• Tonje Haug, Angelika Sorteberg, Arnstein Finset, Karl-Fredrik Lindegaard, Tryggve Lundar, and Wilhelm Sorteberg.
• Department of Neuropsychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway. tonje.haug@yahoo.com
• Neurosurgery. 2010 Mar 1;66(3):475-84; discussion 484-5.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine cognitive functioning and health-related quality of life 1 year after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in preoperative comatose patients (Hunt and Hess Grade V patients).MethodsPatients who were comatose at hospital arrival and thereafter were investigated for 1 year using a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery and 2 HRQOL questionnaires.ResultsThirty-five of 70 patients survived the bleed, and 26 underwent neuropsychological testing. Two distinct patient groups emerged, one (n = 14) with good cognitive function, having mild deficits only, and the other (n = 12) with poor cognitive and poor motor function. Patients performing poorly were older (P = .04), had fewer years of education (P = .005) and larger preoperative ventricular scores, and were more often shunted (P = .02). There were also differences between the 2 groups in the Glasgow Outcome Scale (P = .001), the modified Rankin Scale (P = .001), and employment status. HRQOL was more reduced in patients with poor cognitive function.ConclusionA high fraction of survivors among preoperative comatose aneurysmal SAH patients (Hunt and Hess grade V) recover to good physical and cognitive function, enabling them to live a normal life.

32 keywords...

hide…