Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Abstract

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) represents a small portion of cerebrovascular disease but a disproportionally large percentage of the morbidity and mortality. The overall prognosis depends on the volume of the initial bleeding, rebleeding, and the degree of delayed cerebral ischemia. The presence of cardiac manifestations and neurogenic pulmonary edema at the initial presentation indicates a higher degree of severity and systemic complications. This review covers the pathophysiology, stabilization and assessment, diagnosis and treatment, and disposition and outcomes of SAH. Figures show common saccular aneurysm locations, a noncontrast head computed tomographic scan of an SAH, an angiogram and surgical clipping of a broad-based anterior communicating aneurysm, and a three-dimensional reconstruction angiogram of a complex anterior communicating aneurysm with additional imaging of endoscopic stent-assisted coiling of the same aneurysm. Tables list the natural history of unruptured aneurysms and the annual risk of rupture, common clinical features and syndromes related to aneurysm location, the World Federation of Neurologic Surgeons grading system, the Hunt and Hess grading systems, and the Fisher scale. This review contains 4 highly rendered figures, 5 tables, and 144 references. Key words: aneurysm rupture, cerebral aneurysm, cerebral vasospasm, Fisher scale, Glasgow Coma Scale assessment, Hunt and Hess grading criteria, subarachnoid hemorrhage, World Federation of Neurologic Surgeons grading scale