Abstract
Cerebral vasospasm in patients after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) continues to be a major source of morbidity despite significant clinical and basic science research. The removal of blood and its degradation products from the subarachnoid space through prophylactic lumbar drainage (LD) is a favorable option. However, several studies have delivered conflicting conclusions on its efficacy after aSAH.
Systematic searches of Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were performed. The primary outcome was a good functional outcome (modified Rankin scale score, 0–2). Secondary outcomes included symptomatic vasospasm, secondary cerebral infarction, and mortality.
A total of 14 studies reporting on 2473 patients with aSAH were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with the non-LD group, no significant differences were found in the rates of good functional outcomes in the LD group at discharge to 1 month (risk ratio [RR], 1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64–2.58) or at 6 months (RR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.97–1.41). These findings were consistent in the subgroup analyses of only randomized controlled trials or observational studies. LD was associated with lower rates of symptomatic vasospasm (RR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.48–0.77), secondary cerebral infarction (RR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.45–0.79), and mortality at discharge to 1 month (RR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.41–0.82). The effect on mortality diminished at 6 months (RR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.34–1.45). However, when analyzing only randomized controlled trials, the benefit of LD on lower rates of mortality continued even at 6 months (RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.58–0.99).
For aSAH patients, the use of LD is associated with benefits in the rates of vasospasm, secondary cerebral infarctions, and mortality, without an increased risk of adverse events.