Endovascular treatment of cerebral vasospasm: vasodilators and angioplasty

Cerebral vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a delayed, reversible narrowing of the intracranial vasculature that occurs most commonly 4 to 14 days after aneurysmal SAH and can lead to permanent ischemic injury. Angiographic spasm occurs in up to 70% of patients following SAH, and approximately half become symptomatic. Estimates of patients who are disabled by vasospasm, or die because of it, range from 5% to 9%, with vasospasm accounting for 12% to 17% of all fatalities or cases of disability after SAH. This article discusses the multiple medical and endovascular therapies used to prevent or treat vasospasm.