Evaluating the sensitivity of visual xanthochromia in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

摘要: Combined computed tomography and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis has been shown to be 100% sensitive for detecting subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) when CSF is obtained between 12 h 2 weeks from time of headache onset spectrophotometry used evaluate xanthochromia. Because most hospitals do not use spectrophotometry, we sought the sensitivity xanthochromia by visual inspection. We retrospectively identified all patients seen in Emergency Department (ED) with an ED discharge diagnosis SAH June 1993 November 2005. A structured chart review was performed on additional billed procedure charge "lumbar puncture" or "spinal tap." Data collected included: color, collection, confirmation advanced imaging. There were 1323 diagnosed SAH, 102 these also had collected. Of these, 81 charts available review. By predetermined protocol, 35 excluded lack a report 1 because collection < h, 26 documentation definitive imaging study. remaining 19, 9 found have xanthochromic 10 colorless CSF, resulting inspection 47.3% (95% confidence interval 24.4-71.1%). Visual supernatant lacks necessary reliably exclude SAH.