ModulePublishedclinician-educationstroke-escalationimaging

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) vs intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) — what it looks like and how CT detects it (Advanced)

Advanced course: differentiates SAH (blood around the brain) from ICH (blood in brain tissue). Covers classic symptoms, why CT timing matters, and why additional testing may be needed in suspected SAH.

ClinicianCaregiver, SurvivorAdvanced24 minGrade 11

Educational only

Educational only — not medical advice.

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If a patient develops new or worsening stroke symptoms, reduced consciousness, seizure, severe headache, airway/swallowing danger, or unstable vital signs, activate emergency response and follow local stroke escalation protocols.

Key takeaways

  • Explain the difference between SAH and ICH
  • Recognize classic SAH symptoms (sudden severe headache)
  • Explain how non-contrast CT detects acute blood and why timing matters
  • Know why clinicians may order CTA/LP in selected SAH evaluations

Why this matters

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Clinical frame

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Core clinical idea

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Assessment and workup

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Clinical reasoning pathway

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Management and team actions

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Common pitfalls

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Patient-safe explanation

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Escalation and safety signals

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Applied case

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Clinical scenario

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Common misconceptions

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Reflect

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Key takeaways

  • Understand the difference between SAH and ICH
  • Advanced stroke care requires reconciling the clinical syndrome with timing, imaging, medication risk, patient context, and local pathway capacity.
  • A safe plan names escalation thresholds, responsible clinicians, patient-facing instructions, and the next step if results or symptoms change.

Practice check

What you’ll practice

These questions are untimed. After you answer all of them, you’ll see your score and a clear next lesson or reference step.

0 of 4 answered

Question 1

1. A learner is applying this lesson on Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) vs intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) — what it looks like and how CT detects it. Which approach best reflects advanced clinical reasoning?

Question 2

2. Which actions show safe handling of Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) vs intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) — what it looks like and how CT detects it? Select all that apply.

Question 3

3. Place the safe clinical sequence for Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) vs intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) — what it looks like and how CT detects it in order.

Question 4

4. For Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) vs intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) — what it looks like and how CT detects it, a normal or non-specific early test result is enough to stop reassessment when the clinical syndrome still suggests risk.

References

  1. Tier 1American Heart Association/American Stroke Association2022
    2022 Guideline for the Management of Patients With Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage
  2. Tier 1American Heart Association/American Stroke Association2023
    2023 Guideline for the Management of Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
  3. Tier 2RadiologyInfo.org2025
    CT Angiography of the Head
  4. Tier 2RadiologyInfo.org2025
    Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - Head