Clinical Case Database / Category: Patient Management

Acute headache and aneurysmal bleed: a potentially life threatening stroke

Publication details

Tarig Adlan, Sharmila Chhatani, Hasan Nizami, Prashant Sankaye
Foundation Years Journal, volume 8, issue 1, p.6 (123Doc Education, London, January 2014)

Abstract

Acute headache is a common presentation to the emergency department. The aetiology of acute headache is wide and varied which can pose a challenge to establish clinical diagnosis and plan further management. Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is one of the important causes of acute headache that could be life threatening. The cause of SAH is a ruptured aneurysm in 85% of cases (1), nonaneurysmal perimesencephalic haemorrhage in 10%, and a variety of rare conditions in 5%. Recognising the presentation of SAH and prompt imaging helps in establishing the diagnosis and subsequent management. In this case based article we will discuss the clinical presentation, imaging findings and management of aneurysmal bleed, the most common cause of SAH.

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Authors

Tarig Adlan

Radiology Registrar
Peninsula Radiology Academy and Plymouth NHS Trust

Sharmila Chhatani

Radiology Registrar
Peninsula Radiology Academy and Plymouth NHS Trust

Hasan Nizami

Radiology Registrar
Peninsula Radiology Academy and Plymouth NHS Trust

Prashant Sankaye (Corresponding author)

Radiology Registrar
Peninsula Radiology Academy and Plymouth NHS Trust
docprashant1@gmail.com

References

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About the Clinical Cases Database

T​he Foundation Years Clinical Cases Database is​ a selection of 600 peer-reviewed clinical cases in the field of patient safety and clinical practice, specifically focused on the clinical information needs of junior doctors, based around the Foundation Year Curriculum programme (MMC). The cases have been chosen to align with the Foundation Year Curriculum.

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