Is subarachnoid hemorrhage considered a minor injury?

Written by Tang Bo
Neurology
Updated on September 04, 2024
00:00
00:00

Subarachnoid hemorrhage depends on the amount of bleeding and the location to determine the severity of the condition. It can be life-threatening in severe cases. If symptoms such as headache and severe vomiting occur, the possibility of subarachnoid hemorrhage should be considered. Initially, a cranial CT scan should be conducted to confirm the diagnosis. Further investigations should include cranial MRI or CTA vascular imaging, preferably CTA, to determine whether there is rupture bleeding caused by an aneurysm. In such cases, it is necessary to consider whether emergency surgery is required, based on the amount of bleeding and the condition of the blood vessels, and the possibility of an aneurysm to guide further treatment.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
1min 4sec home-news-image

Does subarachnoid hemorrhage require surgery?

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a rather dangerous disease with very high mortality and disability rates. It mainly manifests as sudden severe headaches, nausea, and vomiting, and complications such as bleeding, cerebral vasospasm, and electrolyte disorders can occur. The most common cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage is due to the rupture of an aneurysm. Therefore, it is generally advocated that patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage undergo surgery as soon as possible. The surgical method mainly involves local anesthesia, and a complete cerebral angiography is performed to check for the presence of an aneurysm. If an aneurysm is present, an interventional embolization can be performed, which causes less trauma and generally has a better prognosis. If there is a large amount of bleeding and the patient's life is in danger, a craniotomy may also be necessary. Thus, patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage need to undergo surgical treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wei Shi Liang
Intensive Care Unit
55sec home-news-image

How is subarachnoid hemorrhage treated?

The treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage primarily aims to prevent rebleeding, vasospasm, hydrocephalus, and other complications, reducing mortality and disability rates. During the acute phase, keep the patient's head in a raised position, lying on their side, and provide dehydration, sedation, and pain relief; absolute bed rest; monitor blood pressure; and when bleeding is significant, undertake ventricular puncture for drainage. Patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage should generally be admitted to the ICU, monitoring vital signs and changes in neurological signs, ensuring airway patency, maintaining stable respiratory and circulatory functions, resting quietly, avoiding emotional agitation, ensuring smooth bowel movements, and for patients with increased intracranial pressure, appropriately restricting fluid intake.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
1min 19sec home-news-image

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a condition.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage refers to the rupture of blood vessels due to lesions at the base or on the surface of the brain, with blood directly flowing into the subarachnoid space, causing a clinical syndrome. This is different from cerebral hemorrhage, which refers to bleeding within the brain tissue itself, not into the subarachnoid space. So, what is the subarachnoid space? The human brain is covered by three layers of membranes: the pia mater, arachnoid, and dura mater. The subarachnoid space is the area between the pia mater and the arachnoid membrane, named as such. When there is a rupture in cerebral vascular malformations or cerebral aneurysms, blood flows directly into the subarachnoid space rather than causing bleeding in the brain tissue. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is considered a very serious medical condition with a very high mortality rate. Its main symptoms include severe headache, increased intracranial pressure, nausea, and projectile vomiting. If it is a second occurrence of subarachnoid hemorrhage, the mortality rate can reach up to 50%. A third occurrence of subarachnoid hemorrhage almost certainly results in death.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
42sec home-news-image

Subarachnoid hemorrhage headache causes

Subarachnoid hemorrhage commonly presents with clinical symptoms such as headache, reflex vomiting, and even consciousness disorders, seizures, etc. The main reasons for headaches caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage are, firstly, increased intracranial pressure, and secondly, impaired absorption of cerebrospinal fluid, leading to excessive accumulation in the subarachnoid space causing headaches. Additionally, blood entering the subarachnoid space can stimulate the meninges and toxic substances can also cause headaches. Therefore, patients should go to the hospital for a complete cranial CT examination and consult with the Department of Neurology or Neurosurgery.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
59sec home-news-image

Clinical manifestations of subarachnoid hemorrhage

The clinical manifestations of subarachnoid hemorrhage include severe headache, projectile vomiting, and neck stiffness, sometimes accompanied by disturbances in consciousness. Some describe the headache caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage as the most severe headache of their lives. This severe pain is due to the congestion stimulating the meninges, causing pain that is typically very severe. Because the bleeding into the subarachnoid space allows blood to enter between the pia mater and the arachnoid membrane, stimulating the meninges and leading to these severe headaches, it causes a rapid increase in intracranial pressure and projectile vomiting. Patients may exhibit disturbances in consciousness and symptoms of irritability. This condition is considered a severe medical emergency that requires hospitalization for comprehensive treatment, with strict bed rest for four to six weeks, and it has a very high mortality rate.