Head

It makes sense to examine patients who are burdened by risk factors such as nicotine consumption, high blood pressure, hyperlipidaemia (fat metabolism disorder), overweight and family predisposition as these patients have an increased risk of stroke.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is often a devastating event. Approximately 10 percent of patients die prior to reaching the hospital and of those who make it in time, only one-third will have a "good result" after treatment. Most SAHs are caused by ruptured saccular aneurysms. Recommendations for screening for aneurysms and methods of screening are discussed at the present time. In adult patients without risk factors, the best estimate is that approximately 2 percent harbor asymptomatic cerebral aneurysms. Of patients with cerebral aneurysms, 20 to 30 percent have multiple aneurysms. Aneurysmal SAH occurs at an estimated rate of 6 to 16 per 100,000 population. Thus, most aneurysms do not rupture. The probability of rupture is related to the size of the aneurysm. Small aneurysms (less than 6 mm in diameter) are most commonly identified with screening, and these are at low risk for rupture. In addition, patients with smaller aneurysms (<10 mm) that have ruptured have a better prognosis than larger aneurysm ruptures.