I60.0

Clinical Causes: rupture of cerebral aneurysms located at or near the carotid siphon and bifurcation vascular abnormalities like arteriovenous malformations degenerative changes in blood vessel walls high blood pressure weakening arteries over time genetic predispositions affecting blood vessel integrity smoking and unhealthy lifestyle factors that increase vascular risk

Key Symptoms: sudden, severe headache often described as the worst headache ever experienced neck stiffness and neck pain nausea and vomiting sensitivity to light (photophobia) visual disturbances or blurred vision loss of consciousness or fainting confusion or difficulty concentrating seizures in some cases neurological deficits such as weakness or numbness on one side of the body

Diagnosis Path: advanced neuroimaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) scan, which can detect bleeding in the brain lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to identify blood in cerebrospinal fluid if imaging results are inconclusive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize blood vessels and pinpoint aneurysms or vascular malformations cerebral angiography, an invasive procedure providing detailed images of blood vessel structure for precise identification of bleeding sources

Treatment Protocols: initial stabilization of the patient, including maintaining airway, breathing, and circulation medications to control blood pressure and prevent vasospasm (narrowing of blood vessels) surgical intervention, such as clipping or coiling of aneurysms to prevent rebleeding management of complications like vasospasm using medications like nimodipine rehabilitative therapies to address neurological deficits resulting from the hemorrhage long-term monitoring and follow-up to detect and treat potential recurrences or residual vascular anomalies