[Spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage: a study of 462 patients].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the demographic characteristics of patients with spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) in our population and to compare the endovascular and surgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective study of 462 patients who were admitted to the Hospital Universitario La Fe in Valencia between April 1997 and March 2005.


RESULTS
The mean age was 56.8 +/- 14.8 years and 55.8% of the patients were females. The risk factors were: arterial hypertension, 40.3%; smoking, 32.7%; dyslipidemia, 16.0%; diabetes mellitus, 10.6%; alcoholism, 6.7%. A cerebral arteriography was performed in 369 patients and intracranial aneurysms were detected in 246 of them. Aneurysms were treated by embolisation in 62.6% of cases and by surgery in 22%. On comparing the embolisation and surgery groups, there were non-significant differences in the rates of complications. Infections were present in 21.9% of patients in the embolisation group versus 10.2% in the surgery group; epileptic seizures 6.1% versus 8%; hydrocephalus 2.7% versus 4%; rebleeding 4.1% versus 10.2%; clinical vasospasm 8.9% versus 6.1%. The rate of sequelae on discharge (a score on the modified Rankin Scale > 3) was 13.7% among surviving patients in the embolisation group and 15.5% in the group that had undergone surgery. The mortality rates in the two groups were 10.3 and 10%, respectively. Overall mortality rate was 30.1%.


CONCLUSIONS
The presentation and course of SAH in our population follow a pattern that is similar to those reported in other countries. No differences in morbidity and mortality were detected between the endovascular and surgical treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms.
Parkhutik
V
V
Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Universitario La Fe, Valencia, España. parkhutic_ver@gva.es
Lago
A
A
Tembl
J I
JI
Beltrán
A
A
Fuset
M P
MP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy