POST TRAUMATIC SUB ARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE

EFFECT OF NIMODIPINE ON ASSOCIATED HEADACHE

Abstract

Objective: To study the effect of Nimodipine on headache associated with post traumatic sub arachanoid hemorrhage. Study Design: prospective study Setting: This study was conducted at the Department of Neurosurgery & General Surgery, District Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi. Period: 6 months Methods: 60 Patients from both genders, undergoing hospital admissions that fulfill the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Results: 12 patients were lost due to poor patient follow up. Of the remaining 48 patients, 29 (60.4%) patients suffered road side accidents, 12 (25%) had assaults and 7(14.6%) had fall. The patients were classified according to Hunt and Hess and Fischer Grading. 34 patients had grade 1 and 14 had grade 2 injuries according Hunt and Hess classification. 31 had grade 1 injuries and 17 had grade 2 injuries according to Fischer Grading. The mean age was 34.02 years with a range of 4 to 71. The mean interval since trauma & admission were 1.4 hour. The patient score on the visual analog pain scale before treatment had a mean of 4.46. The patient score on visual analog scale after treatment was 2.33 and P-value was calculated to be <0.001. Conclusions: The above results signify that Nimodipine should be prescribed to patients with Grade 1 and 2 post traumatic sub arachanoid hemorrhage. Headache was considerably reduced after the use of nimodipine.