Efficacy of Scalp Block in Managing Post Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Headache in Critically Ill Patients. A Single Centre Randomized Controlled Trial

Despite its high prevalence, associated morbidity, and effects on the quality of life of aSAH-associated headache, epidemiological studies of its timing, severity, characteristics, and usual treatments are lacking. A prospective study in 2013 has shown that headache was the second-leading cause of 30-day hospital readmission after SAH. Long-term follow-up data indicate that headaches may persist after SAH for 2 to 9 years. Persistent headache leads to poor quality of life, increased therapy costs, delayed return to work, and increased incidence of depression.

Although there is evidence indicating that headaches related to subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) result in hospital readmissions and cause long-term suffering, there is a lack of data guiding the management of headaches in the critical care setting. Current national and international guidelines from the American Heart Association and the Neurocritical Care Society do not offer evidence-based recommendations for managing headaches. Furthermore, the exact mechanism of headache pain after subarachnoid hemorrhage remains elusive. Some researchers have postulated that this pain may be caused by hemolysis's inflammatory byproducts, resulting in meningeal irritation in the subarachnoid space. Additionally, central pain sensitization mediated by N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors may cause hyperalgesia after SAH. The lack of a definitive mechanism makes selecting Pharmacotherapeutics is a significant challenge. Innovative, opioid-sparing treatment strategies for managing SAH-associated headaches are warranted based on the need to monitor neurological examinations, avoid over-sedation, and alleviate discomfort in SAH patients with headaches. Opioids, often in escalating doses, remain the mainstay of therapy, in addition to other medications such as paracetamol, ketorolac, and dihydrocodeine. However, major limitations of this approach include depressed consciousness and respiratory drive, nausea, ileus, urinary retention, hypotension, and the high potential for tolerance and addiction. Headache management often remains suboptimal despite steady consumption of analgesics. Despite these obvious drawbacks, providers continue to rely on opioid therapy.

Review articles typically mention headaches after SAH without making specific Recommendations for managing the headache after the initial episode. However, a recent study evaluating Pterygopalatine Fossa Blockade (PPF) as a novel, narcotic-sparing treatment for headache in seven patients with SAH showed that the worst pain recorded in the 24 hours before the block was significantly higher than in the period four hours after the block (9.1 vs 3.1; p 0.0156), and in the period eight hours after the block (9.1 vs 2.8; = p 0.0313). The only complication was minor oozing from the needle insertion sites, which subsided completely with gauze pressure within 1 minute. In this study, we aim to assess the impact of scalp blocks in reducing headaches associated with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in patients undergoing endovascular treatment of the aneurysm (coiling or flow diversion). To our knowledge, this will be the first randomized controlled trial to examine the role of scalp block in alleviating headaches associated with aSAH.

Inclusion criteria

• All adults > 18 years who are admitted to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) with a confirmed diagnosis of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, undergoing endovascular treatment of the aneurysm (coiling/flow diversion).

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with aSAH undergoing surgical craniotomy and aneurysmal clipping.
• Non-aneurysmal subarachnoid or other intracranial hemorrhage forms (e.g., Intracerebral hemorrhage).
• SICU admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 13 or lower.
• WFNS Score 4 / 5 or requiring mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hrs.
• Patients with known allergy to local anesthetics.
• Admission to ICU > 7 days after hemorrhage.
• Patients with a documented bleeding disorder.
• Patients with a history of chronic headache disorder or migraine.
• Pregnancy