Risk of Dependency Following Microsurgical Clipping in Good Grade Patients With Ruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms

Abstract

Background and Aim: Most good grade (WFNS I and II) patients who undergo microsurgical clipping achieve a favorable outcome. However, some independent patients before surgery face unfavorable outcomes after the operation, signifying the impact of microsurgical clipping. This study aimed to identify the risk of developing dependency in patients without previous neurological deficits. Methods and Materials/Patients: We reviewed 50 consecutive good grade patients with ruptured anterior circulation aneurysms who underwent microsurgical clipping between May 2017 and May 2020 in the Department of Neurosurgery, Punjab Institute of Neurosciences, Lahore, Pakistan. The clinical outcome at discharge and three months follow-up was assessed using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Results: In this study, seven patients (14%) became dependent (GOS II and III) following clipping. Of whom, five patients (10%) suffered surgical insult in the form of intraoperative rupture (4%), post-op infarct (4%), and direct brain damage (2%). Conclusion: Patients without neurologic deficit pre-operatively still suffer unfavorable outcomes mainly due to operative complications. Vascular injuries remain the main cause of morbidity-producing dependency. Therefore, all surgical techniques must minimize the risk to vessels, both during dissection and at clip placement.