Cerebrospinal fluid analysis: a predictor of chronic hydrocephalus following spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage.

ABSTRACT

Hydrocephalus is a well-recognized condition following spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SSAH). Ninety-one medical records of patients who presented with SSAH were reviewed, 56 patients were included in this study. The amount of red blood cells (RBCs) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the occurrence of chronic hydrocephalus requiring shunt placement were analyzed. In the group that did not require shunt placement, the average amount of RBCs in the CSF was 45,823 +/- 48,789 cells/mm3, whereas, in the shunted group (total of 15 patients) it was 86,788 +/- 71,045 cells/mm3 which was statistical significantly higher than the non-shunted group (p < 0.05). The authors concluded that CSF analysis is a useful predictor for shunt placement following SSAH.