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Diagnosis and management of subarachnoid hemorrhage<\/h1>Featured Articles<\/a>, Microscopy & Imaging<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/header>\n<\/div><\/section>
\nIf a patient has a suspected subarachnoid brain hemorrhage (SAH), time is of the essence. CLI chatted to Dr Suneesh Thilak (New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, UK) to find out about the role that imaging plays in diagnosis, securement and subsequent patient management of SAH.<\/h3>\n
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What is subarachnoid hemorrhage?<\/h4>\n
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a neurovascular emergency due to a bleed into the subarachnoid space, which is a space between the brain and the tissues covering the brain. It is most commonly due to a rupture of an aneurism causing a significant neurovascular emergency. Almost 80 to 85% of cases are due to spontaneous aneurism rupture. The incidence of SAH is around 8 in 10 000 people per year, it is slightly more common in females than males, and mostly affects patients of the age group of 50 to 60 years. Unfortunately, this is generally when people are at the height of their productivity, and so ill health at this time causes a significant economic burden to the family, to society and overall to the economy.<\/p>\n
Why is it important to diagnose SAH?<\/h4>\n
Prompt diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is crucial due to its significant morbidity and mortality. The adage “time is brain” underscores the importance of immediate recognition and intervention. Early diagnosis facilitates timely treatment of the hemorrhage, which is essential to prevent further neurological damage and reduce morbidity. A significant proportion of SAH-related deaths occur within the first week after the initial bleed, highlighting the need for urgent diagnosis and management.<\/p>\n
How is SAH diagnosed and what is the role of imaging?<\/h4>\nWhile SAH typically presents acutely, there are instances where unruptured aneurysms may be detected incidentally during investigations for other conditions. Most patients come in with an acute presentation of a sudden and severe headache (also called a thunderclap headache), which the patient might not have experienced before. A non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scan is the primary investigation for suspected SAH. Non-contrast CT scanning has a very high sensitivity for detecting SAH, approaching 100% within the first 6 hours of symptom onset, with sensitivity decreasing slightly thereafter. Although the sensitivity of the non-contrast CT scan remains high, there is a risk of missing SAH in some cases. If SAH is suspected despite a negative initial CT scan, a lumbar puncture (LP) is performed to analyse cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Xanthochromia, a yellowish discoloration of the CSF, is indicative of SAH and typically becomes detectable after 12 hours. However, LP carries a small risk of complications (e.g. rebleeding, herniation) in patients with SAH, and careful consideration is needed. Delays in diagnosis can occur due to various factors, including atypical symptoms, misdiagnosis as other conditions (e.g. migraine), and logistical issues such as patient transport or long wait times. Although the classic presentation is thunderclap headache, symptoms including a low GCS score, seizures and also a focal neurological deficit are all associated with SAH.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>
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If a patient has a suspected subarachnoid brain hemorrhage (SAH), time is of the essence. CLI chatted to Dr Suneesh Thilak (New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, UK) to find out about the role that imaging plays in diagnosis, securement and subsequent patient management of SAH.<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
What is subarachnoid hemorrhage?<\/h4>\n
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a neurovascular emergency due to a bleed into the subarachnoid space, which is a space between the brain and the tissues covering the brain. It is most commonly due to a rupture of an aneurism causing a significant neurovascular emergency. Almost 80 to 85% of cases are due to spontaneous aneurism rupture. The incidence of SAH is around 8 in 10 000 people per year, it is slightly more common in females than males, and mostly affects patients of the age group of 50 to 60 years. Unfortunately, this is generally when people are at the height of their productivity, and so ill health at this time causes a significant economic burden to the family, to society and overall to the economy.<\/p>\n
Why is it important to diagnose SAH?<\/h4>\n
Prompt diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is crucial due to its significant morbidity and mortality. The adage “time is brain” underscores the importance of immediate recognition and intervention. Early diagnosis facilitates timely treatment of the hemorrhage, which is essential to prevent further neurological damage and reduce morbidity. A significant proportion of SAH-related deaths occur within the first week after the initial bleed, highlighting the need for urgent diagnosis and management.<\/p>\n
How is SAH diagnosed and what is the role of imaging?<\/h4>\nWhile SAH typically presents acutely, there are instances where unruptured aneurysms may be detected incidentally during investigations for other conditions. Most patients come in with an acute presentation of a sudden and severe headache (also called a thunderclap headache), which the patient might not have experienced before. A non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scan is the primary investigation for suspected SAH. Non-contrast CT scanning has a very high sensitivity for detecting SAH, approaching 100% within the first 6 hours of symptom onset, with sensitivity decreasing slightly thereafter. Although the sensitivity of the non-contrast CT scan remains high, there is a risk of missing SAH in some cases. If SAH is suspected despite a negative initial CT scan, a lumbar puncture (LP) is performed to analyse cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Xanthochromia, a yellowish discoloration of the CSF, is indicative of SAH and typically becomes detectable after 12 hours. However, LP carries a small risk of complications (e.g. rebleeding, herniation) in patients with SAH, and careful consideration is needed. Delays in diagnosis can occur due to various factors, including atypical symptoms, misdiagnosis as other conditions (e.g. migraine), and logistical issues such as patient transport or long wait times. Although the classic presentation is thunderclap headache, symptoms including a low GCS score, seizures and also a focal neurological deficit are all associated with SAH.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>
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