OBJECTIVE Early rehabilitation is effective in an array of acute neurological disorders but it is not established as part of treatment guidelines after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). This may in part be due to the fear of aggravating the development of cerebral vasospasm, which is the most feared complication of aSAH. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of early rehabilitation and mobilization on complications during the acute phase and within 90 days after aSAH. METHODS This was a prospective, interventional study that included patients with aSAH at the neuro-intermediate ward after aneurysm repair. The control group received standard treatment, whereas the early rehab group underwent early rehabilitation and mobilization in addition to standard treatment. Clinical and radiological characteristics of patients with aSAH, progression in mobilization, and treatment variables were registered. The frequency and severity of cerebral vasospasm, cerebral infarction acquired in conjunction with the aSAH, and acute and chronic hydrocephalus, as well as pulmonary and thromboembolic complications, were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS Clinical and radiological characteristics of patients with aSAH were similar between the groups. The early rehab group was mobilized beginning on the first day after aneurysm repair. The significantly quicker and higher degree of mobilization in the early rehab group did not increase complications. Clinical cerebral vasospasm was not as frequent in the early rehab group and it also tended to be less severe. Each step of mobilization achieved during the first 4 days after aneurysm repair reduced the risk of severe vasospasm by 30%. Acute and chronic hydrocephalus were similar in both groups, but there was a tendency toward earlier shunt implantation among patients in the control group. Pulmonary infections, thromboembolic events, and death before discharge or within 90 days after the ictus were similar between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS Early rehabilitation of patients after aSAH is safe and feasible. The earlier and higher degree of mobilization does not increase neurosurgical complications. Rather, the frequency and severity of cerebral vasospasm following aSAH are alleviated and are not aggravated by early rehabilitation. Clinical trial registration no.: NCT01656317 ( www.clinicaltrials.gov ).

Early rehabilitation in aSAH patients is feasible from the first day after securing the aneurysm. The rehabilitation content varied according to the patient's clinical grade. Implications for Rehabilitation Early rehabilitation is feasible from the first day after securing the ruptured aneurysm in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Early rehabilitation requires close monitoring and continuous adjustment for the content and amount according to the patient's clinical condition. Interdisciplinary collaboration is recommended to match the rehabilitation needs to the medical condition on a daily basis.

Objective: To assess the impact of early mobilization and rehabilitation on global functional outcome one year after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage. Methods: Prospective, controlled, interventional study comprising patients managed in the neuro-intermediate ward following repair of a ruptured intracranial aneurysm. Patients in the Control group (n = 76) received standard treatment, whereas those in the Early Rehab group (n = 92) in addition underwent early mobilization and rehabilitation. Demographic, clinical and intervention data were registered. Global functional outcome was assessed using the modified Rankin Scale and the Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended. Results: The 2 groups were similar in their demographic and clinical characteristics. Early Rehab group patients were mobilized more quickly (p < 0.001), median 1.4 days (range 0-23 days) after aneurysm repair. After 1 year, 47% of the patients had made a good recovery, whereas 6.5% had died. Regression analysis did not reveal any significant effect of early rehabilitation on functional outcome. However, in poor-grade patients, early rehabilitation more than doubled the chance of a favourable outcome (adjusted odds ratio = 2.33; confidence interval 1.04-5.2, p = 0.039). Conclusion: Early mobilization and rehabilitation probably increases the chance of a good functional outcome in poorgrade aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage patients.

Background Fatigue is a common and disabling sequel after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). At present, prevalence estimates of post-aSAH fatigue in the chronic phase are scarce and vary greatly. Factors from the acute phase of aSAH have hitherto barely been associated with post-aSAH fatigue in the chronic phase. Methods Prospective study assessing prevalence of fatigue using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) in patients who were living independently 1 to 7 years after aSAH. We compared demographic, medical, and radiological variables from the acute phase of aSAH between patients with and without fatigue (FSS ≥ 4 versus < 4) and searched for predictors of fatigue among these variables applying univariable and multivariable regression analyses. Results Of 726 patients treated for aSAH in the period between January 2012 and December 2017, 356 patients completed the assessment. The mean FSS score was 4.7 ± 1.7, and fatigue was present in 69.7%. The frequency of patients with fatigue did not decline significantly over time. Univariable analysis identified nicotine use, loss of consciousness at ictus (LOCi), rebleed prior to aneurysm repair, reduced consciousness to Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) < 14, large amounts of subarachnoid blood, the presence of acute hydrocephalus, and severe vasospasm as factors that were significantly associated with fatigue. In multivariable analysis, nicotine use, reduced GCS, and severe vasospasm were independent predictors that all more than doubled the risk to develop post-aSAH fatigue. Conclusions Fatigue is a frequent sequel persisting several years after aSAH. Nicotine use, reduced consciousness at admission, and severe vasospasm are independent predictors of fatigue from the acute phase of aSAH. We propose inflammatory cytokines causing dopamine imbalance to be a common denominator for post-aSAH fatigue and the presently identified predictors.