Background and Purpose-Thick cisternal clot on CT is a well-recognized risk factor for delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Whether intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) or intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) predisposes to DCI is unclear. The Fisher CT grading scale identifies thick SAH but does not separately account for IVH or ICH. Methods-We studied 276 consecutively admitted patients with an available admission CT scan performed within 72 hours of onset. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging data were recorded, and the amount and location of SAH, IVH, and ICH on admission CT scans were quantified. The relationship between these variables and DCI was analyzed separately and in combination with multiple logistic regression. Results-DCI developed in 20% of patients (54 of 276). Among SAH variables, thick clot completely filling any cistern or fissure was the best predictor of DCI (Pϭ0.008), and among IVH variables, blood in both lateral ventricles was most predictive (Pϭ0.001). These variables had independent predictive value for DCI in a multivariate analysis of CT findings, and both were included in a final multivariate model when evaluated in conjunction with other clinical risk factors: IVH (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.7 to 9.8), SAH (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.5 to 9.5), mean arterial pressure Ͼ112 mm Hg (OR 4.9, 95% CI 2.1 to 11.4), and transcranial Doppler mean velocity Ͼ140 cm/s within 5 days of hemorrhage (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.5 to 9.5). Similar results were obtained in a repeat analysis with infarction due to vasospasm as the dependent variable. Conclusions-SAH completely filling any cistern or fissure and IVH in the lateral ventricles are both risk factors for DCI, and their risk is additive. We propose a new SAH rating scale that accounts for the independent predictive value of subarachnoid and ventricular blood for DCI.

UBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE(SAH) affects nearly 30000 individuals annually in North America and results in serious impairment or death in 40% to 60% of cases. 1 Outcome is highly dependent on early diagnosis and aggressive intervention. 1,2 Immediate aneurysm repair is particularly crucial because rebleeding occurs in 26% to 73% of patients within days or weeks after the initial rupture if the aneurysm is untreated. 1,2 The reported frequency of misdiagnosis of SAH ranges from 12% to 51%. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Correct diagnosis can be confounded because a key symptom of SAH, headache, is among the most common symptoms reported to emergency physicians. 12 Accordingly, misdiagnosed SAH represents one of the largest sources of emergency department litigation claims and malpractice settlement payments in the United States. 13 We sought to identify the frequency, risk factors, and impact on outcome of initial misdiagnosis in patients hospitalized with SAH.

Background-Cognitive dysfunction is a common and disabling sequela of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Although several clinical and radiographic findings have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cognitive dysfunction after SAH, few prospective studies have comprehensively and simultaneously evaluated these risk factors. Methods-Between July 1996 and March 2000, we prospectively evaluated 113 of 248 consecutively admitted nontraumatic SAH patients alive at 3 months with a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. Summary scores for 8 cognitive domains were calculated to express test performance relative to the entire study population. Clinical and radiographic variables associated with domain-specific cognitive dysfunction were identified with forward stepwise multiple regression, with control for the influence of demographic factors. Results-The study participants were younger (Pϭ0.005), less often white (Pϭ0.006), and had better 3-month modified Rankin scores (Pϭ0.001) than those who did not undergo neuropsychological testing. The proportion of subjects who scored in the impaired range (Ͼ2 SD below the normative mean) on each neuropsychological test ranged from 10% to 50%. Predictors of cognitive dysfunction in 2 or more domains in the multivariate analysis included global cerebral edema (4 domains), left-sided infarction (3 domains), and lack of a posterior circulation aneurysm (2 domains). Other variables consistently associated with cognitive dysfunction in the univariate analysis included admission Hunt-Hess grade Ͼ2 and thick SAH in the anterior interhemispheric and sylvian fissures. Conclusions-Global cerebral edema and left-sided infarction are important risk factors for cognitive dysfunction after SAH. Treatment strategies aimed at reducing neurological injury related to generalized brain swelling, infarction, and clot-related hemotoxicity hold the best promise for improving cognitive outcomes after SAH.

Cognitive impairment impacts broadly on functional status, emotional health, and QOL after SAH. The TICS may be a useful alternative to more detailed neuropsychological testing for detecting clinically relevant global cognitive impairment after SAH.

No abstract