The effectiveness of lumbar cerebrospinal fluid drainage in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage with different bleeding amounts

Continuous lumbar drainage (LD) of cerebrospinal fluid can reduce the risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH)–related complications. We evaluated the effectiveness of LD in aSAH patients with aneurysmal clipping and the relative benefits of different bleeding amounts. We retrospectively reviewed all consecutive aSAH patients who underwent aneurysm clipping in our hospital between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014. Outcomes and incidence of post-operative complications were compared between the LD group and the non-LD group in all patients and further analyzed in patients with the low modified Fisher Scale (mFS) (0–2) and high mFS (3–4). In 193 aSAH patients who underwent clipping, LD reduced the risk of hydrocephalus and improved the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score at discharge and at 3 months of follow-up. In the higher mFS group, patients who received LD had significantly lower risk of cerebral vasospasm, delayed cerebral infarction, and hydrocephalus; the GOS score was significantly higher in the LD group at discharge and at 3 months of follow-up. However, LD showed no benefits in terms of post-operative complications and outcome in patients with low mFS. LD for aneurysm clipping surgery after aSAH can reduce the risk of post-operative complications and improve the clinical outcome in patients with mFS grades 3 and 4. It should be considered as an adjunctive but dispensable treatment for aneurysm clipping in aSAH patient with low mFS.