In individuals diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), fevers have been shown to have detrimental micro and macroscopic effects on the brain that can ultimately cause secondary brain injury. The anti-pyretic effects of oral acetaminophen have been studied in critically ill patients but no study has been able to compare these effects to the IV form of acetaminophen also known as OFIRMEV. The investigators wish to explore the notion that IV acetaminophen will be more effective than enteral acetaminophen in reducing the incidence of non-infectious fevers in critically ill patients. In addition, the investigators propose to study the levels of inflammatory cytokines after administration of IV or enteral acetaminophen, as well as, determine the incidence of vasospasm in SAH patients treated with IV acetaminophen. Currently, external ventricular drain (EVD) placement is the "standard of care" in patients who present with SAH and altered mental status/coma. The presence of an EVD allows for continuous sampling and removal of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) as necessary to alleviate dangerous elevations in intracranial pressure. This clinical scenario allows for a unique, continuous outlet to access the CSF, without placing patients at risk, and without further invasive procedures (i.e. repeated spinal taps). These samples of CSF can be assayed for levels of acetaminophen, as well as inflammatory markers of fever which include interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and thromboxane-2 (TXA-2), in patients selected to be given enteral or IV acetaminophen.
