BACKGROUND: Ruptured arteriovenous malformations (rAVM) are life-threatening diseases. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of patients with grade 1 SPM rAVM after microsurgical treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively included 64 consecutive operated patients with a grade 1 SPM rAVM in our institution between 2002 and 2012. Complications related to the surgical procedure were recorded. All patients were re-evaluated 3months after treatment using the modified Rankin Scale score (mRS). Persistent neurological disorders were evaluated 1year after bleeding. Conventional cerebral angiography was performed for each patient immediately after surgical treatment and 1year later. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 30.8 years. Initial WFNS score was grade 1 in 25 patients, grade 2 in 11 patients, grade 3 in 10 patients, grade 4 in 9 patients and grade 5 in 9 patients. No remnant was left and a new surgery was performed only in a single patient who was initially operated-on under emergency conditions with limited preoperative investigations due to a poor clinical grade. Early postoperative complications related to the surgical procedure were recorded in 7 patients. The mRS score 3months after treatment was ≤2 in 53 patients (83%). Persistent neurological disorders were recorded in 40 patients (62.5%). High initial WFNS score (>2) and the hydrocephalus were significantly associated (P<0.05) to a bad functional outcome (mRS>2). CONCLUSIONS: Grade 1 rAVM is a life-threatening disease concerning in most cases young patients. Long-term morbidity is often related to the hemorrhagic brain damage and rarely to the AVM resection.