Intra cranial haemorrhages

Feature

Epi/Extra dural hemorrhage

(EDH)

Sub dural hemorrhage

(SDH)

Sub arachnoid hemorrhage

(SAH)

Location

Between dura mater

and skull

Between dura mater and

arachnoid mater

between the arachnoid
and pia mater (in
subarachnoid space)

Suture
line

Doesn't cross suture lines

Cross suture lines

Cross suture lines

Cause

Due to trauma causing

rupture of an arterial vessel

Due to trauma causing
rupture of a venous vessel 

Due to trauma or aneurysm
rupture causing bleeding
into CSF

Vessel
involved 

•  Middle meningeal artery

(MMA)

•  Bridging vein

•  Circle of willis (COW)

•  Rupture of berry aneurysm 

Onset

Rapid, within minutes to hours

Slower, can develop over

days to weeks

Sudden, within minute

Symptoms

•  Headache

•  Lucid interval (loss of

consciousness followed by

unconsciousness)

•  Headache

•  Severe sudden headache
/ Thunderclap headache

(often described as the
worst headache ever)