Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

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Abstract
In an attempt to discern definitive therapeutic procedures in spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage the records of cases admitted to the St. Louis City Hospital and to the St. Louis University Hospital Group between the years 1945-1955 were surveyed. This procedure uncovered 157 cases in which data were relatively complete. Analysis of these records revealed that the mortality rate for this group was 48%, with a higher rate in the male. The early presenting signs and clinical course were not prognostic of the ultimate outcome. Patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhages are to be regarded as surgical emergencies. The high mortality rate during the first week results in the recommendation that angiography be performed within 48 hours of the onset of the hemorrhage, to be followed by common carotid artery ligation when the aneuryism is located.