The Delayed Ischemic Deficit Secondary to Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage with Reference to the Effect of Medication

Abstract

137 cases of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage were analyzed retrospectively to evaluate the effect of medication on the delayed ischemic deficit. CT-visualized subarachnoid blood amount was most important in the occurrence of the deficit. Diuretics increased the incidence of the deficit, and nifedipine decreased. Other variables as age, sex, and use of kanamycin and reserpine were not statistically significant. We suggest that nifedipine may be beneficial to ischemia by various mechanisms, and that diuretics should be best avoided in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.