title: Stroke: anatomy of a catastrophic event.
abstract: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) resulting from the rupture of a cerebral aneurysm represents one major cause of stroke. SAH may be followed by a spontaneous severe contraction of major cerebral arteries, a condition referred to as cerebral vasospasm. Vasospasm may result in brain ischemia or actual tissue death. This constrictive vascular state is devastating, remains largely untreatable, and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in SAH patients. Approximately 30,000 Americans are affected by this condition each year. The overall death rates are 25%, and significant neurological complications occur in 50% of individuals who survive the initial bleed. This report highlights some of the important aspects of this vascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bernanke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zubkov
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Clower
mesh_terms: D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012307:Risk Factors; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed