Defining survivorship after high-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background: Outcome after high-grade aneurysmal SAH is poor. Various treatment paradigms have been advanced to improve treatment outcome and preserve resources, but none have addressed the potential salvageable life lost.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients with high-grade (H&H score, 4-5) aneurysmal SAH admitted to our institution from January 1998 to June 2002, all aggressively managed, to determine what clinical/radiographic criteria predicted favorable survival.

Relation among aneurysm size, amount of subarachnoid blood, and clinical outcome.

Object: The authors of recent reports have suggested that smaller aneurysms are associated with more extensive subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), which could potentially presage poor outcome in patients harboring these lesions. The authors reviewed their clinical experience to determine if this theory has a basis in truth.

Methods: The authors undertook a retrospective review of a consecutive series of patients with aneurysmal SAH.