Clinical and radiological characteristics of patients with spontaneous and posttraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage: A retrospective observational study

Background/Aim. There are several serious complications that can accompany both spontaneous and posttraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) such as the development of intracranial hypertension, hydrocephalus, rebleeding, cerebral hypoxia, cerebral vasospasm, impaired pituitary function, electrolyte imbalance and electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities. Although there is a declining trend in mortality, the treatment of SAH and its complications represents a challenge even in imposing neurosurgical centers. Therefore, the aim of the study was to compare some clinical characteristics and complications between spontaneous and posttraumatic SAH. Methods. This retrospective study included 138 patients treated at the Clinic for Neurosurgery in the period from January of 2018 to the January of 2023. There were 71 patients with spontaneous and 67 patients with posttraumatic SAH. Results. A predominance of spontaneous SAH in female and posttraumatic SAH in male patients (p < 0.00001) was found. There was a statistically significant difference in the frequency of hydrocephalus between groups of spontaneous and posttraumatic SAH patients (p = 0.012663). Cerebral vasospasm was significantly more prevalent in patients with spontaneous SAH (p = 0.000091). A statistically significant association was also obtained between the thickness of the coagulum in these two groups (p = 0.000187). Patients with spontaneous SAH were significantly more likely to have a negative T wave (p = 0.000315). Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference regarding electrolyte imbalance in these two groups of patients with SAH. Conclusion. There were statistically significant differences between gender distribution, the frequency of abnormal ECG findings in the form of a negative T wave, greater coagulum thickness, vasospasm occurrence and a higher rate of hydrocephalus in patients with spontaneous SAH compared to patients with posttraumatic SAH.