Objective of the study was to review patients with angiographically negative spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and to compare with aneurysmal SAH, as well as to discuss, which patients need repeat-angiography and what imaging method should be used.
Materials and methods: All patients, who were admitted to Department of Neuroangiosurgery of Kaunas University Hospital after spontaneous SAH in 1994-2000 were evaluated. Neurological status, complications, outcome, radiological findings were investigated and evaluated.
Results: Study showed that the main reason of spontaneous SAH is ruptured intracranial aneurysm. Rare causes of SAH are also possible; also ones of unknown etiology. It was found that patients with angiographically negative SAH were in better neurological status, had a small number of complications and better outcome. It was discussed, which patients need repeat-angiography and what method of imaging should be used.
Conclusions: Angiographically negative SAH course is better than aneurysmal SAH; not all patients need angiography to be repeated. It is proposed to perform angiography in the group of patients with increased risk.