Circulatory volume expansion for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND

Patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage who develop spasm of the cerebral arteries may suffer from delayed cerebral ischaemia. This may be exacerbated by reduced circulatory volume. Intravenous fluid therapy to expand the circulating volume might reduce the risk of delayed cerebral ischaemia and so reduce the risk of neurological disability.

OBJECTIVES

The object of this review was to determine whether there is evidence that volume expansion therapy improves outcome in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

SEARCH STRATEGY

The Cochrane Stroke Group's Specialised Register was searched for trials relevant to this review (last searched: March 1999). Trialists were also contacted.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All randomized controlled trials of volume expansion therapy in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two reviewers independently extracted the data and assessed trial quality. Trialists were contacted to obtain missing information.

MAIN RESULTS

Two trials were identified. For one trial the decision about inclusion is pending because clinical data on follow up have not been provided yet. In the other trial, outcome assessment was done at the day of operation (7 to 10 days after subarachnoid haemorrhage); data on longer follow up have not been collected.

REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: The effects of volume expansion therapy have not been studied properly in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage. At present, there is no sound evidence for or against the use of volume expansion therapy in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.