Lumbar Drain With Intrathecal Nicardipine in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

This is a triple-blinded, prospective, sham, randomized study. The purpose of this research is to determine the effectiveness of prophylactic administration of intra-thecal nicardipine though lumbar cerebrospinal fluid drain in prevention of symptomatic vasospasm in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage due to rupture of cerebral aneurysms. Patients will be randomized to standard treatment of cerebral vasospasm with prophylactic administration of intrathecal nicardipine vs standard treatment alone. The medication used is FDA approved and will be used through an intra-thecal route through a lumbar drain which is indicated in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥18 years
• Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage with Hunt and Hess score 3 or less
• Patient or legal authorized representative available to sign the informed consent form
• Pre-morbid modified Rankin scale of 0 or 1.
• Patients who have lumbar drain placed or planned for cerebrospinal fluid diversion per standard of care
• Patients who are able to be randomized within 72 hours from arrival with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage or within 24 hours from lumbar drain placement

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant females
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) with hunt and hess scale of >3
• SAH due to etiology other than aneurysmal rupture
• Any contraindications in patients receiving calcium channel antagonists like hypersensitivity to dihydropyridines
• Active central nerve infection (CNS) infection or high suspicion of CNS infection
• Hemodynamic instability preventing the use of Nicardipine