Journal List > J Korean Soc Radiol > v.66(6) > 1087124

Lee, Choi, Son, Ryu, Shin, Choi, Chung, and You: Effect of Intra-Arterial Nimodipine Infusion for the Treatment of Symptomatic Cerebral Vasospasm Following an Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Abstract

Purpose

Symptomatic cerebral vasospasm following an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is one of the major factors which cause morbidity and mortality of patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of intra-arterial nimodipine (IAN) infusion therapy in patients with symptomatic cerebral vasospasm.

Materials and Methods

Between February 2005 and April 2011, fifty patients with symptomatic cerebral vasospasm following an aneurysmal SAH were treated with IAN infusion. After selective arterial catheterization, nimodipine was infused at a rate of 0.1 mg/min and a total of 2-3 mg per vessel was infused. We retrospectively reviewed the immediate angiographic results and clinical outcome at discharge. A grade of 5 and 4 in the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) were considered favorable outcomes.

Results

In 50 patients, 117 procedures of IAN infusion (1-7; mean, 2.3) were done. After the treatment, immediate angiographic improvement was achieved in 113 (96.6%) of 117 procedures. No major complications occurred. At discharge, 38 (76%) patients showed a favorable clinical outcome in the GOS.

Conclusion

IAN infusion therapy is safe and effective for the treatment of cerebral vasospasm following an aneurysmal SAH. However, the limitation is that repeated treatment is needed.

References

1. Weir B, MacDonald L. Cerebral vasospasm. Clin Neurosurg. 1993. 40:40–55.
2. Harrod CG, Bendok BR, Batjer HH. Prediction of cerebral vasospasm in patients presenting with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a review. Neurosurgery. 2005. 56:633–654. discussion 633-654.
3. Broderick JP, Brott TG, Duldner JE, Tomsick T, Leach A. Initial and recurrent bleeding are the major causes of death following subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stroke. 1994. 25:1342–1347.
4. Lee KH, Lukovits T, Friedman JA. "Triple-H" therapy for cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage. Neurocrit Care. 2006. 4:68–76.
5. Nogueira RG, Lev MH, Roccatagliata L, Hirsch JA, Gonzalez RG, Ogilvy CS, et al. Intra-arterial nicardipine infusion improves CT perfusion-measured cerebral blood flow in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage-induced vasospasm. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2009. 30:160–164.
6. Higashida RT, Halbach VV, Cahan LD, Brant-Zawadzki M, Barnwell S, Dowd C, et al. Transluminal angioplasty for treatment of intracranial arterial vasospasm. J Neurosurg. 1989. 71(5 Pt 1):648–653.
7. Vajkoczy P, Horn P, Bauhuf C, Munch E, Hubner U, Ing D, et al. Effect of intra-arterial papaverine on regional cerebral blood flow in hemodynamically relevant cerebral vasospasm. Stroke. 2001. 32:498–505.
8. Milburn JM, Moran CJ, Cross DT 3rd, Diringer MN, Pilgram TK, Dacey RG Jr. Effect of intraarterial papaverine on cerebral circulation time. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1997. 18:1081–1085.
9. Pickard JD, Walker V, Vile J, Perry S, Smythe PJ, Hunt R. Oral nimodipine reduces prostaglandin and thromboxane production by arteries chronically exposed to a periarterial haematoma and the antifibrinolytic agent tranexamic acid. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1987. 50:727–731.
10. Biondi A, Ricciardi GK, Puybasset L, Abdennour L, Longo M, Chiras J, et al. Intra-arterial nimodipine for the treatment of symptomatic cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: preliminary results. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2004. 25:1067–1076.
11. Hänggi D, Turowski B, Beseoglu K, Yong M, Steiger HJ. Intra-arterial nimodipine for severe cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: influence on clinical course and cerebral perfusion. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2008. 29:1053–1060.
12. Kim JH, Park IS, Park KB, Kang DH, Hwang SH. Intraarterial nimodipine infusion to treat symptomatic cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2009. 46:239–244.
13. Samuels OB, Joseph GJ, Lynn MJ, Smith HA, Chimowitz MI. A standardized method for measuring intracranial arterial stenosis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2000. 21:643–646.
14. Wilkins RH. Cerebral vasospasm. Crit Rev Neurobiol. 1990. 6:51–77.
15. Kassell NF, Sasaki T, Colohan AR, Nazar G. Cerebral vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stroke. 1985. 16:562–572.
16. Sobey CG, Faraci FM. Subarachnoid haemorrhage: what happens to the cerebral arteries? Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 1998. 25:867–876.
17. Findlay JM, Macdonald RL, Weir BK. Current concepts of pathophysiology and management of cerebral vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Cerebrovasc Brain Metab Rev. 1991. 3:336–361.
18. Robinson MJ, Teasdale GM. Calcium antagonists in the management of subarachnoid haemorrhage. Cerebrovasc Brain Metab Rev. 1990. 2:205–226.
19. Cho WS, Kang HS, Kim JE, Kwon OK, Oh CW, Son YJ, et al. Intra-arterial nimodipine infusion for cerebral vasospasm in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Interv Neuroradiol. 2011. 17:169–178.
20. Jun P, Ko NU, English JD, Dowd CF, Halbach VV, Higashida RT, et al. Endovascular treatment of medically refractory cerebral vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2010. 31:1911–1916.
21. Lacy CF. Drug information handbook: a comprehensive resource for all clinicians and healthcare professionals. 2010. Ohio: Lexi-Comp;1093–1094. 1614–1617.
TOOLS
Similar articles