PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

Which of the following is one of the three most common causes of subarachnoid hemorrhage?

1. Venous thrombosis

2. Trauma

3. Hemophilia

4. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

The correct answer is: Trauma

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is most commonly caused by the rupture of cerebral aneurysms, and trauma is a significant contributing factor to the occurrence of SAH. When there is head trauma, the force can cause blood vessels in the brain to rupture, leading to hemorrhage into the subarachnoid space, where cerebrospinal fluid circulates. Examining the other options, venous thrombosis, while it can be associated with venous hemorrhages, is not a primary cause of SAH. Hemophilia, a bleeding disorder, typically results in issues related to coagulation and does not directly lead to SAH in the way that trauma does. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is another condition that can cause hemorrhage, but it primarily affects the venous drainage of the brain rather than leading to a classic SAH presentation. Hence, trauma is indeed one of the three most common causes of subarachnoid hemorrhage.