Interaction of Optimal Cerebral Perfusion Pressure with Early Brain Injury and its Impact on Ischemic Complications and Outcome Following Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Abstract

Abstract Background Cerebral autoregulation is impaired early on after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The study objective was to explore the pressure reactivity index (PRx) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) in the earliest phase after aneurysm rupture and to address the question of whether an optimal CPP (CPPopt)–targeted management is associated with less severe early brain injury (EBI). Methods Patients with aSAH admitted between 2012 and 2020 were retrospectively included in this observational cohort study. The PRx was calculated as a correlation coefficient between intracranial pressure and mean arterial pressure. By plotting the PRx versus CPP, CPP correlating the lowest PRx value was identified as CPPopt. EBI was assessed by applying the Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Early Brain Edema Score (SEBES) on day 3 after ictus. An SEBES ≥ 3 was considered severe EBI. Results In 90 of 324 consecutive patients with aSAH, intracranial pressure monitoring was performed ≥ 7 days, allowing for PRx calculation and CPPopt determination. Severe EBI was associated with larger mean deviation of CPP from CPPopt 72 h after ictus ( r = 0.22, p = 0.03). Progressive edema requiring decompressive hemicraniectomy was associated with larger deviation of CPP from CPPopt on day 2 ( r = 0.23, p = 0.02). The higher the difference of CPP from CPPopt on day 3 the higher the mortality rate ( r = 0.31, p = 0.04). Conclusions Patients with CPP near to the calculated CPPopt in the early phase after aSAH experienced less severe EBI, less frequently received decompressive hemicraniectomy, and exhibited a lower mortality rate. A prospective evaluation of CPPopt-guided management starting in the first days after ictus is needed to confirm the clinical validity of this concept.