Diagnosis of subarachnoid haemorrhage: Systematic evaluation of CT head diagnostic accuracy and comparison with the 2022 NICE guidelines.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage has a high incidence, and morbidity. It has been suggested that a negative non-contrast CT head can rule out SAH if performed within 6 h of symptom onset.

Research question

What is the sensitivity of CT head at ruling out SAH stratified by time-point, and what is the potential impact of omitting Lumbar Puncture (LP) from the diagnostic pathway?

Material and methods

Systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPEROID CRD42022379929). Three databases were searched, and articles published between January 2000-May 2022 included (Search date 27^th November 2022). Primary objective was diagnostic accuracy of CT scans for detecting SAH at <6 h from symptom onset, including reported sensitivity, and specificity values.

SUBMITTER: Gillespie CS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11872663 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature