Open Access

Julian Feulner, Cornelia S. Weidinger, Arnd Dörfler, Torsten Birkholz, Michael Buchfelder, Björn Sommer

• Introduction Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is a potential neuroprotective agent for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). We analysed the effect of early application of intraoperative intravenous magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) and compared the rate of cerebral vasospasm (CV), delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) and neurological outcome in two patient cohorts. Material and methods A retrospective matched-pair analysis from patients of a single center in Germany was performed without (group A) and with (group B) MgSO4 application <24 hrs after diagnosis. Pairs were matched according to the known risk factors for DCI and CV (age, Fisher grade, smoking, severity of SAH). Incidence of CV, DCI, and neurological outcome using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 3 and 12 months after SAH were recorded. Results 196 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. After risk stratification, 48 patients were included in the final analysis (mean±SD age 54.2±8.1yrs, 30 f, 18 m) and wereIntroduction Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is a potential neuroprotective agent for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). We analysed the effect of early application of intraoperative intravenous magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) and compared the rate of cerebral vasospasm (CV), delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) and neurological outcome in two patient cohorts. Material and methods A retrospective matched-pair analysis from patients of a single center in Germany was performed without (group A) and with (group B) MgSO4 application <24 hrs after diagnosis. Pairs were matched according to the known risk factors for DCI and CV (age, Fisher grade, smoking, severity of SAH). Incidence of CV, DCI, and neurological outcome using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 3 and 12 months after SAH were recorded. Results 196 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. After risk stratification, 48 patients were included in the final analysis (mean±SD age 54.2±8.1yrs, 30 f, 18 m) and were assigned to group A (n=24) or group B (n=24). CV occurred less frequently in group B (33%) than in A (46%). Likewise, DCI was present in 13% (group B) as compared to 42% (group A). After 12 months, 22 patients of group B had a favorable functional outcome (mRS 0 to 3) compared to 15 of group A. Conclusions In this study, the incidence of CV and DCI was lower in patients receiving intravenous MgSO4 within 24 hrs after aneurysmal SAH onset. Favorable functional outcome was more likely in the magnesium group after 12 months of follow-up.…