)
|
< 3 days after the rupture
|
78 (90.7)
|
30 (88.2)
|
0.688
|
|
≥ 3 days after the rupture
|
8 (9.3)
|
4 (11.8)
|
The medians of the 24hSSD and the 24hDSD were 15 mmHg and 9 mmHg, respectively. In
the logistic regression analysis, the outcome was used as the response variable; and
age ≥ 65 years, Hunt-Hess grade 3-4, Fisher grade 3-4, postoperative complications,
intraoperative complications, 24hSSD ≥ 15 mmHg and 24hDSD ≥ 9 mmHg were used as the
explanatory variables. The results showed that only five factors were significant
risk factors/determinants for the outcome from endovascular therapy, namely: age ≥
65 years, Hunt-Hess grade 3-4, Fisher grade 3-4, postoperative complications and 24hSSD
≥ 15 mmHg ([Table 3]).
Table 3
Multivariate logistic regression analysis on the predictive factors for treatment
outcomes from ruptured cerebral aneurysms.
|
B
|
SE
|
Wald
|
Odds ratio
|
95% confidence interval
|
P
|
|
Lower limit
|
Upper limit
|
|
Age ≥ 65 years
|
3.143
|
1.034
|
9.226
|
23.108
|
3.046
|
175.294
|
0.002
|
|
Hunt-Hess grade 3-4
|
1.913
|
0.918
|
4.123
|
6.773
|
1.143
|
33.675
|
0.039
|
|
Fisher grade 3-4
|
3.853
|
1.286
|
8.975
|
47.149
|
3.79
|
586.531
|
0.003
|
|
Intraoperative complications
|
1.252
|
0.959
|
1.705
|
3.496
|
0.534
|
22.88
|
0.192
|
|
Postoperative complications
|
1.807
|
0.889
|
4.132
|
6.093
|
1.067
|
34.812
|
0.042
|
|
24hSSD ≥ 15 mmHg
|
2.699
|
0.671
|
16.256
|
14.871
|
4.004
|
55.238
|
< 0.001
|
|
24hDSD ≥ 9 mmHg
|
-0.751
|
0.709
|
1.123
|
0.472
|
0.118
|
1.893
|
0.289
|
24hSSD: 24-hour standard deviation of the systolic blood pressure; 24hDSD: 24-hour
standard deviation of the diastolic blood pressure; SE: standard error; B: unstandardized
beta.
With ‘poor outcomes’ as the dependent variable, the area under the receiver operating
curve of the 24hSSD was 0.756 (P < 0.001; [Figure 1], [Table 4]). The best cutoff point for the receiver operating curve was 17.5 mmHg, with a sensitivity
of 73.5% and a specificity of 80.2%.
Figure 1 Receiver operating curve of the 24-hour standard deviation of the systolic blood
pressure.
Table 4
Receiver operating curve distribution of the 24hSSD.
|
Area under the receiver operating curve
|
SE
|
95% confidence interval
|
P
|
|
Lower limit
|
Upper limit
|
|
24hSSD
|
0.756
|
0.048
|
0.662
|
0.85
|
< 0.001
|
24hSSD: 24-hour standard deviation of the systolic blood pressure; SE: standard error.
DISCUSSION
Our study found that age ≥ 65 years, Hunt-Hess grade 3-4, Fisher grade 3-4, postoperative
complications and 24hSSD ≥ 15 mmHg were risk factors and determinants for poor outcomes
after endovascular treatment for aSAH.
It has been shown that advanced age can adversely affect the prognosis for aSAH that
is treated by endovascular therapy[10]. This effect may be due to the reduced tolerance of the aging cerebral vessels to
the hemorrhagic injury, with associated complications. An increased Hunt-Hess grade
at admission is also associated with poor prognosis for aSAH[11]. The Hunt-Hess grade reflects the risks of cerebral vasospasm, aneurysm rebleeding
and hydrocephalus[12]. Consistently with these previous data, our study found that Hunt-Hess grade 3-4
was an independent risk factor for poor outcomes from ruptured cerebral aneurysms
treated with endovascular embolization. In addition, higher Fisher grades have also
been associated with severe cerebral vasospasm and poor treatment outcomes for aSAH[11],[13]. We confirmed this in our study, through showing that Fisher grade 3-4 was an independent
risk factor for poor treatment outcomes for aSAH.
