Postoperative quality of life of patients treated for asymptomatic unruptured intracranial aneurysms.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) of patients who underwent surgery for asymptomatic unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs).


METHODS
The authors assessed QOL in 149 patients who had undergone microsurgical clipping of asymptomatic UIAs. They surveyed these patients using universal methods such as the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) for health-related QOL and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for anxiety and depression assessments.


RESULTS
The patients' mean scores for each of the eight domains of SF-36 were comparable to those of a Japanese reference population. Analysis of data from the average-QOL and low-QOL subgroups showed that the low-QOL group contained a higher number of patients with preexisting heart diseases and restricted activities of daily living. Operative procedures and complications did not affect QOL.


CONCLUSIONS
Because 86% of the patients who underwent surgery manifested a QOL similar to the reference population, the authors suggest that elective surgery for asymptomatic UIAs is a reasonable treatment, especially in patients who are troubled by the risk of rupture. Postoperative decreases in QOL are not invariably attributable to the operation or its associated complications, but may be correlated with other chronic disorders. To select the appropriate treatment for asymptomatic UIAs, neurosurgeons and patients need information on the expected postoperative QOL.
Yamashiro
Shigeo
S
Department of Neurosurgery, Stroke Center, Saiseikai Kumamoto Hospital, Japan. KHC04160@nifty.com
Nishi
Toru
T
Koga
Kazunari
K
Goto
Tomoaki
T
Muta
Daisuke
D
Kuratsu
Jun-ichi
J
Fujioka
Shodo
S
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life