Poor outcome is associated with less negative fluid balance in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage treated with prophylactic vasopressor-induced hypertension.

Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a serious condition associated with high mortality rates and long-term disability. We investigated the impact of fluid balance on neurologic outcome after adjustment for possible confounders related to intensive care therapy and extra-cerebral organ failure during the early phase after SAH.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed data from all 142 adult patients admitted to our university hospital surgical intensive care unit (ICU) with SAH between March 2004 and November 2010.