378.1 ð é«åžçç
378.1.2 Etiology by Location
Deep (Hypertensive, ~ 60%): - Basal ganglia/putamen (most common) - Thalamus - Pons - Cerebellum
Lobar (CAA in elderly, AVM/tumor in younger): - Frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal - CAA: hereditary or sporadic (Aβ deposition in vessel walls) - Often recurrent - Microbleeds on T2*/SWI
Other: - Anticoagulation - Drug-induced (cocaine, amphetamine â usually lobar) - Tumor with hemorrhage - Venous infarct (CVST) - Hemorrhagic transformation of infarct - Trauma
378.1.3 Presentation
- Sudden focal deficit (similar to ischemic)
- Headache more common (~ 40%)
- Vomiting more common
- LOC more common
- Higher BP
- Seizures (5-15%)
- Rapid deterioration
378.1.4 Diagnosis
CT Head Non-Contrast: - Hyperdense (acute blood) - Volume estimation (ABC/2 method) - Edema - Mass effect - IVH (intraventricular hemorrhage)
CTA / MRA: - Look for underlying lesion (AVM, aneurysm) - âSpot signâ predicts expansion
MRI: - T2*/SWI for microbleeds (CAA) - Edema, age of bleed
378.1.5 Acute Management
Blood Pressure: - INTERACT-3 (2023): bundled care including SBP 140 mmHg lowered mortality + disability - ATACH-2 (2016): aggressive †140 vs 140-180 â no diff in outcome but more renal adverse events - Current: target SBP 130-140 if presenting SBP 150-220; cautious lowering - IV labetalol or nicardipine
Reverse Anticoagulation: - Warfarin: 4-factor PCC (Kcentra) + vitamin K - DOACs: - Andexanet alfa for apixaban/rivaroxaban (ANNEXA-I 2023 â controversial) - Idarucizumab for dabigatran - Antiplatelet: limited evidence for platelet transfusion (PATCH trial negative)
Other: - Glucose, temperature, electrolytes management - DVT prophylaxis (mechanical first, pharmacologic after stable) - Seizure prophylaxis NOT routine - â ICP management for clinical deterioration - Reverse Trendelenburg - Osmotherapy (mannitol, hypertonic saline) - Ventricular drain for IVH with hydrocephalus
Surgical: - Cerebellar > 3 cm OR clinical deterioration: posterior fossa decompression (life-saving) - STICH-I/II: routine evacuation of supratentorial ICH no benefit, but select cases (superficial, lobar) - ENRICH (2024): minimally invasive evacuation (BrainPath + Trans-LAM) improved outcomes for lobar ICH - IVH with hydrocephalus: EVD + thrombolytics (CLEAR III)
378.1.7 Epidemiology
- 5% of all strokes
- Mostly age 40-60
- Higher in women
- Risk factors: HTN, smoking, family history (1st degree), polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), Ehlers-Danlos IV
378.1.8 Etiology
- Ruptured saccular aneurysm ~ 80% (Berry aneurysm)
- Traumatic
- AVM
- Perimesencephalic (non-aneurysmal, prepontine, benign)
- Vasculitis
- RCVS
- Coagulopathy
- Cocaine
- Mycotic aneurysm
- Sickle cell
378.1.9 Presentation
- âWorst headache of lifeâ (thunderclap, < 1 min)
- May follow exertion/coitus
- Meningismus (delayed hours)
- Photophobia
- LOC (~ 50%) â predicts worse prognosis
- Focal deficits (oculomotor nerve palsy from PCom aneurysm)
- Seizures (~ 15%)
- Vomiting
- Sentinel headache (warning bleed, days-weeks before)
378.1.10 Examination
- Vital signs
- GCS
- Pupils, eye movements
- Cranial nerves (especially III)
- Motor
- Meningismus (delayed)
- Fundoscopy (Terson syndrome: vitreous hemorrhage)
378.1.11 Diagnosis
