Comparative study of intracranial aneurysms in advanced age.

A correlative angiographic and clinical analysis of 108 intracranial subdural aneurysms in patients from 60 to 84 years of age is presented. Angiographically defined spasm was present in about 54% of the cases. Spasm grades I and II had no apparent influence on clinical course, and grades III and IV were in some instances associated with arterial occlusion and infarction. There was no clear evidence that the spasm was related to hypertension, and no relationship could be established between preoperative and postoperative spasm. Atherosclerotic alterations in some cases were combined with a persistent narrowing of the arterial lumen.