Extracerebral organ dysfunction in the acute stage after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

In patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), secondary complications are an important cause of morbidity and case fatality. Delayed cerebral ischemia and hydrocephalus are important intracranial secondary complications. Potentially treatable extracranial complications are also frequently observed, and some are related to the occurrence of delayed cerebral ischemia and outcome. In addition to the occurrence of an inflammatory response and metabolic derangements, cardiac and pulmonary complications are the most common extracranial complications. This article provides an overview of the most common extracranial complications in patients with SAH and describes their effects on outcome and delayed cerebral ischemia.