title: Postoperative quality of life of patients treated for asymptomatic unruptured intracranial aneurysms.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Stroke Center, Saiseikai Kumamoto Hospital, Japan. KHC04160@nifty.com
authors: Shigeo
authors: S
authors: Yamashiro
authors: Toru
authors: T
authors: Nishi
authors: Kazunari
authors: K
authors: Koga
authors: Tomoaki
authors: T
authors: Goto
authors: Daisuke
authors: D
authors: Muta
authors: Jun-ichi
authors: J
authors: Kuratsu
authors: Shodo
authors: S
authors: Fujioka
mesh_terms: 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