17 patients with completed stroke were the participants of this study. They were all alike in that they underwent STA-MCA anastomosis sometime in the course of the disease and that they received serial CT scans both pre- and post operatively. Preoperative scans were performed not before seven days of surgery and one taken in the acute stage was always included. Both plain scan and contrast enhancement study were done in each occasion. The result of the surgery was estimated within a week after surgery.
By comparing the findings of serial scans with the result of the surgery, the authors tried to seek any important correlation between the two.
Significant observations from the study are as follow: First of all, the authors estimated the result of the surgery as improved in 9 out of 17 cases and at the same time found 7 out of those nine coming from the group of patients who showed either normal finding or low density area. Second of all, these findings did not change during pre- and postoperative serial scans. Third of all, in 8 cases whose result of the surgery was estimated either as no effect (6 cases) or as worse (2 cases) came from the group whose preoperative CT scans showed either positive contrast enhancement or mass effect beside low density. Fourth of all, postoperative contrast enhancement became greater in degree (5 of 6 cases) or even grew up to the one of hemorrhagic infarction (4 of 6 cases). Mass effect also enlarged in one out of two cases.
From the above, the authors conclude that serial CT scans are true aids to make STA-MCA anastomosis surgery rational in terms of indication, period and favorable result.
