Lidocaine Infusion Treatment for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Headaches

Lidocaine Infusion As A Treatment Modality For Headache Following Non-Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Prospective, Single-Center, Observational Cohort Study

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate intravenous lidocaine efficacy and safety in treating headache following non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. Through this prospective analysis, the investigators hope to:

1. show that intravenous lidocaine infusion causes a clinically significant reduction in pain scores in patients with moderate/severe headache pain following non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage;
2. show that intravenous lidocaine infusion is safe in treating headache following non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage;
3. and report vasospasm prevalence in the cohort.

Participants will receive lidocaine infusion as treatment for non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage headache and provide pain scores (on a numeric pain scale) every two hours the patients are awake for a maximum of seven days. Monitoring for vasospasm will occur as part of the patients regular medical care.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients > 18 years;
• Have a favorable neurological status defined as Hunt and Hess score ≤ 3 (as it accounts for patient awareness);
• Can communicate numeric pain scores;
• Are diagnosed with non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage

Exclusion Criteria:

• The patient is diagnosed with traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage;
• If the patient is < 18 years of age;
• If numeric pain scores could not be captured for > 3 days of hospitalization;
• If the patient had a prior aneurysm;
• Chronic pain not associated with non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage diagnosis;
• A disability before the stroke (> 2 on modified Rankin Scale score);
• A Hunt and Hess score > 3;
• Contraindications to lidocaine (significant cardiac disease, arrhythmia, seizures, previous allergic reaction to lidocaine