Primary decompressive craniectomy in poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: long-term outcome in a single-center study and systematic review of literature

Primary decompressive craniectomy (PDC) in patients with poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) in order to decrease elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) is controversially discussed. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of PDC on long-term clinical outcome in these patients in a single-center cohort and to perform a systematic review of literature. Eighty-seven consecutive poor-grade SAH patients (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grades IV and V) were analyzed between October 2012 and August 2017 at the author’s institution. PDC was performed due to clinical signs of herniation or brain swelling according to the treating surgeon. Outcome was analyzed according to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Literature was systematically reviewed up to August 2019, and data of poor-grade aSAH patients who underwent PDC was extracted for statistical analyses. Of 87 patients with poor-grade aSAH in the single-center cohort, 38 underwent PDC and 49 did not. Favorable outcome at 2 years post-hemorrhage did not differ significantly between the two groups (26% versus 20%). Systematic literature review revealed 9 studies: Overall, a favorable outcome could be achieved in nearly half of the patients (49%), with an overall mortality of 24% (median follow-up 11 months). Despite a worse clinical status at presentation (significantly higher rate of mydriasis and additional ICH), poor-grade aSAH patients with PDC achieve favorable outcome in a significant number of patients. Therefore, treatment and PDC should not be omitted in this severely ill patient collective. Prospective controlled studies are warranted.