Postoperative care for subarachnoid hemorrhage

Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
Updated on November 01, 2024
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For patients recovering from subarachnoid hemorrhage, a critical aspect of care is to prevent emotional excitement and avoid any exertion initiated by the patients themselves. This includes avoiding forceful movements such as turning over or straining during bowel movements, which are not permitted. Patients must rest in bed absolutely, for four to six weeks. Therefore, during nursing, it is important to assist patients with passive movements, such as turning them over every two hours to gently pat their backs. The purpose of patting the back is to effectively prevent the occurrence of dependent pneumonia, while turning them helps prevent pressure sores. Additionally, assistance can be provided for passive limb movements and massaging the limbs, which can effectively prevent the formation of venous thrombosis in the lower or upper limbs. These are the focal points of nursing that can significantly promote the patient's recovery from their condition.

Other Voices

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Is there a cure for secondary bleeding in subarachnoid hemorrhage?

This needs to be specifically analyzed based on the patient's condition. In most cases, a second subarachnoid hemorrhage is often very severe and generally considered beyond recovery. The patient is likely to die or, even if their life is saved, they may suffer from serious sequelae. They may remain in a prolonged coma, exist in a vegetative state, or suffer from severe impairments that prevent them from caring for themselves. However, some patients are luckier. With a second or third subarachnoid hemorrhage that is not very severe, if it is recognized early and treated promptly, and if the primary diseases are managed and aneurysms are treated with embolization or craniotomy for clipping, the outcomes can be favorable. In such cases, complete recovery is possible, and the patient can be saved.

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Written by Li Ai Ping
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What to do with a headache from subarachnoid hemorrhage?

Subarachnoid hemorrhage, the most typical symptom of which is headache, often manifests as a sudden severe throbbing or bursting pain. The pain may be localized to a specific area of the head, or it may affect the entire head or neck, and it generally persists continuously. If such a headache occurs, one should first rest in bed, avoid emotional excitement and exerting great force, such as coughing, shouting loudly, or straining during bowel movements, etc. If the pain is unbearable, one can ask a doctor for appropriate pain relief medication. However, if the headache suddenly worsens, one should be cautious of the condition deteriorating and should seek medical advice to investigate the cause of the worsening headache. One should not blindly request medication for pain relief, as it may mask the underlying condition.

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Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
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Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a condition.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage refers to the rupture of blood vessels due to lesions at the base or on the surface of the brain, with blood directly flowing into the subarachnoid space, causing a clinical syndrome. This is different from cerebral hemorrhage, which refers to bleeding within the brain tissue itself, not into the subarachnoid space. So, what is the subarachnoid space? The human brain is covered by three layers of membranes: the pia mater, arachnoid, and dura mater. The subarachnoid space is the area between the pia mater and the arachnoid membrane, named as such. When there is a rupture in cerebral vascular malformations or cerebral aneurysms, blood flows directly into the subarachnoid space rather than causing bleeding in the brain tissue. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is considered a very serious medical condition with a very high mortality rate. Its main symptoms include severe headache, increased intracranial pressure, nausea, and projectile vomiting. If it is a second occurrence of subarachnoid hemorrhage, the mortality rate can reach up to 50%. A third occurrence of subarachnoid hemorrhage almost certainly results in death.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Does subarachnoid hemorrhage require surgery?

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a rather dangerous disease with very high mortality and disability rates. It mainly manifests as sudden severe headaches, nausea, and vomiting, and complications such as bleeding, cerebral vasospasm, and electrolyte disorders can occur. The most common cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage is due to the rupture of an aneurysm. Therefore, it is generally advocated that patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage undergo surgery as soon as possible. The surgical method mainly involves local anesthesia, and a complete cerebral angiography is performed to check for the presence of an aneurysm. If an aneurysm is present, an interventional embolization can be performed, which causes less trauma and generally has a better prognosis. If there is a large amount of bleeding and the patient's life is in danger, a craniotomy may also be necessary. Thus, patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage need to undergo surgical treatment.

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Neurology
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Does subarachnoid hemorrhage have a genetic component?

Subarachnoid hemorrhage, this disease does not have a significant genetic tendency, so there is no need to worry excessively. The main cause of the bleeding is the rupture of an aneurysm, which is due to abnormal blood vessel development resulting in fusiform aneurysms that rupture and bleed under certain conditions. Additionally, there are other causes of subarachnoid hemorrhage, such as long-term smoking which can cause arterial disease, some arteriovenous malformations are also prone to rupture and bleed, and some traumatic injuries can also lead to subarachnoid hemorrhage; these are not hereditary. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a rather dangerous condition, so it is essential to control risk factors, properly manage blood pressure, and absolutely avoid smoking. If severe headaches, nausea, and vomiting occur, it is crucial to be highly vigilant and seek medical attention at a hospital immediately.