ABSTRACT
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), defined as the presence of blood in the subarachnoid space, is a common finding among head-injured patients. With the advances in brain imaging in the Emergency Room and in the Intensive Care Unit, it is estimated that over 40% of patients with traumatic brain injury have evidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in the initial computed tomography scan. This chapter focuses on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, management, and outcome of traumatic SAH. Research on the pathogenesis, management, and outcome of isolated traumatic SAH has been very limited because of the heterogeneous nature of traumatic brain injury. Trauma occurs in patients across all age groups with different comorbidities. Although neurologic outcome is likely to be associated with the extent of the underlying brain contusion, intracranial and intraventricular hemorrhage, traumatic SAH remains a significant contributing risk factor to poor outcome.
