Subarachnoid Haemorrhage Left Untreated
A subarachnoid haemorrhage is a medical emergency. It must be treated immediately if the patient is to avoid life threatening or life-changing complications. If left untreated, it will almost certainly lead to disability or death.
Subarachnoid haemorrhage
A subarachnoid haemorrhage is when there is bleeding on the brain. More specifically, the bleeding occurs in the fluid-filled space in the pia and the arachnoid layers of the brain. It is normally caused by an aneurysm. Less commonly a subarachnoid haemorrhage will arise as a result of another medical condition, such as a brain tumour or an infection.
The clinical presentation of a subarachnoid haemorrhage will almost always begin with a sudden, severe headache. This is referred to as a thunderclap headache. The individual may fall unconscious, and upon waking will find that they are suffering with a stiff neck, sensitivity to light and vomiting.
Treating subarachnoid haemorrhage
Treatment must be provided immediately if a patient is recover. Sadly some patients will die before reaching hospital. But for those who are admitted and treated in time, the outlook has much improved over the past few decades. Nevertheless, the recovery process can be slow and frustrating, particularly if the haemorrhage has caused some form of dysfunction or disability.
Subarachnoid haemorrhage not treated
Complications will almost certainly arise if a subarachnoid haemorrhage is not treated quickly enough. Out of every 100 patients, around 30% will die before being admitted to hospital. If treatment is not given in hospital, around 50% will re-bleed within six weeks, increasing the risk of disability or death. After 10 years, only 20% will still be alive and 10% will be disabled.
Therefore the outlook for a subarachnoid haemorrhage is very pessimistic without treatment. This means it is essential that medical practitioners immediately admit a patient suspected of suffering a subarachnoid haemorrhage, and commence investigations and treatment without delay.
Doctors did not treat haemorrhage
If you have been left with a disability because doctors did not treat a subarachnoid haemorrhage in time, or your loved one has been left disabled or died, you need to seek expert legal advice.
Medical practitioners should be aware of the symptoms of a subarachnoid haemorrhage and should be fully aware of the need to treat the condition immediately. A failure to do so will amount of a substandard level of medical care. If this causes a patient harm, there may be grounds for a negligence claim.
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