Clinical Signs Of Cerebral Vasospasms

The occurrence of a cerebral vasospasm begins with a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). This bleeding between the brain and the tissue that covers the brain can be the result of head trauma, such as a major car accident, or a ruptured aneurysm. Those who suffer from SAH caused by a ruptured aneurysm are at a greater risk of developing cerebral vasospasm, a life-threatening condition that occurs when certain blood vessels in the brain constrict.

Headache, Neck Stiffness and Fever

According to an article published in "Acta Anaesthesiol Taiwan" in 2004, a headache coupled with neck stiffnesss and a fever are the first signs that a patient is experiencing a cerebral vasospasm. The headache that most patients experience is not a dull lingering pain, but a very sudden and severe pain that referred to as a "thunderclap headache."

Confusion

Brain-Aneurysm.com indicates that patients start to show signs of cerebral vasospasm three days after a hemorrhage or ruptured aneurysm and the symptoms can last up to three weeks. This explains why one woman experienced a five-hour episode of confusion nine days after undergoing a surgery that resulted in a dural tear. The bout of confusion prompted a trip to the emergency room and a CT scan.

Hemiplegia

According to the Family Practice Notebook, hemiplegia is the loss of motor control in one side of the body. This is a condition that most people associate with stroke victims. The hemiplegia in patients with cerebral vasospasm can be treated with a combination of medications such as mannitol and reopening the blood vessels.

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