THURSDAY, Jan. 22, 2009 (HealthDay News) -- Brain hemorrhage patients have better outcomes when they're treated quickly and at hospitals that handle many brain attack emergencies, according to updated guidelines released by the American Heart Association.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) occurs when a blood vessel bursts and bleeds into the brain's subarachnoid space -- the lining between the surface of the brain and the brain tissue. Most SAHs are caused by a ruptured aneurysm (a small, ballooned-out area of a blood vessel). Trauma to the head can also cause SAHs.
SAH is one of the most deadly neurological emergencies. The death rate for SAH is about 45 percent in the first 30 days, and about half of survivors suffer significant disability.
Since the previous guidelines were released in 1994, there have been a number of advances. Among the highlights of the new guidelines released Jan. 22:
The updated guidelines were published in a recent issue of Stroke.
More information
The Brain Aneurysm Foundation has more about brain aneurysm.