- anaesthetic awareness
- birth injury
- brain haemorrhage
- cancer misdiagnosis
- cauda equina syndrome
- cerebral palsy
- cosmetic surgery
- dental negligence
- gynaecology errors
- laparoscopy surgery
- medical negligence solicitors
- neonatal conditions
- obstetric cholestasis
- surgery negligence
- gastric band surgery
- prescription errors
Subarachnoid Haemorrhage
Thousands of clinical compensation claims are initiated every year in the United Kingdom by medical negligence solicitors on behalf of people from all walks of life. A multitude of operations and procedures are executed successfully however a small percentage do go wrong, laying the grounds for medical negligence solicitors to take legal action in order to claim compensation. Both legal aid and the no win no fee scheme are available to pursue medical negligence compensation claims.
Please contact us for help pursuing your claim.
A subarachnoid haemorrhage is a bleeding inside the skull in the subarachnoid space. This is a space between the brain and the thin covering over the brain. A subarachnoid hemorrhage is particularly dangerous because the bleeding tends to be brisk so that there needs to be intervention as quickly as possible. Subarachnoid haemorrhages can be caused by arteriovenous malformations (AVM), cerebral aneurysms, bleeding disorders, blood thinners, head injury or an unknown cause.
When the injury is related to a fall, it is often in the elderly who fall and strike their head. Among young people, motor vehicle accidents are a major cause of subarachnoid haemorrhages. A subarachnoid haemorrhage due to cerebral aneurysm occurs in about 10-15 out of ten thousand people. It happens in younger people of the age 20-60 years.
Risk factors for subarachnoid haemorrhage include aneurysms in other places of the body, having fibromuscular dysplasia or other connective tissue diseases that affect blood vessel strength, having high blood pressure, having polycystic kidney disease or a smoking history. A strong family history of aneurysms could put you at risk for having an aneurysm or subarachnoid haemorrhage yourself.
If you have a subarachnoid haemorrhage, you often have the sudden onset of a severe headache that is often worse in the back of the head. Many people feel it is "the worst headache they have ever had". The individual may feel a popping or snapping sound in their head. They can also have a decreased level of consciousness, paralysis or loss of feeling, confusion or irritability, neck and shoulder pain, nausea and vomiting, seizures, difficulty dealing with light (photophobia) or double vision. Pupils can be of a different size and there can be a stiff back or neck.
A neurological and general exam can show signs and symptoms of subarachnoid haemorrhage. You can see an uneven pupil, evidence of irritation of the meninges or covering of the brain. If a subarachnoid haemorrhage is suspected, a CT scan of the head is ordered which shows blood around the brain very easily. A spinal tap can also be performed, which will show blood in the subarachnoid space in the spinal area. CT angiography can show the area of leakage and will be a resource for the neurosurgeon to know where to stop the bleeding during surgery, if it is necessary. An ultrasound can be used also to detect the spasms of damaged blood vessels, which can also guide the treatment.
The treatment goal is to stop the bleeding and save the life of the individual. Doctors must act fast to stop the bleeding and swelling in the brain. The doctor may do surgery to remove large collections of blood in the brain. If an aneurysm is involved, it must be clipped surgically in order to prevent it bleeding again. A craniotomy puts a hole in the skull and gets at the aneurysm, clipping it so it doesn't bleed any more. There is another procedure called an endovascular coiling procedure that coils a metal strip into the aneurysm so it clots and stops bleeding.
Doctors must also treat the individual's coma or decreased level of alertness by considering oxygen or intubation in the patient who can't breathe on their own. Drainage tubes may be necessary in the brain in order to decrease the pressure in the brain. The patient should be on strict bedrest, even if they are alert because being upright and active can increase the pressure within the brain. Stool softeners and laxatives can be used so they don't strain at the stool. The blood pressure should be kept to a minimum to control bleeding. Doctors often use calcium channel blockers to lessen spasms of the blood vessels.
The prognosis of having a subarachnoid haemorrhage depends on how fast a person gets treatment. Those of an older age and those with more severe symptoms do more poorly. It is possible to recover from a subarachnoid haemorrhage but a high percentage of people die or have severe sequelae from having a subarachnoid haemorrhage.
Complications include a repeat bleed-a very bad outcome for those with cerebral aneurysms. Other complications include seizure disorders, stroke symptoms, surgical complications or complications of medications. Possible Complications