Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a type of hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease, and its incidence rate accounts for 6%~10% of acute cerebrovascular disease. It is also the most common cause of sudden death caused by stroke. Today we will learn some common knowledge about subarachnoid hemorrhage.
What is subarachnoid hemorrhage?
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) refers to a clinical syndrome caused by the rupture of diseased blood vessels at the bottom or surface of the brain, leading to direct blood flow into the subarachnoid space. According to the survey of the World Health Organization, the incidence rate in China is about 2.0/100000 people, and it is also reported that it is 6-20/100000 people every year.
Why does subarachnoid hemorrhage occur?
The most common causes are intracranial aneurysms and cerebral (spinal) vascular malformations, accounting for approximately 70% of subarachnoid hemorrhage. 2. Other reasons include hypertension, arteriosclerosis, smoking disease, hematological disorders, arterial occlusion, intracranial tumor stroke, and mixed causes.
The premonitory manifestations of subarachnoid hemorrhage
The typical symptom of subarachnoid hemorrhage is sudden onset of severe headache. Subarachnoid hemorrhage, usually caused by cerebral vascular rupture due to certain reasons, is not a disease, but a manifestation of the disease. When patients experience severe headaches, the headache presents as swelling or bursting pain, sometimes localized headaches, and sometimes total headaches. Most patients may experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, restlessness, and consciousness disorders, while a few may experience partial or generalized seizures. If left untreated, it may also lead to complications in the nervous system, such as hydrocephalus and cerebral vasospasm. Therefore, when patients experience symptoms of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage, timely medical treatment is necessary to avoid further deterioration of the condition and endangering life.
Diagnosis and examination: Head CT, lumbar puncture, digital subtraction angiography (DSA), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and non-invasive vascular imaging techniques (CTA) can all assist in the diagnosis.
Treatment of a small amount of subarachnoid hemorrhage
1. Clarify the cause: Most subarachnoid hemorrhage is caused by ruptured aneurysms, so angiography should be performed to determine the presence of aneurysms. If there is an aneurysm, it is best to undergo interventional surgery for treatment; If no aneurysm is detected by angiography, conservative treatment is sufficient. 2. Drug therapy: Drugs that can prevent cerebral vasospasm, such as calcium channel blocker nimodipine, can be used appropriately; Cerebrovascular vasodilators and vasodilators Flunarizine and Betahistine; Statins such as pravastatin.
Can subarachnoid hemorrhage be cured?
If the amount of subarachnoid hemorrhage is small, timely treatment can usually cure it, but if the amount of bleeding is large, treatment will be more difficult. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a critical condition in clinical practice. If the patient's bleeding volume is relatively small, it can usually be cured by reducing intracranial pressure, adjusting blood pressure and reducing brain edema, as well as surgical treatment such as cerebrospinal fluid injection therapy, without leaving obvious sequelae. But if the amount of subarachnoid hemorrhage is relatively large, leading to worsening of the condition, frequent cerebral blood vessels, spasms, and progressive increase in intracranial pressure, it may induce cerebral herniation and even threaten life. The probability of recovery is usually small, and even if cured, it may leave sequelae or affect the patient's lifespan.
Are there any sequelae of subarachnoid hemorrhage?
The sequelae of subarachnoid hemorrhage include epilepsy, hydrocephalus, and discomfort in the head.
1. Epilepsy: After subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs, about 9% of patients usually experience epileptic seizures, and some patients may experience them within a month or a year.
2. Hydrocephalus: Subarachnoid hemorrhage may cause blood clots in the subarachnoid cavity to block the cerebrospinal fluid circulation channel, and cerebrospinal fluid retention may cause hydrocephalus, which may cause patients to slow down their reaction, decrease their intelligence, urination and defecation, memory decline, and drowsiness. At the same time, when walking, they may show instability and small steps.
3. Head discomfort: Partial cerebral vasospasm caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage may lead to symptoms of head discomfort such as heaviness, dizziness, and headache.
The above are some common knowledge about subarachnoid hemorrhage that we have brought to you today. We would like to remind patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases to keep their mouths shut, move their legs, and not stop taking medication in daily life, and never let accidents happen.