CT Head Non-Contrast: - Highly sensitive in first 6 hours (~ 100%) - Sensitivity decreases over time - Hyperdense in basal cisterns, sulci - Fisher grading
LP if CT Negative: - Xanthochromia (yellow CSF) due to bilirubin from RBC breakdown - Most reliable 12 hr - 2 weeks after onset - Spectrophotometry preferred (more sensitive than visual inspection)
CTA / DSA: - Locate aneurysm - DSA gold standard - Plan intervention
MRI: - FLAIR sensitive - T2*/SWI
378.1.12 Grading Scales
Hunt-Hess: - I: minimal/no symptoms - II: moderate headache, no neuro deficit - III: confusion, mild deficit - IV: stupor, moderate-severe deficit - V: coma, decerebrate
WFNS (World Federation): - I: GCS 15, no deficit - II: GCS 13-14, no deficit - III: GCS 13-14, with deficit - IV: GCS 7-12, with or without deficit - V: GCS 3-6, with or without deficit
Modified Fisher: - Predicts vasospasm - Based on blood thickness + IVH
378.1.13 Acute Management
ABC + Airway (intubate if GCS †8 or deteriorating)
BP Control: - Cautious â too low â ischemia - Generally < 160 SBP before aneurysm secured - IV labetalol or nicardipine
Reverse Anticoagulation if applicable
Aneurysm Securing (Within 24-72 hr): - Endovascular Coiling (preferred for most): - ISAT trial: coiling > clipping for outcomes - Less invasive - Especially posterior circulation, elderly, poor surgical candidates - Surgical Clipping: - For complex aneurysms, large/giant, broad neck, MCA bifurcation - Younger patients - Pipeline flow diverters for select unruptured
Nimodipine: - 60 mg PO q4h à 21 days - Reduces poor outcomes from delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) - Mechanism not fully clear (not just vasodilation) - Hold/halve if BP drops
Vasospasm Surveillance: - Peak day 4-14 - TCD monitoring - CT/CTA/MRA if clinical change - âTriple H therapyâ (HTN, hypervolemia, hemodilution) â debunked; euvolemia + induced HTN if symptomatic vasospasm - Endovascular: intra-arterial verapamil, balloon angioplasty for refractory
Hydrocephalus: - Acute (obstructive from clot) - Chronic (communicating) - EVD â eventual VP shunt if persistent (~ 20%)
Other Complications: - Hyponatremia (cerebral salt wasting > SIADH; treat with salt + fluid, not restriction) - Cardiac (Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, neurogenic pulmonary edema, arrhythmias) - Seizures (1-week prophylaxis controversial) - DVT/PE - Anemia (transfuse to ⥠9 g/dL) - Glucose control - Fever management
378.1.14 Prognosis
- 10-15% die before reaching hospital
- 30-day mortality 30-40%
- Survivors: significant long-term morbidity
378.1.14.0.1 Aneurysm Screening
- 1st-degree relative + SAH: consider screening (especially 2+ affected)
- ADPKD with FHx
- Specific syndromes
- Modality: MRA preferred
378.1.14.1 𩺠åºé鿥
- ICH location â etiology: deep = HTN; lobar = CAA (elderly)
- ICH BP: SBP 130-140 (INTERACT-3 2023)
- ICH reversal: PCC + vitamin K (warfarin); andexanet alfa (apixaban/rivaroxaban); idarucizumab (dabigatran)
- ICH surgery: cerebellar > 3 cm (life-saving); STICH negative for routine; ENRICH 2024 positive for lobar
- SAH: âworst headache of lifeâ â CT first; LP if CT-neg (xanthochromia)
- SAH: coiling > clipping (ISAT); nimodipine 60 mg q4h à 21 days
- Vasospasm peak day 4-14; TCD monitoring; euvolemia + HTN if symptomatic
- Hyponatremia from CSW â treat with salt + fluid (not restriction)