Abstract
We clinically evaluated the factors influencing the duration of hospitalization in patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysm managed surgically during the acute stage. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the duration of hospital stay was significantly prolonged in aged patients (more than 70 years old), groups with ventriculo-peritoneal shunt replacement, patients who were discharged to rehabilitation or nursing facilities and WFNS Grade IV. Duration of hospital stay in patients with WFNS Grade I or II was stable and did not show scattering of the standard error, with values of 30.2±4.8 days, 42.0±4.4 days, respectively. Therefore, a critical path for such ruptured cerebral aneurysms in WFNS I or II will be introduced in the near future. In such cases, the duration of hospital stay depends on cerebral vasospasm, normal pressure hydrocephalus and meningitis. Measures to prevent such complications are needed.
The duration of hospitalization was shortened in fatal cases mainly because death occurred in a relatively early stage after onset of subarachnoid hemorrhage.
The duration of hospital stay depends on not only clinical factors but also medicosocial and medicoeconomic factors. The evaluation of various factors is necessary to shorten the duration of hospitalization.
