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(Stroke. 2004;35:1867.)
© 2004 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Contributions

Basilar Artery Vasospasm and Delayed Posterior Circulation Ischemia After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Gill E. Sviri, MD, MSc; David H. Lewis, MD; Reinaldo Correa, RN; Gavin W. Britz, MD, MPH; Colleen M. Douville, RN David W. Newell, MD

From the Departments of Neurological Surgery (G.E.S., R.C., G.W.B., C.M.D., D.W.N.) and Radiology (D.H.L.), Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.

Correspondence to Dr Gill E. Sviri, 325 Ninth Ave, Box 359970, Seattle, WA 98104. E-mail sviri{at}u.washington.edu

Background and Purpose— The clinical and hemodynamic impacts of basilar artery (BA) vasospasm (VS) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are ill-defined. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between BA-VS and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) with posterior circulation after aneurysmal SAH.

Methods— Daily transcranial Doppler (TCD) measurements of posterior and anterior circulation arteries were conducted in 162 patients with aneurysmal SAH. rCBF to the brain stem (BS) and other brain territories was assessed by multiple single-photon emission computed tomography with ^99mTc ethyl cysteinate dimer single-photon emission computed tomography (ECD-SPECT) imaging during the course of VS.

Results— SPECT imaging showed delayed BS hypoperfusion in 29 patients (17.9%). Of them, 23 patients (79.3%) were found to have BA-VS. Patients with very high BA flow velocities (FVs; >115 cm/s) had a 50% chance of developing delayed BS ischemia. BA-VS was found at a higher rate in patients who experienced reduced rCBF in the cerebellum (56.3%), thalamic nuclei (68.4%), and occipital lobe (81.8%). Although patients with delayed BS hypoperfusion did not present with a higher clinical grade, their clinical outcome was significantly worse (Glasgow Outcome Score after 30 days 2.48±1.16 versus 3.3±1.27; P=0.001).

Conclusions— These findings suggest for the first time that BA-VS after aneurysmal SAH is associated with hypoperfusion to BS and other posterior circulation territories. The risk for delayed BS ischemia increased significantly when TCD BA-FVs were >115 cm/s.

Key Words: basilar artery • vasospasm • cerebral blood flow • tomography, emission computed • ultrasonography, Doppler, transcranial • subarachnoid hemorrhage • brain stem • ischemia

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