Hospital admissions for treatment of ruptured and unruptured cerebral aneurysms within the Brazilian National Health System, 2009-2018: a descriptive study

OBJECTIVE: To analyze hospital admissions for treatment of ruptured and unruptured cerebral aneurysms with embolization and brain microsurgery performed within the Brazilian National Health System (SUS), 2009-2018. METHODS: This was a descriptive study, using data from the SUS’s Hospital Information System. Frequency of hospital admissions, procedures, use of intensive care unit (ICU), case fatality ratio and expenditures were described. RESULTS: Of the 43,927 hospital admissions, 22,622 (51.5%) resulted in microsurgery. Embolization and cerebral microsurgery were more frequent among females. Length of hospital stay with embolization procedure was 7.7 days (±9.0), and with microsurgery, 16.2 (±14.2) days, frequency of ICU admission, 58.6% and 85.3%, and case fatality ratio, 5.9% and 10.9% respectively. Of the total expenditure, USD 240 million, 66.3% corresponded to hospitalizations with embolization procedure. CONCLUSION: Hospital admissions with embolization procedure for treatment of cerebral aneurysms within the SUS showed a shorter length of stay, less frequent use of ICU and lower case fatality ratio, but higher expenditure when compared to brain microsurgery.