Cerebral circulation time with ruptured intracranial aneurysms

Abstract

✓ The cerebral blood circulation time (CT), including the length of the arterial phase, was obtained from rapid serial angiograms in 114 patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms. The average CT of 7.2 sec, with a mean arterial phase of 3.1 sec, was much longer than the normal average CT of 5.4 sec with its 2.4 sec arterial phase. Longer circulation times were observed with the higher Botterell grades of clinical condition, high arterial perfusion and CSF pressures, and in cases with angiographic evidence of arterial spasm, hematoma, or hydrocephalus. Values of CT greater than 8.0 sec were associated with increased mortality and morbidity and vice versa. The value of the cerebral blood circulation time as a guide to preoperative treatment and to the prognosis of cases of ruptured intracranial aneurysm is suggested.