SubArachnoid Hemorrhage HEadache Treated by Lumbar Puncture

University Hospital, Toulouse74 enrolled

Overview

Headache control is one of the major challenges in patients who suffered an acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Headache affects 90% of the patient and is resistant to the major pain medication. It results from the increased intracranial pressure and the inflammation caused by the accumulation of arterial blood in the subarachnoid space. Hemorrhagic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) removal by a lumbar puncture (LP), is well tolerated, reduces intracranial pressure and accelerates the clearance of the blood products from CSF. Nonetheless it has never been tested in a randomized trial. The investigators aim to compare in patients who experienced a low grade aSAH, the variation of headache intensity after CSF removal by LP vs. Sham LP in addition to predefined analgesic protocol management.

After aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) almost 90 % of patients experience a severe headache during their hospital stay. Pain control often requires high doses of opioid drugs and sedation that remain only partially efficacious. In addition, there is to the investigator's knowledge currently no recommendation or consensus on aSAH related headache management. aSAH related headache results from the prolonged increased intracranial pressure and meningeal inflammation related to the accumulation of blood products in the subarachnoid space. Preliminary studies, suggest that hemorrhagic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) removal by lumbar puncture (LP) or lumbar drain, is safe and decreases intracranial pressure. However its impact on headache control has never been tested. A reliable headache evaluation has to be performed among conscious patients experiencing a "low-grade" aSAH. The objective of the study is to evaluate in patients experiencing low-grade acute aSAH (WFNS 1-3), the efficacy of CSF removal by LP vs. sham LP, on headache control. 74 patients with secured aneurysm by coiling, will be randomized (1:1) between day 3 and day 5 after aneurysmal rupture. The procedure will be performed in addition to a pre-specified antalgic protocol. Mean headache intensity will be measured with the numeric verbal scale during the 24 hours before and the 24 hours after the procedure. The variation of mean intensity will be compared between the 2 groups. The investigators hypothesize that this treatment may significantly decrease headache intensity after an aSAH. If this hypothesis is confirmed CSF removal by LP could be a simple cost effective and worldwide available strategy to improve

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Interventions

Lumbar puncturePROCEDURE

Patient will be managed according to the current international recommendations in the Toulouse acute stroke center. In the absence of clear recommendation in the literature headache will be treated according to our local predefined analgesic protocol: paracetamol 1g/6 h, and if the numerical scale ≥ 4 : continuous intravenous morphine starting at 1mg/h and increased per 0.5 mg/h every hour if numerical scale remains ≥ 4. Lumbar puncture will be performed between day 3 and day 5 after subarachnoid hemorrhage onset by an independent scientist from our clinical investigator center. 30-mL CSF will be removed by LP. Sham LP consisting in superficial skin puncture by a subcutaneous needle (27 gauge needle) during the usual procedure will be performed at the same time point.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Age \>18 years * Low grade subarachnoid hemorrhage (WFNS score between 1 and 3) * Aneurysmal rupture ≤ 5 days * Ruptured aneurysm secured by coiling since at least 48 h * Headache with a mean numeric verbal scale ≥ 4/10 during the last 24 hours * No contraindication for lumbar puncture * Affiliation to french social security * Person able to express her consent and to assess own headache intensity Exclusion Criteria: * Minor, * Pregnancy, breastfeeding * Subarachnoid hemorrhage without aneurysm * Ruptured aneurysm not secured * High grade (WFNS 4 and 5) subarachnoid hemorrhage * Efficient anticoagulation * External ventricular drain placed before randomisation * People under legal protection * Participation to another research study with an ongoing disqualification period

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Difference of headache mean intensity variation measured after a lumbar puncture or a sham LP.

The mean intensity will be assessed using the verbal rating scales (VRS). It is a scale administered by the medical team, which brings together the score given by the patient between 0 and 10 (0 = absence of pain; 10 = maximum of conceivable pain)Headache mean intensity variation will be calculated by the difference between these scores evaluated 24 hours before and the 24 hours after the procedure.

Time frame: 24 hours after the inclusion

Secondary Outcomes

Difference of variation in the mean intensity of headache

Difference of variation in the mean intensity of headache measured by the nurse in charge of the patients every 4 h between the 24 hours before and the 24 hours after the procedure. Difference of variation will be assessed using the verbal rating scales (VRS). It is a scale administered by the medical team, which brings together the score given by the patient between 0 and 10 (0 = absence of pain; 10 = maximum of conceivable pain). Headache mean intensity variation will be calculated by the difference between these scores evaluated 24 hours before and the 24 hours after the procedure.

Time frame: 48 hours

Difference of maximal headache intensity

Difference of maximal headache intensity will be assessed using the verbal rating scales (VRS). It is a scale administered by the medical team, which brings together the score given by the patient between 0 and 10 (0 = absence of pain; 10 = maximum of conceivable pain). Headache maximal intensity variation will be calculated by the difference of maximal headache intensity measured during 24 hours before and 24 hours after the procedure by the nurse in charge of the patients every 4 hours.

Time frame: 48 hours

Kinetic of headache intensity

Kinetic of headache intensity during the 7 days following the procedure (global assesment by the patient and mean/max of measurement every 4 hours). The headache intensity will be assessed using the verbal rating scales (VRS). It is a scale administered by the medical team, which brings together the score given by the patient between 0 and 10 (0 = absence of pain; 10 = maximum of conceivable pain).

Time frame: 7 days

Difference of responding patients

Difference of responding patients defined by patients with a decreased of the mean intensity of 30 % and 50 %, 24 hours after the procedure and daily during the 7 days following the procedure.

Time frame: 7 days

Occurrence of a clinical deterioration

Related to the other complication of subarachnoid hemorrhage : Occurrence of a clinical deterioration related to delayed cerebral ischemia assessed by NIHSS and GCS) and the occurrence of a new infarction on follow-up MRI.

Time frame: 1 day

Persistence of Chronic hydrocephalus

Rate of chronic hydrocephalus defined by the modification of the ventricle size between the post interventional MRI and the follow-up MRI at 3 months.

Time frame: 3 month

Improvement of the clinical global impression

Disability and Quality of life : Improvement of the "Clinical Global Impression -Improvement" (CGI-I) at 24 hours, day 7 and 3 months (clinical improvement defined by a score of 1 or 2). The CGI-I is used by clinicians to rate improvement in a subject's condition (benefits) since baseline. It is a 7-point scale with 1=very much improved, 2=much improved, 3=minimally improved, 4=not changed, 5=minimally worse, 6=much worse; and 7=very much worse.

Time frame: 3 months