title: Diagnosis of subarachnoid haemorrhage: a survey of Australasian emergency physicians and trainees.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to establish current practice among Australasian emergency physicians and trainees on several aspects of the investigation of suspected subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH).
  
  
  METHODS
  An electronic questionnaire (SurveyMonkey™) was distributed to emergency physicians and trainees by email through the ACEM. Survey recipients were asked about demographics, followed by a series of questions relating to the investigation of SAH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 878 survey respondents (response rate 24%). Our data showed that 47.3% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that a CT brain within 6 h of headache onset is sufficient to exclude a diagnosis of SAH. For a CT performed within 12 h of ictus, 14.4% were satisfied that SAH could be excluded. After a negative CT scan, for further investigation of SAH, 88% of respondents preferred lumbar puncture to CT angiography. For detection of xanthochromia in the cerebrospinal fluid, 57.7% of respondents felt that spectrophotometry (vs visual inspection) is necessary to accurately diagnose SAH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A range of information was collected regarding the investigation of suspected SAH. We report significant differences in the diagnostic approach of Australasian emergency physicians and trainees to this condition, in particular the utility of CT within 6 h for exclusion of SAH.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, The Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Furyk
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D044362:Australasia; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013129:Spinal Puncture; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: computed tomography; headache; subarachnoid haemorrhage; xanthochromia