Objective : Aneurysmal rebleeding is a major cause of death and disability. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of rebleeding, and the factors related with patient's outcome. Methods : During a period of 12 years, from September 1995 to August 2007, 492 consecutive patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) underwent surgery at our institution. We reviewed the patient's clinical records, radiologic findings, and possible factors inducing rebleeding. Also, we statistically analyzed various factors between favorable outcome group (FG) and unfavorable outcome group (UG) in the rebleeding patients. Results : Rebleeding occurred in 38 (7.7%) of 492 patients. Male gender, location of aneurysm (anterior communicating artery) were statistically significant between rebleeding group and non-rebleeding group (p = 0.01 and p = 0.04, respectively). Rebleeding occurred in 26 patients (74.3%) within 2 hours from initial attack. There were no statistically significant factors between FG and UG. However, time interval between initial SAH to rebleeding was shorter in the UG compared to FG (FG = 28.71 hrs, UG = 2.9 hrs). Conclusion : Rebleeding occurs more frequently in the earlier period after initial SAH. Thus, careful management in the earlier period after SAH and early obliteration of aneurysm will be necessary.

We conducted retrospective collection of demographic, clinical, and radiographic data in 59 patients who underwent a first cranioplasty following decompressive craniectomy during a period of 6 years, between January 2004 and December 2009. Patients underwent decompressive craniectomy for the control of increased intracranial pressure.The decision to undertake cranioplasty depended on the judgment of each individual surgeon. Although operative techniques of cranioplasty were different among neurosurgeons, bone flaps removed during the initial craniectomy were frozen and stored in bone bank. The previous scars were incised, and scalp flap was carefully detached from the underlying dura and brain. Any dural tears and defects were repaired. After achieving meticulous hemostasis in the epidural spaces with bipolar coagulation and hemostatic agents, circumferential and bone flap dural tack-up sutures were placed to reduce epidural dead space. The bone flap was replaced and fixed in place with microscrews and plates. In all patients, a closed epidural and subgaleal drainage system was left in place for 2 to 4 days. INTRODUCTIONDecompressive craniectomy is widely performed in patients suffering from medically refractory elevation of intracranial pressure and is known to improve clinical outcome 1,9,15) . The patients who survive after decompressive craniectomy need to undergo cranioplasty.The complications, including infection, hematoma, and bone graft resorption following cranioplasty have been well studied and considered as a significant cause of postoperative morbidity 6,8,11,12) . However, reports of epidural fluid collection (EFC) after cranioplasty are uncommon and limited to isolated case examples and small series 6,10) .In our neurosurgical practice, we treated patients who developed EFC following cranioplasty. We thus investigated the incidence of EFC and predictive factors associated with its development. Also, this study was focused on the presumptive mechanism of EFC de- Department of Neurosurgery, Eulji University School of Medicine, Nowon Eulji Hospital, Seoul, KoreaObjective : Infection and bone resorption are major complications of cranioplasty and have been well recognized. However, there are few clinical series describing the epidural fluid collection (EFC) as complication of cranioplasty. This study was planned to identify the predictive factors and fate of EFC after cranioplasty. Methods : We reviewed retrospectively the demographic, clinical, and radiographic data in 59 patients who underwent a first cranioplsty following decompressive craniectomy during a period of 6 years, from January 2004 to December 2009. We compared demographic, clinical, and radiographic factors between EFC group and no EFC group. The predictive factors associated with the development of EFC were assessed by logistic regression analysis. Results : Overall, 22 of 59 patients (37.3%) suffered from EFC following cranioplasty. EFC had disappeared (n=6, 31.8%) or regressed (n=6, 31.8%) over time on follow up brain computed tomogr...

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