Safety and Clinical Outcome of Good-Grade Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Non-Intensive Care Units

BACKGROUND: While patients with good grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage are routinely admitted in intensive care units, critical care capacity in low-middle income countries (LMICs) is limited. In this study, we report the outcomes of good-grade SAH (Hunt and Hess grades I & II) patients admitted in ICU and non-ICU settings at a center in the Philippines and determine if site of care is predictive of outcome. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of all adults diagnosed with good-grade SAH in a five-year period. Patients were analyzed according to three groups based on site of care: Group A (>50% of length of stay in ICU), Group B (>50% of LOS in non-ICU), and Group C (100% of LOS in non-ICU). The primary outcome measures were in-hospital mortality and mRS score at discharge. The secondary outcome measures were complication rate and LOS. RESULTS: A total of 242 patients was included in the cohort, which had a mean age of 51.16 years and a female predilection (64%). The rates of in-hospital mortality and favorable functional outcome at discharge were 0.82% and 93.8%, respectively, with no difference across groups. Delayed cerebral ischemia and infection were more frequently diagnosed in ICUs (p < 0.001), while rebleeding occurred more commonly in non-ICUs (p = 0.02). The median LOS was significantly longer in patients who developed complications. CONCLUSIONS: Admission of good-grade aneurysmal SAH patients in non-ICU settings did not adversely affect both in-hospital mortality and functional outcome at discharge. Prospective, randomized studies may lead to changes in pattern of ICU utilization which are critical for LMICs.