Cerebral vasospasm

Cerebral ischaemia - Cerebral vasospasm Factor

Cerebral vasospasm means a spasm of the cerebral blood vessels, resulting in a decrease in the diameter of these vessels.  Vasospasm-induced cerebral ischaemia is a common complication of subarachnoid haemorrhage, with vasospasm typically starting a few days after the bleed, reaching a peak after 10 days and lasting 3 to 4 weeks.

Spasm involving the cerebral arteries also has been described in severe head injuries, infections, hypertensive encephalopathy, eclampsia of pregnancy and migraine.

Vasospasm can be detected by the signs observed on physical examination (fever, neck stiffness, mild confusion, dysphasia, hemiplegia, severely impaired consciousness, classic picture of "Stroke") although the patient may or may not be clinically affected, and by radiological methods such as cerebral angiography, and transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound.

Investigative Documents

Preliminary questions [12586]

12950 there is some evidence that cerebral vasospasm may be a factor in the development of the condition under consideration, a cerebrovascular accident.

12720 the veteran had cerebral vasospasm at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, a cerebrovascular accident.

37217 at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, the veteran had cerebral vasospasm as a consequence of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

12725  the veteran has established the causal connection between cerebral vasospasm and VEA service for the clinical onset of cerebrovascular accident.

12726   the veteran has established the causal connection between cerebral vasospasm and operational service for the clinical onset of cerebrovascular accident.

or

12727   the veteran has established the causal connection between cerebral vasospasm and eligible service for the clinical onset of cerebrovascular accident.

Clincal onset and operational service [12726]

12728  the identified illness or injury, which caused the cerebral vasospasm, is causally related to operational service.

Clincal onset and eligible service [12727]

12729  the identified illness or injury, which caused the cerebral vasospasm, is causally related to eligible service.