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Published on: June 18, 2021
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
S Arthur Moore1, Alejandro A Rabinstein, Michael W Stewart
1Department of Neurology, Critical Care, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, USA.
Insights
Early recognition of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is critical for timely intervention. This review aids providers in identifying SAH signs and symptoms for prompt diagnosis and improved patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a severe neurological condition with high mortality and significant long-term morbidity.
- SAH disproportionately affects younger populations, leading to lost productive years and increased healthcare costs.
- Delayed diagnosis of SAH can result in devastating consequences for patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview enabling healthcare providers to recognize and initiate the workup for patients with SAH.
- To emphasize the critical importance of early SAH recognition for prompt intervention.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on subarachnoid hemorrhage.
- Focus on signs, symptoms, and diagnostic modalities for SAH.
Main Results:
- Early recognition of SAH signs and symptoms is crucial.
- Diagnostic tools include neuroimaging, cerebrospinal fluid examination, and angiography.
- A provider's ability to recognize SAH facilitates earlier intervention.
Conclusions:
- Prompt identification and workup of SAH are essential for improving patient outcomes.
- Understanding SAH presentation aids in reducing diagnostic delays.
- This review serves as a guide for healthcare providers in managing suspected SAH cases.
Abstract:
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a devastating neurologic condition with a high mortality and long term neurological morbidity in 50% of survivors. In addition, SAH commonly affects young patients causing substantial loss of productive life years and resulting in significant long term healthcare costs. Early recognition of the signs and symptoms of SAH is absolutely critical to earlier intervention, and delays in diagnosis can have devastating consequences. To avoid such delays in SAH diagnosis, the medical provider should recognize its signs and symptoms. Neuroimgaging, cerebrospinal fluid examination and angiography (invasive or non-invasive) facilitate early diagnosis of SAH. The purpose of this review is not to provide an exhaustive critique of the available literature, rather, it is to provide an overview that will better enable a provider to recognize and initiate the workup of patients with SAH.
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