Aneurysmal Inflow Rate Coefficient Predicts Ultra-early Rebleeding in Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms: Preliminary Report of a Computational Fluid Dynamics Study

Abstract

Rebleeding from a ruptured intracranial aneurysm has poor outcomes. Although numerous factors are associated with rebleeding, studies on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) on hemodynamic parameters associated with early rebleeding are scarce. In particular, no report of rebleeding in ultra-early phase exists. We aimed to elucidate the specific hemodynamic parameters associated with ultra-early rebleeding using CFD. In this study, the rebleeding group included patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) that rebled within 6 h from the onset. The control group included patients without rebleeding, observed for >10 h following the initial rupture. Clinical images after initial rupture and before rebleeding were used to build 3D vessel models for hemodynamic analysis focusing on the following parameters: time-averaged wall shear stress (WSS), normalized WSS, low shear area, oscillatory shear index, relative residence time, pressure loss coefficient, and aneurysmal inflow rate coefficient (AIRC). Five and 15 patients in the rebleeding and control groups, respectively, met the inclusion criteria. The World Federation of Neurosurgical Surgeons grade was significantly higher in the rebleeding group (p = 0.0088). Hemodynamic analysis showed significantly higher AIRC in the rebleeding group (p = 0.042). The other parameters were not significantly different between groups. There were no significant differences or correlations between SAH severity and AIRC. AIRC was identified as a hemodynamic parameter associated with ultra-early rebleeding of ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Thus, AIRC calculation may enable the prediction of ultra-early rebleeding.

Keywords

• intracranial aneurysm
• computational fluid dynamics
• rebleeding
• aneurysmal inflow rate coefficient