Reversible arterial hypotension after acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The authors report five patients who developed transient arterial hypotension immediately after the rupture of cerebral aneurysms. They manifested deep coma (three cases), abnormal electrocardiogram (four cases), and remarkable pulmonary edema (two cases). The level of consciousness in all three patients who were in deep coma improved with the normalization of blood pressure. Although two patients died of recurrent hemorrhage, the other three patients were discharged in satisfactory condition. Serious clinical conditions that are not terminal and are caused by arterial hypotension immediately after the rupture of cerebral aneurysms are sometimes reversible with adequate treatment.