Abstract

Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) occurs in about one in every 1000 adults.¹ Left untreated, around one third of people with an SAH die within 3 days of the initial bleed. Of those who survive the initial phase many go on to develop ‘delayed’ cerebral ischaemia, which itself is associated with cerebral infarction and an increase in morbidity and mortality. The calcium antagonist nimodipine (Nimotop – Bayer) is promoted as a drug that “reduces cerebral infarction and improves neurological outcome in SAH”. How effective is it?