Intraventricular hemorrhage from ruptured aneurysm: clinical characteristics, complications, and outcomes in a large, prospective, multicenter study population

Object. In this study the authors analyzed the relationship of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) to in-hospital complications and clinical outcome in a large population of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods. Data from 3539 patients with aneurysmal SAH were evaluated, and these data were obtained from four prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of tirilazad that had been conducted between 1991 and 1997. Clinical characteristics, in-hospital complications, and outcome at 3 months post-SAH (Glasgow Outcome Scale score) were analyzed with regard to the presence or absence of IVH. Results. Patients with SAH and IVH differ in demographic and admission characteristics from those with SAH but without IVH and are more likely to suffer in-hospital complications and a worse outcome at 3 months post-SAH. Conclusions. The presence of IVH in patients with SAH has an important predictive value with regard to these aspects.