Our study showed that complications were independently associated with poor treatment
outcomes from cerebral aneurysm rupture. About two-thirds of the patients with ruptured
cerebral aneurysms develop refractory cerebral vasospasm when DSA is performed, and
about 30% of these patients die from this complication. There is still no consensus
on the treatment of postoperative refractory cerebral vasospasm among patients with
cerebral aneurysm rupture[14].
Our study found that 24hSSD was a risk factor for poor treatment outcomes for aSAH.
However, hypertension and 24hDSD were not associated with poor treatment outcomes.
Hypertension may increase the risk of cerebral aneurysm through vascular endothelial
injury, derangement of elastic collagen synthesis and disturbance of vascular wall
nutrition supply. Long-standing hypertension can lead to vascular damage such as intimal
thickening, arteriosclerosis, extracellular matrix changes and degeneration of the
elastic layer in blood vessels[15]. Blood pressure undergoes changes over periods of time and is regulated through
neuroendocrine pathways[16]. It is considered to be an independent risk factor for stroke. It has been shown
that reducing blood pressure variability improves the prognosis for stroke[17],[18].
Despite the recommendation from the European Stroke Organization that SBP in SAH should
be maintained below 180 mmHg in order to minimize the risk of rebleeding in managing
ruptured aneurysms[19], no optimal BP thresholds have yet been determined, given the absence of evidence
from randomized clinical trials[20]. Moreover, there is also wide variability regarding BP management targeted on treatment
of ruptured intracerebral aneurysms. In our study, the main finding was that 24hSSD
was significantly associated with poor clinical outcomes following endovascular treatment.
This was in line with the observations of Xu et al.[21], who reported that reduced SBP variability (successive variation, SV) was associated
with favorable outcomes upon discharge. This suggests that maintaining the stability
of the patient’s BP would be more meaningful than just controlling the BP level after
the endovascular embolectomy.
It has been observed that, in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, their baroreflex
sensitivity (as measured using a hemodynamic monitoring device) is reduced, with a
concurrent increase in beat-to-beat BP variability[22]. In the same context, it is known that cerebral autoregulation is disrupted in patients
with SAH, as seen through continuous observation of brain tissue oxygen pressure reactivity[23] or via the phase shift angles (Δϕ°) between slow (0.1 Hz) arterial blood pressure
and cerebral blood flow velocity waves, using transcranial US[24].
This noticeable variation in BP could explain the autonomic dysfunction, including
both the increase in sympathetic response and the reduction in baroreflex sensitivity.
If autoregulation is substantially affected in situations of subarachnoid hemorrhage,
cerebral flow becomes dependent on two parameters: cerebral perfusion pressure and
blood velocity[25]. We found that during the first 24 hours after embolectomy, recovery from anesthesia
following the double stress of the invasive intervention and the substantial damage
caused by SAH was achieved. Thus, postoperative BP variability might be a precise
indicator of the preserved potential for autoregulation in the body.
An elevation in systolic BP variability signifies that there is much less reserve
capacity with regard to regulation of autonomic nervous function. Meanwhile, upon
rupture of the aneurysm, the elevated systolic BP variability might increase the rate
of acute aneurysmal rebleeding and accelerate further exacerbations[26]. In our study, the variation in the 24hSSD affected the clinical outcome of aSAH.
Therefore, it is of great value to maintain BP stability throughout the entire period
of management of aSAH.
In the presence of aSAH, blood enters the subarachnoid space, thus resulting in obstruction
of cerebrospinal fluid outflow, acute hydrocephalus and increased intracranial pressure.
This may lead to reduction of the brain's blood flow and brain perfusion pressure,
which would lead to brain edema and cerebral ischemia. Increased blood pressure variability
can cause either excessive or insufficient cerebral perfusion, and can aggravate ischemic
cell cytotoxicity, reperfusion injury and ischemia-reperfusion expansion. It has been
shown that higher blood pressure variability is associated with poor outcomes among
patients with massive cerebral infarction[27]
-
[29].
Our study had limitations. Firstly, blood pressure was only monitored for the first
24 hours postoperatively, which was shorter than the 72 hours in many previous studies.
This may have resulted in relatively higher variation in the data. Secondly, our patients
were from a single center and may have lacked representativeness.
In conclusion, 24hSSD ≥ 15 mmHg is a treatable risk factor for poor outcomes after
endovascular treatment for aSAH. In addition to controlling hypertension, reducing
blood pressure variability may also be considered to improve the outcomes relating
to aSAH.