[Ischemic myocardial disorder in acute phase subarachnoid hemorrhage: clinical study of 52 patients].

Fifty-two cases of acute phase subarachnoid hemorrhage were studied by brain CT scanning to determine the presence and incidence of ischemic myocardial disorder, the relationship between ischemic change and severity, disease prognosis, and the relationship between acute phase circulatory dynamics and so-called neurogenic pulmonary edema. In all cases, ECGs were carried out and CPK-MB determined. Some of the patients underwent Tl myocardial scintigraphy, echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, as well as circulatory dynamic investigation (by Swan-Ganz catheter) and arterial blood gas analysis. In 31 of the 52 cases (59.6%), 3-day ECG series revealed ischemic changes. These findings were backed up by other cardiac function tests, thus suggesting that myocardial ischemia was present. Results in cases undergoing cardiac catheterization revealed that the myocardial ischemic changes were not due to organic constriction of the coronary artery. Included in those cases in which ECG markedly changed and CPK-MB rose substantially were many patients for whom the prognosis was poor. Evaluation of respiratory function and circulatory dynamics in cases of so-called neurogenic pulmonary edema seemed to indicate decline in cardiac function owing to myocardial ischemic change. This could account for onset of symptoms. These findings support the need for adequate circulatory management in cases of acute subarachnoid hemorrhage with pulmonary edema and/or changes on ECG. In such cases, concurrent catheterization and cerebral angiography (cerebro-cardiac catheterization: CCC) proved effective for evaluating cardiac function and determining whether heart disease was also present.