Tom Bleck - Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: What Matters?

Tom Bleck - Subarachnoid haemorrhage: what matters?

Tom Bleck gives an overview of the pertinent facts regarding the complications and management of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH).

The complications of aneurysmal SAH can be divided into immediate, early and late. The risk of re-bleeding is maximal on the first day, it is fatal in 75% of patients and the best management is to secure the aneurysm by coiling or clipping. Blood pressure control is utilised widely but parameters are arbitrary and the data is scarce.

Early complications (days 1 - 3) include early brain injury in its various forms, stress cardiomyopathy, neurogenic pulmonary oedema and cerebral salt wasting. The most important late complication (day 4 onwards) is vasospasm.

Tom briefly discusses the mechanisms and manifestations of SAH-associated brain injury including ischaemia, blood brain barrier breakdown, sustained depolarisation, hydrocephalus, vasospasm, seizures, hyperglycaemia and fever. He goes on to discuss in more detail the management of vasospasm, the associated evidence and the importance of distinguishing between clinically detectable and subclinical vasospasm.