Table 1.
Incidence of vasospasm and secondary infarction Incidence of vasospasm as determined by clinical examination (DIND), angiography (narrowing of vessel diameter > 50 %), TCD (MFV > 140 cm/s), and PCT (asymmetry or clear bilateral deficit). The incidence of DIND was reduced in magnesium-treated patients (32/54 patients in the magnesium group and 29/53 patients in the control group were neurologically assessable through the largest part of their hospital stay). There was no risk-reduction to develop arterial narrowing (DSA, TCD) or pathological perfusion patterns in PCT by magnesium-treatment. The risk to develop secondary infarction, however, was markedly reduced in magnesium-treated patients in conditions of arterial narrowing (DSA, TCD) and pathological findings in PCT. (Fisher Exact Test, DIND = delayed ischemic neurological deficit, DSA = digital subtraction angiography, TCD = transcranial Doppler sonography, PCT = perfusion-CT, MgSO4 = magnesium sulfate)
| Number of patients/exams | Signs of Vasospasm | p-level | Secondary infarction | p-level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIND | MgSO4 32 pats Control 29 pats |
MgSO4 9/32 Control 23/29 |
p = 0.03 | MgSO4 0/9 Control 9/23 |
p = 0.167 |
| DSA | MgSO4 40 exams Control 49 exams |
MgSO4 26/40 Control 32/49 |
p = 1.00 | MgSO4 2/26 Control 17/32 |
p = 0.007 |
| TCD | MgSO4 234 exams Control 246 exams |
MgSO4 114/234 Control 135/246 |
p = 0.48 | MgSO4 7/114 Control 32/135 |
p = 0.001 |
| PCT | MgSO4 210 exams Control 196 exams |
MgSO4 117/210 Control 122/196 |
p = 0.51 | MgSO4 10/117 Control 30/122 |
p = 0.006 |