Treatment of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a formidable and common health care problem, Ear ly diagnosis and management are crucial to reduce the morbidity form this c omplex and multifaceted disease. Open surgery and endovascular techniques b oth aim at eliminating the source of hemorrhage. The choice of therapy can be made rationally based on an understanding of the merits, risks, and limi tations of each therapy. The care of pregnant patients with subarachnoid he morrhage and patients who harbor both aneurysms and AVMs can be approached rationally with an understanding of the complex pathphysiology behind these clinical scenarios. Familiarity with the signs of mild SAH, and advances i n familial screening, noninvasive imaging, and therapies for vasospasm will continue to lessen the toll of this dramatic illness on the public well-be ing.