3-Dimensional Computed Tomography Angiography in Early Operation for Poor Grade Aneurysms.

Chun, Hyoung Joon; Yi, Hyeong Joong; Kim, Kwang Myung; Kim, Young Soo; Ko, Yong; Oh, Suck Jun

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2003;33(4): 345-352.

Hyoung Joon Chun, Hyeong Joong Yi, Kwang Myung Kim, Young Soo Kim, Yong Ko, Suck Jun Oh

Department of Neurosurgery, Hanyang University Medical Center, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. hjyi8499@hanyang.ac.kr

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE
The authors studied the feasibility of 3-Dimensional computed tomographic angiography(3-D CTA) in early surgery for poor grade patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH), therefore intended to verify the eligibility of this diagnostic tool in these special clinical settings. METHODS: During the period between July 1997 and December 2000, we studied 31 patients diagnosed as aneurysmal SAH that were classified as the Hunt-Hess grade IV or V and Fisher group III or IV. As the conventional angiography could not be conducted because of the patients' poor clinical conditions, we carried out early surgery on the same day of SAH solely based on the 3-D CTA. We compared the 3-D CTA features with intraoperative findings. RESULTS: Total of 33 aneurysms were found in preoperative 3-D CTA and, of them, all 31 ruptured aneurysms and additional another two unruptured ones were also. Undetected three aneurysms were found in the operative field(2 cases) and postoperative digital subtraction angiography(1 case). The sensitivity of 3-D CTA was 94.7% and specificity was 100%.
CONCLUSION
According to our results, 3-D CTA might be sufficient for early surgery of intracranial aneurysms in poor grade SAH patients in urgent conditions.

Key Words: Intracranial Aneurysm; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage(SAH); 3-Dimensional Computed Tomographic Angiography(3-D CTA); Early Operation; Poor Grade