Subarachnoid haemorrhage above the age of 59: are intracranial investigations justified?

Abstract

Out of 186 patients aged over 59 referred to a neurosurgical department after spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage, 143 underwent cerebral angiography; only 28 (15%) of the patients had surgery, of whom 16 were independent one year later. The doubtful benefit of surgery and the small proportion of patients who underwent surgery have economic and ethical implications; in particular, neurosurgical beds and neuroradiological facilities should not be occupied by such patients if this delays the admission of younger patients and those requiring investigation of intracranial space-occupying and spinal lesions.