The effect of irrigation of intracisternal papaverine on cerebral blood flow in subarachnoid hemorrhage

BACKGROUND: Despite different treatments, cerebral vasospasm is still the most important cause of death in patients after subarachnoid hemorrhage. This study was conducted to explore the effect of intracisternal washing with papaverine on cerebral blood flow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed on 40 patients and totally 120 arteries in 2010. Then, variations in cerebral blood flow before and after washing with papaverine were measured and analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty (20) patients with aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery (ACOM) and 20 patients with aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) were assessed. Mean blood flow before aneurysm and before washing in ACOM and MCA was 70.68 ± 14.8 cm/s and 65.66 ± 9.3 cm/s, respectively, which reached 23.25 ± 5.17 cm/s and 34.1 ± 4.7 cm/s, respectively after washing (P value = 0.016 and 0.024). Mean blood flow after aneurysm and before washing in ACOM and MCA was 95.12 ± 13.9 cm/s and 67.44 ± 15.16 cm/s, respectively, which reached 35.69 ± 6.2 cm/s and 38.01 ± 8.28 cm/s, respectively after washing (P value = 0.001 and 0.01). CONCLUSION: Washing with papaverine significantly reduces cerebral blood flow and relieves vasospasm.