Intra-arterial papaverine for the treatment of cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Intra-arterial infusion of papaverine was used clinically as a vasodilator for spastic arteries after subarachnoid hemorrhage, since in vitro experiment demonstrated that papaverine is one of the most potent vasodilators of human cerebral arteries following subarachnoid hemorrhage. The present report describes the successful treatment of cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage by intra-arterial infusion of papaverine hydrochloride and discusses the experimental background of this treatment.