[Therapy of subarachnoid hemorrhage. First aid already on site!]

The age peak for spontaneous subarachnoidal bleeding from an aneurysm is 55-60 years, and two-thirds of the cases are women. The prognosis continues to be poor (50% early mortality rate). Early admission to a neurosurgical department/institution may be life-saving. Already in the out-of-hospital situation, lowering of the frequently elevated blood pressure needs to be achieved (e.g. with Adalat (nifedipine) 10 mg, sublingual). Depending on the stage presenting, either early surgery is indicated, or elective surgery when the patient has been stabilized. Here, two different schools of thought continue to exist. A new method is endovascular coiling involving the microcatheter placement of tiny platinum spirals in the aneurysm to effect local thrombosis. As a prophylactic measure, vasospasm may be prevented by the administration of Nimotop (nimodipine). But its treatment continues to be problematic.