Clinical Significance of Rebleeding and Risk Factors Affecting Rebleeding in Patients with Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhages

ABSTRACT

To investigate the clinical significance of and risk factors for rebleeding in patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhages(SAH), the authors reviewed the consecutive cases of 527 patients admitted in the 7-year period from 1988 to 1995. Of these patients, 75(14.2%) rebled. Rebleeding occurred within 24 hours in 45 patients, among whom 32 cases rebled within 12-24 hours after initial SAH, within 1-3 days in 19, within 4-7 days in 9, and after 1 week in 2. These patients had an overall mortality of 82.9% compared to 28.4% for patients without rebleeding. The patients with rebleeding within 24 hours after the initial attack had an operative rate of 34.9% and a postoperative mortality of 53.3% compared to 26.8%, 37.5%, respectively, for patients with rebleeding after 24 hours. The significant factors affecting rebleeding were as follows;Over 70 years in age, association with intracerebral hematoma(10-20cc), sizure before operation, aneurysms on the vertebrobasilar system, poor neurological condition on admission, and angiography within 6 hours of initial SAH. Ultra-early operation within 24 hours following intentional delay in angiography of at least 6 hours from the initial rupture is recommended if the associated hematoma is not large enough to show mass effect.