Cerebral blood measurements in vasospasm.

Although vasospasm remains a common cause for morbidity and mortality following subarachnoid hemorrhage, new therapeutic approaches and diagnostic studies offer the hope that injury caused by this disorder can be further lessened. Current CBF technologies can help to determine whether new symptoms are caused by ischemia, as well as define the often unpredictable manner in which ischemia occurs in this disorder. The CBF measurements may also help identify the best time for surgical intervention following subarachnoid hemorrhage. In addition, CBF studies may delineate when aggressive medical therapies are indicated and when they are potentially harmful. Despite the inherent limitations, as new technologies for CBF determination become more widely available, they should play an important role in the management of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.