SAH

Medical abbreviation · Neurology

SAH stands for Subarachnoid hemorrhage, a neurology abbreviation.

Bleeding into the space between the brain and its thin covering membranes, most often from trauma or, when spontaneous, from a ruptured brain aneurysm in about 85 percent of cases. The classic symptom is a sudden, explosive "thunderclap" headache, often described as the worst of the patient's life.

Example: Thunderclap headache during exercise; CT shows diffuse SAH in the basal cisterns, CTA reveals a 7 mm ACom aneurysm.

Usage notes

Noncontrast CT detects nearly all aneurysmal bleeds within six hours of onset; later, a lumbar puncture looking for xanthochromia may be needed. The aneurysm is secured by endovascular coiling or surgical clipping, and oral nimodipine is given to improve outcomes after vasospasm, which peaks between days 3 and 14. Severity is graded with the Hunt and Hess or WFNS scales and bleeding pattern with the Fisher scale.

Related abbreviations

More neurology abbreviations

• PTC – Pseudotumor cerebri
• PVS – Persistent vegetative state
• RBD – REM sleep behavior disorder
• RCVS – Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome
• RLS – Restless legs syndrome
• RRMS – Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
• SCI – Spinal cord injury
• SDH – Subdural hematoma
• SE – Status epilepticus
• SMA – Spinal muscular atrophy
• SPMS – Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
• SRS – Stereotactic radiosurgery

See all 131 neurology abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.