Management of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage with intracerebral hematoma: Is there an indication for coiling first? Study of 44 cases

Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (ASH) with intracerebral hematoma (ICH) has a poor prognosis. The treatment is to secure the aneurysm and do an ICH evacuation.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine if aneurysm coiling followed by ICH evacuation is a viable alternative treatment compared to exclusive surgery, regardless of the clinical or paraclinical presentations.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted between 2004 and 2014, which included 44 patients. The patients were divided up in four groups. Two were principal groups: The clipped group (aneurysm clipping with ICH evacuation) and the coiled group (aneurysm coiling, followed by ICH evacuation); and two were subgroups of the latter: Aneurysm coiling with ICH evacuation after 24 hours and ICH evacuation followed by aneurysm coiling. We studied the demographic and radiologic characteristics, and the 3-month outcome.

Results: We included 17 patients in the coiled group: The outcome was better for the patients with World Federation of Neurosurgery (WFNS) scores of 1, 2 and 3; compared to the patients with WFNS scores 4 and 5. We included 16 patients in the clipped group: The outcome was better, compared the coiled group, for those patients with WFNS scores 4 and 5. Six patients were treated with aneurysm coiling, followed by ICH evacuation after 24 hours: 33% had a good outcome. Five patients were treated by ICH evacuation, followed by aneurysm coiling: None had a good outcome.

Conclusions: It was necessary to realise a prospective study to compare the outcomes of patients with WFNS scores of 1, 2 or 3; between those with aneurysm coiling followed by ICH evacuation and aneurysm clipping with ICH evacuation, to determine the potential of using the coiling first, for these patients.