Management of cerebral vasospasm in subarachnoid hemorrhage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has been shown to result in cerebral vasospasm at day 4 to day 14, which is the main cause of mortality and morbidity after SAH. Outcome after SAH depends on many factors, including the severity of the event, medical management, and prevention of several serious complications. The principal goal in management of vasospasm after SAH is to prevent delayed ischemic neurological deficit (DIND) by decreasing intracranial pressure (ICP), optimizing cerebral oxygen demand rate and improving cerebral blood flow (CBF). Therapeutic management has been applied to prevent or treat vasospasm, including hemodynamic therapy, and endovascular therapy. Endovascular therapies, including mechanical angioplasty and chemical angioplasty with administration of intra-arterial (IA) vasodilator, have been widely used and given a good outcome. The purpose of this article is to describe the management of vasospasm including medical management and endovascular treatment. This review will describe the treatment modalities and management strategies to treat vasospasm.