Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Abstract

Intracranial aneurysms are a non-exceptional disease affecting 1–3 % of the general population. The incidence of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is about 1/10,000/year. Aneurysmal SAH is a devastating disease leading to death approximately in 50 % of the cases and to neurological sequels in about 25% of the cases. Management of aneurysmal SAH consists in early exclusion of the aneurysm’s sac either by endovascular means or by microsurgical clipping. Intensive care management is of tremendous importance to treat SAH-related complications like hydrocephalus and to prevent delayed complications such as vasospasm. Current perspectives for intracranial aneurysms management consist in a better selection of the unruptured aneurysms to treat, in order to propose a preventive treatment of exclusion before they bleed.