aSAH Treatment Based on Intraventricular ICP Monitoring: A Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized and Controlled Trial

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a severe type of cerebral hemorrhage, characterized by high mortality and disability rates. Approximately 85% of SAH cases are caused by ruptured intracranial aneurysms and are classified as aneurysmal SAH (aSAH). Improving the prognosis of patients with aSAH has become a pressing and significant issue. The rupture of an aneurysm results in a significant amount of blood entering the subarachnoid space, triggering an increase in intracranial pressure (ICP). Elevated ICP can impair cerebral perfusion and contribute to secondary brain injury and poor functional outcomes. A systematic review and meta-analysis found that the incidence rate of elevated ICP (ICP \>20 mmHg) in patients with aSAH was 70.69%, with elevated ICP being more common in patients with higher disease severity grades, including higher Hunt-Hess, WFNS, or modified Fisher grades. Intraventricular ICP monitoring provides continuous, real-time quantitative ICP data and may facilitate a stepwise ICP-lowering strategy and goal-directed management based on quantitative ICP values. However, the role of continuous ICP monitoring and protocolized ICP-targeted management in aSAH remains uncertain, and high-quality randomized evidence remains limited. Given this evidence gap, this study was designed to determine whether a structured management strategy guided by continuous intraventricular ICP monitoring improves functional outcomes in patients with aSAH compared with standard care, and to assess the safety of this management strategy.