Management and postoperative mortality related to time of clipping for supratentorial aneurysms: a personal series.

An analysis of all 197 consecutive cases of intracranial aneurysms treated by one of us (B. W.) was carried out. 82% were ruptured anterior circle aneurysms. 144 cases were analyzed with respect to post-operative and management mortality where patients were eligible for definitive clipping. Grade-time interactions on transfer to the neurosurgeon were considered. Early operation was not associated with significantly higher post-operative and management mortality. 116 cases clipped and discharged from hospital had longer follow-ups to see if earlier operation was associated with a poorer neurological and social outcome. This was not the case. We therefore believe that since the prime rationale for surgery following subarachnoid haemorrhage is the prevention of rebleeding and since this is more common immediately following the initial haemorrhage, early surgery is indicated whenever this is technically feasible. Since 1978, with a deliberate policy of trying to operate early, for all grades there has been a post-operative mortality of 3%, a case management mortality of 20% and 87% of patients operated upon have been able to go home.