What is subarachnoid hemorrhage?

4 May 2021

It is abrupt bleeding in the subarachnoid space, which is the brain area that contains the cerebrospinal fluid, located between the pia mater and the arachnoid.

It is a serious condition that can cause serious disability in the patient or even death, being a type of stroke whose incidence is more common in women.

If there is a malformation or weakness in the brain blood vessels or they experience excessive pressure, it is possible that a hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident, also known as a stroke, can cause intracerebral or middle zone bleeding, that is, in the subarachnoid space.

This type of hemorrhage can occur in people of any age but is more frequent after turning 40. It is considered a cerebrovascular accident when it appears suddenly due to the rupture of a cerebral aneurysm, either congenital or as a consequence of uncontrolled hypertension.

Signs and symptoms Subarachnoid hemorrhage

Regularly, before its rupture, an aneurysm does not cause symptoms, but if it does, it usually causes the following which constitutes a warning signal:

Double vision.
Intense and abrupt headache whose nature is unlike any other that has been experienced.

Once the aneurysm ruptures, the symptoms are:

Intense and sudden headache whose effect can be described as thunder passing through the head.
Sore face and eyes.
Double vision.
Vomit.
Dizziness.
Low back pain.
Blurred vision.
Stiff neck.
Fainting.
Heart rate involvement.
Breathing problems.
Seizures.

When a subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs, complications such as:

Hydrocephalus due to accumulation of blood and cerebrospinal fluid that significantly increases intracranial pressure.
Constriction of cerebral blood vessels or vasospasm that decreases blood flow.
New ruptured aneurysms.

Diagnosis and treatment Subarachnoid hemorrhage

As it is a medical emergency, the patient will undergo a CT or MRI to identify and locate the hemorrhage, although if the results are not definitive, a lumbar puncture or cerebral angiography is indicated.

The treatment to follow consists of painkillers and anti-inflammatories that do not have an anticoagulant effect, laxatives, and calcium blockers.

Likewise, it is essential to control arterial and intracranial pressure to avoid new ruptures.

Aneurysm repair is performed through endovascular surgeries such as:

Endovascular coiling.
Endovascular stent.

At the Neurological Center, a select group of highly trained and certified doctors in various neurological specialties are ready to assist you with the quality and warmth that characterizes us.

Nervous system specialties

Neurology
Neurosurgery
Spine surgery
Pediatric neurosurgery
Neurophysiology
Neuro-rehabilitation
Neuro-pathology
Interventional neuro-radiology
Neuropsychology
Neuro-oncology
Neuro-otology
Epilepsy
Neuro-ophthalmology
Neuroimaging

Related centers and departments Subarachnoid hemorrhage

Neurology Center
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

topdoctors.es
elsevier.es
mayocilinic.org
medlineplus.gov
msdmanuals.com
medigraphic.com
Galofre-Martínez MC, Ordosgoitia-Morales J, Ripoll-Zapata V, et al. Manejo neurointensivo de la hemorragia subaracnoidea aneurismática. Rev Cub Med Int Emerg. 2020;19(3):1-23.
Amaya DLIO, González RSE, Díaz AFA, et al. Hemorragia subaracnoidea en paciente con neumonía grave por COVID-19, secundario a coagulación intravascular diseminada. Med Crit. 2021;35(4):216-219. doi:10.35366/101161.
Brenes ZMJ, Romero CA, Jiménez VM. Abordaje de hemorragia subaracnoidea. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2020;5(10):1-12.
Gloria EJM, Zuluaga GJP, Duque GL, et al. Anomalías electrocardiográficas en hemorragia subaracnoidea. Cardiovasc Metab Sci. 2019;30(4):136-142.

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The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is subarachnoid hemorrhage?

Signs and symptoms Subarachnoid hemorrhage

Diagnosis and treatment Subarachnoid hemorrhage

Related centers and departments Subarachnoid hemorrhage

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Subarachnoid hemorrhage