Subarachnoid hemorrhage clinical manifestations

Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
Updated on September 09, 2024
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When a subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs, patients can experience varying degrees of headache, usually unbearable, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Projectile vomiting indicates high intracranial pressure in the patient. Hours after the second subarachnoid hemorrhage, signs of meningeal irritation can appear, generally presenting positively, such as neck stiffness, headache, vomiting, etc. The third issue involves varying degrees of consciousness and mental disorders in patients, and some may even display symptoms of epilepsy. Therefore, with the appearance of the above clinical symptoms, patients should actively seek treatment from a neurologist for further management.

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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Subarachnoid hemorrhage should go to which department?

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is also relatively common in clinical settings. Its symptoms primarily include severe headaches, reflex vomiting, possible consciousness disturbances, and even seizures. Following the occurrence of subarachnoid hemorrhage, a cranial CT scan can be used for a definitive diagnosis. Patients typically seek treatment in neurology or neurosurgery departments. After admission to a neurology ward, DSA (Digital Subtraction Angiography) can be conducted to accurately locate the bleeding site, and interventional embolization treatments may be considered. If the patient has a large volume of subarachnoid hemorrhage, neurosurgery might be considered for the removal of intracranial hematomas or decompressive craniectomy, among other procedures.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Nursing Measures for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a rather dangerous disease that develops very quickly, causing severe headaches, nausea, vomiting in patients, and this disease has a high probability of bleeding, potentially causing some cerebral vasospasm, leading to secondary thrombus formation. Besides prompt treatment and identifying the cause, such as clipping an aneurysm, nursing measures are also very important. Common nursing measures mainly include: First, it is essential to educate the patient to stay in bed and rest absolutely, as premature activity may cause the aneurysm to rupture and rebleed. Second, the patient must be instructed to maintain smooth bowel movements and a stable emotional state to prevent increased intracranial pressure and rebleeding due to emotional excitement or constipation. Third, the patient should be encouraged to drink more water and be given sufficient fluids to prevent cerebral vasospasm and low perfusion effects. Other nursing measures include stabilizing the patient's mood and providing sedation when necessary.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Subarachnoid hemorrhage nursing rounds

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a rather dangerous disease. Patients may experience significant symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, and irritability. There can also be complications related to the nervous system. Besides medical and surgical treatment, nursing care is equally crucial. Key aspects to focus on during nursing rounds include: First, fully assess the patient's consciousness to see if they are alert or have slipped into a coma; second, observe the pupils to check if they are symmetrical and how they react to light; third, examine if there is any noticeable stiffness in the neck or signs of meningeal irritation; additionally, look at the pathological reflexes of the lower limbs; also, observe if the patient's mood is notably irritable; finally, monitor if the patient exhibits complications such as fever, cough, or expectoration, and provide the corresponding treatment.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Differentiation between subarachnoid hemorrhage and cerebral hemorrhage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage and cerebral hemorrhage, though both involve bleeding, have different mechanisms of onset. The first distinction is that cerebral hemorrhage is generally caused by hypertension. Hypertension leads to hyaline degeneration and fibrinoid necrosis of arteries, resulting in bleeding. In contrast, the most common cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage is an aneurysm, which may be related to factors such as smoking and congenital developmental abnormalities. In terms of clinical presentation, cerebral hemorrhage has a sudden onset, with symptoms of headache, nausea, vomiting, but also includes impairments in language functions, and signs of neurological deficits such as limb paralysis. Subarachnoid hemorrhage, on the other hand, typically involves very severe pain, usually without manifestations such as limb paralysis. Furthermore, from a radiological perspective on CT imaging, cerebral hemorrhage is mainly located in the brain parenchyma, while subarachnoid hemorrhage mainly indicates that the site of bleeding is in the subarachnoid space.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What is good to eat for subarachnoid hemorrhage?

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is most commonly caused by an aneurysm. Once an aneurysm ruptures, it can lead to blood leaking into the subarachnoid space, causing severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, and other clinical symptoms. The onset is very sudden and the headaches can be extremely intense. It is crucial to treat aggressively and clamp the aneurysm as soon as possible. The diet for patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage should include: First, it is essential to take anti-vasospasm medications, as subarachnoid hemorrhage can easily lead to arterial spasms. Calcium channel blockers should be used to prevent arterial spasms to avoid severe complications. Second, consume foods that aid in bowel movements, such as bananas, apples, and oranges. It is vital for patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage to maintain regular bowel movements, and these foods can help. Third, eat high-quality proteins to strengthen the body and prevent complications. This can include fish, lean meats, beef, and drinking milk.