Delayed decompressive craniectomy improves the long-term outcomes in hypertensive rats with space-occupying cerebral infarction

作者:Zhao, Zhan*; Yu, Jian; Liao, Songjie; Xiong, Li; Liang, Zhijian; Ling, Li; Wang, Fang; Hou, Qinghua; Zhou, Wenliang; Pei, Zhong; Zeng, Jinsheng
来源:Neurocritical Care, 2007, 7(3): 263-269.
DOI:10.1007/s12028-007-0074-0

摘要

Background and Purpose No experimental data has been published on the long-term effects of decompressive craniotomy in hypertensive rats with space-occupying cerebral infarction. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of decompressive craniectomy in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of hypertensive rats in a prolonged period. @@@ Methods Totally 92 stroke-prone renovascular hypertensive rats (RHRSP) were subjected to left MCAO by an endovascular occlusion technique. The decompressive craniectomy was performed on 26 RHRSP at 1 and 24 h after MCAO, respectively. Infarct volume, neurological performance, and mortality were evaluated at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after MCAO. @@@ Results The mortality was reduced from 52.5% in controls to 7.7% and 23. 1 % in the rats underwent craniectomy at 1 and 24 h after MCAO, respectively (P < 0.05, respectively). All of the treated rats presented smaller infarct volume from I week to 8 weeks and better neurological performance at 4-8 weeks after MCAO compared to the controls (P < 0.05, respectively). The craniectomy at early stage was more effective than that at late stage in reducing infarct volume and improving neurological performances at 1 and 2 weeks (P < 0.05, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in infarct volume and neurological scores between the treated groups of rats at 4 and 8 weeks after MCAO (P > 0.05). @@@ Conclusions Although the early craniectomy is more effective than delayed craniectomy in improving short-term outcome, the latter has the similar beneficial effects as early craniectomy on long-term outcome in hypertensive rats with hypertensive rats with space-occupying cerebral infarction.