In addition to radiological tests, the overall condition of the patient is assessed using the Hunt-Hess scale. The Hunt-Hess scale grades the severity of the sub-arachnoid hemorrhage. If the patient has a serious systemic disease such as hypertension or cardiopulmonary disease one grade level is added.
Grade 1 - alert, mild headache, stiff neck

Grade 2 - alert, vision problems, moderate to severe headache, stiff neck

Grade 3 - lethargy or confusion, weakness or partial paralysis on one side of body

Grade 4 - stupor, moderate to severe paralysis on one side of body

Grade 5 - comatose

 

lower the blood pressure to reduce further bleeding.

A ventricular catheter to drain fluid and relieve intracranial pressure

For controlling vasospasm, the drug nimodipine is given for 14-21 days.

Additionally, Triple H therapy is used:
If Triple H therapy doesn’t work, localized Intra-arterial Papaverine can be injected (done in angiography suite). Sometimes Angioplasty is used to dilate the artery.

Average hospital stays are more than twice as long with surgery as compared to endovascular coiling treatment.
Four times as many surgical patients report new symptoms or disability after treatment as compared to coiled patients.
There can be a dramatic difference in recovery times. One study showed that surgically-treated patients had an average recovery time of one year compared to coiled patients who recovered in 27 days.