A follow-up angiography study must be performed during the early stage (within approximately 3 weeks after onset of symptoms) to confirm the formation or enlargement of an aneurysm, because such conditions may be amenable to surgical treatment. Unruptured VA dissection could otherwise be treated and followed conservatively. Although the majority of dissected lesions seem likely to stabilize within a few months, as evidenced on angiography, in some cases a longer observation period is required.

A 48-year-old man underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunting for hydrocephalus secondary to subarachnoid hemorrhage due to left vertebral artery dissection, which had been successfully treated by trapping. The peritoneal catheter was correctly positioned via a right upper abdominal incision, and symptoms related to the hydrocephalus disappeared. One month later, the patient began to complain of pain on the right side of the neck. Chest radiography revealed that the peritoneal end of the catheter had migrated into the right pulmonary artery. The catheter route was explored through a small neck incision, and was found to enter the external jugular vein. The catheter was extracted and repositioned into the peritoneum. This type of shunt migration is quite unusual, but could be lethal by causing pulmonary infarction or arrhythmia. The catheter had probably entered the external jugular vein through a perforation caused by the shunt guide during the ventriculoperitoneal shunt operation. Follow-up radiography should be scheduled to detect such a complication.

Oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), urinary nitrogen excretion, respiratory quotient, resting energy expenditure (REE), %REE, and the consumption rates of carbohydrate, fat, and protein (%CHO, %Fat, %Prot, respectively) were determined pre- and postoperatively by indirect calorimetry in 13 patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms and 11 patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage in the acute stage. The preoperative VCO2, VO2, urinary nitrogen excretion, respiratory quotient, REE, and %REE were, respectively (mean +/- standard deviation): 171 +/- 46 ml/min, 203 +/- 56 ml/min, 10.3 +/- 1.7 gm/day, 0.84 +/- 0.01, 1397 +/- 389 Cal/day, and 129% +/- 8%. The values for VCO2, VO2, REE, and %REE were all increased above normal levels. The %Prot was increased to 26.1% +/- 9.1%. In the postoperative period, the VCO2, VO2, urinary nitrogen excretion, REE, and %REE significantly increased to: 186 +/- 44 ml/min, 229 +/- 56 ml/min, 14.8 +/- 2.9 gm/day, 1557 +/- 384 Cal/day, and 141% +/- 21%, respectively. The %Fat and %Prot also increased significantly, but the %CHO significantly decreased. Preoperatively, in the patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms, there was a greater increase in %Prot in eight patients classified (according to Fischer) as having a Group 3 or 4 subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) on computerized tomography than in five patients classified as having a Group 1 or 2 SAH. In summary, increased metabolic expenditure, especially increased catabolism of protein and fat, is characteristic of accompanying hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease, and there is an increase in consumption of fat and protein in the postoperative period. Lack of precise knowledge about the cause and consequences of these metabolic responses makes it impossible at present to judge the optimal extent of nutritional replacement. The hypermetabolic state should be taken into consideration when caring for these patients as it may cause weight loss, poor wound healing, and susceptibility to infection.

No abstract

Oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production, respiratory quotient, urinary nitrogen excretion (UN), resting energy expenditure (REE), REE rate (%REE) and consumption rates of carbohydrate (%C), fat (%F) and protein (%P) were pre- and postoperatively measured in the acute stage of 17 patients with cerebrovascular diseases. They included six of ruptured intracranial aneurysms, six of cerebrovascular occlusion, and five of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage. Preoperative VO2, UN, REE, and %REE were 185.1 ml/min, 7.1 gm/day, 1280 cal/day, and 132.6, respectively. %C, %F, and %P were 40.9, 38.5, and 20.6, respectively. Especially the preoperative %P had markedly increased. Postoperatively, %C significantly decreased to 28.3, and %P showed a significant increase up to 30.3. Patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms manifested a significant increase of %P and %F and a decrease of %C, postoperatively. In summary, the catabolism of fat and protein increases in the acute stage, especially postoperatively, and this hypermetabolic state should be considered when caring for patients with cerebrovascular diseases as malnutrition might prevent wound healing and cause weight loss and a decrease in immunity.