Rebleeding from ruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Fifty-three of 236 consecutive patients (22.5%) who suffered a proved aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and who were admitted within 72 hours after subarachnoid hemorrhage to a primary emergency hospital had at least one rebleed within 6 months after the primary bleed. Two patients later had a rebleed within a mean of 3 years follow-up. Rebleeding was recorded if there was a sudden loss of consciousness and a verification by computed tomography, autopsy, lumbar puncture, or angiography. The peak incidence of rebleeding was within the first 24 hours and at the end of the first week after subarachnoid hemorrhage. The rebleed mortality rate was 74%, and only 19% of patients with a rebleed had a good outcome. The grade on admission, age, and sex do not affect the incidence nor the time of rebleeding.