Department of Neurosurgery

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is characterized by sudden, splitting headache. Additionally neck stiffness, possibly nausea and vomiting, as well as a more or less severe consciousness disturbance may occur.

Early treatment by surgery or endovascular coil embolisation has crucially improved the chances for survival of patients with ruptured aneurysms.

Specialized intensive care ensures the recognition and fast treatment of vasospasm, which is still a problem for the prognosis of the patients. Vasospasm is the vasoconstriction of cerebral vessels as an undesired response to the bleeding. This vasoconstriction may cause cerebral ischemia (reduced blood flow) with corresponding damage to the brain areas (stroke).

A subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is an emergency and requires immediate admission of the patient into a multidisciplinary center where the disease is diagnosed and the necessary treatment can be initiated immediately.