Cost-effective outcome for treating poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The goal of this study was to prospectively assess outcome and cost for poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage patients presenting to a regional neurosurgical center (Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK) between 1994 and 2001. Outcome measures were clinical outcome at 6 months, number needed to treat (NNT) for favorable outcomes, and cost analysis. METHODS Poor-grade patients (World Federation of Neurological Surgeons grades 4 and 5) were transferred to the neurocritical care unit after intubation and ventilation. After resuscitation and drainage of ventricular cerebrospinal fluid for 24 hours, sedation was stopped, and patients were assessed clinically. Patients with a Glasgow Motor Score (GMS) > or =4 underwent angiography and surgical treatment of culprit aneurysms. Patients with a subsequent GMS of 6 were not deemed poor grade and were discounted from the study. RESULTS We deemed 166 ventilated patients genuinely poor grade (mean age, 53.4 years; 94 women [56.6%]). Of these, 88 patients (4<GMS<6; 53%) progressed to angiography and possible definitive treatment. Seventy-five patients had an identifiable aneurysm, but only 64 survived for treatment. Operative mortality was 31.3%, and of the 44 survivors, 22 (34.4% of operated patients) achieved a favorable outcome. Favorable outcomes were more frequently seen in women than men (21.3% versus 6.9%) but were unrelated to patient age. The NNT for 1 favorable outcome was 7 (male NNT, 15; female NNT, 5) at a cost of pound 84 336 per favorable outcome (female, pound 60 240; male, pound 180 720). CONCLUSIONS Poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is associated with a high mortality but a significant subset of patients can achieve favorable outcomes.