HomeAnswersNeurologysubarachnoid haemorrhageI would like you to check the MRI scan to see whether the subarachnoid hemorrhage was incurable, as my father died due to the same. Kindly help.

Is subarachnoid hemorrhage incurable and causes death?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

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iCliniq medical review team

Published At October 30, 2023
Reviewed AtNovember 20, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

My father died due to a subarachnoid hemorrhage. I request you review the MRI report to understand whether it was incurable. Kindly help.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Sorry to hear that. Please accept my heartfelt sympathies. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity) reveals a significant brain hemorrhage caused by an aneurysm in one of the brain's most essential blood vessels. An aneurysm is a weak spot in a blood artery that can burst anytime. The location and extent of the bleeding determines the symptoms. Sometimes the symptoms are moderate, and other times they are life-threatening. Around 25% of cases generally result in death and coma, while another 25% may die during the next six months due to complications. Unfortunately, I wont be able to give any more specifics since I am not aware of other clinical details and reports of blood tests.

I hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

I felt confused regarding therapy because this was our family's first occurrence of a brain hemorrhage. Other test reports are enclosed for review, as requested. Please provide feedback based on the reports.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

I realize how difficult it must be for you and your family, mainly because this is the first occurrence in the family. I went through all of the attachments. It also indicates high glucose levels and high urea and creatinine levels, indicative of diabetes and significant renal function impairment, respectively. Unfortunately, all these conditions, including high blood pressure, high carbohydrates, decreased renal function, and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, appear to have led to his untimely death.

I hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

I realize how difficult it must be for you and your family, mainly because this is the first occurrence in the family. I went through all of the attachments. It also indicates high glucose levels and high urea and creatinine levels, indicative of diabetes and significant renal function impairment, respectively. Unfortunately, all these conditions, including high blood pressure, high carbohydrates, decreased renal function, and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, appear to have led to his untimely death. The doctor said that because blood clotting was over the balloon, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) did not reveal the specific issue beneath the clotting.

In most cases, the bleeding spreads to the brain or emerges from the nose, mouth, or ear. In my father's instance, it clotted at the location of the bleeding. Please advise whether this judgment was correct, given that he avoided surgery. When we sought a second opinion in the same city with another neurosurgeon, he informed us that surgery was essential to shut this balloon promptly to prevent re-bleeding. He also requested that the patient be transferred to his hospital, but he was in a coma and was on a ventilator and blood pressure pump. As a result, the chances of survival were only 0.01%. Sir, according to the blood report, all readings were regular when we did the MRI. I am perplexed as to why the doctor did not order surgery when the blood test results were acceptable and my father was expected (he usually spoke, the only difference being that he was paralyzed on the left side, so his sentences were slurred). But he recognized all of us. He told me how he became paralyzed and drove to the nearest clinic. Kindly help.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

I agree that in patients with ruptured aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, early surgery is typically desirable, while certain surgeons can decide to operate after a few days based on clinical judgment. I am unaware of what your treating surgeon saw in his clinical findings and examination that led to his conclusion (together with the MRI). As a result, I cannot comment on the timing of the operation. When magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used instead of CT, it generally provides far more information than a computed tomography (CT) scan. Unfortunately, it is nearly hard to provide highly detailed responses in such instances because the treating doctor best gives that.

I hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

I will consult with my doctor about the rationale for skipping surgery. I am just curious about the odds of life and rehabilitation after such a massive brain hemorrhage of the main artery of the brain. As you stated, 25% of patients die or go into a coma, and 25% die within six months owing to complications; please explain what happens to the remaining 50% of patients after such a significant brain hemorrhage. Reviewing the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) result, can my father live at that time if clipping or coiling is done? The report shows several difficulties. Will his life last longer than six months? Also, what is the probability of recovery from paralysis if the doctor does surgery at that time? Please offer input based on your assessment of the MRI report. I further guarantee you that this input is solely for my comprehension and that I will not take this talk to Doctor since speaking with him now will be meaningless because my father is no longer alive. As a result, I decided to have a third party assess the matter. I am grateful for your kind assistance and direction on all previous inquiries.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Reviewing the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) result, can my father live at that time if clipping or coiling is done? The report shows several difficulties. Will his life last longer than six months? Also, what is the probability of recovery from paralysis if the doctor does surgery at that time? As I previously stated, I can only give you general answers and not specific ones because clinical findings and examination details are critical to making a decision (done by the treating doctor). Without them, it is impossible to answer if there is any chance of paralysis recovery or success from coiling or clipping to prolong his life. However, in addition to the bleeding, the MRI revealed an infarct, indicating that the blood flow to a portion of the brain was also compromised. This suggests there was already ischemia damage to the brain and bleeding, which typically indicates a bad prognosis with or without clipping or coiling.

I hope this helps.

Thank you and take care.

Regards.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Chandan Mohanty
Dr. Chandan Mohanty

Neurosurgery

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