Survivors of SAH continue to recover for years and develop good coping skills and a positive attitude toward their recovery, even when they experience ongoing problems. Few are left with disabling headaches or epilepsy.

The finding that the patients in the drug-treated group exhibited fewer impairments typical of diffuse cortical damage could be viewed as being consistent with the hypothesis that tirilazad mesylate protects neurons. Given the small size of this study, these results require confirmation with larger patient groups. Future drug trials should consider including neuropsychological tests in assessments of outcomes after SAH. If this is too costly, questions regarding fatigue levels might prove worthwhile.