Beneficial effect of selective intra-arterial infusion of fasudil hydrochloride as a treatment of symptomatic vasospasm following SAH.

Introduction: We envisage the efficacy and safety of intra-arterial infusion of fasudil hydrochloride (IAF) for symptomatic vasospasm (SVS) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We compared results obtained from the groups that received selective IAF (a microcatheter inserted in intracranial arteries) and nonselective IAF (a microcatheter inserted in the cervical arteries). Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) value and computed tomographic (CT) score were used to evaluate clinical outcome and the extent of infarction due to delayed vasospasm.

Material And Methods: Over 2 years, 113 patients with SAH underwent clipping or coiling. Among them, 31 patients (27.4%) developed SVS. We performed nonselective IAF in 10 patients and selective IAF in 10 other patients. Eleven patients with SVS were treated without IAF. The data were statistically analyzed.

Result: By univariate linear regression analysis, IAF negatively correlated with CT score (p = 0.016), but IAF was significantly correlated with GOS (p = 0.035). By multiple regression analysis, Hunt and Kosnik grade and CT score significantly correlated with GOS.

Discussion: CT score significantly correlated with functional outcome. Although IAF, both selective and nonselective, was significantly effective for the treatment of delayed vasospasm, the former seemed to be more beneficial.