Acute subdural hematoma: morbidity and mortality related to timing of operative intervention

In spite of major advances in the management of severe head injury (HI) acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) continues to be one of the most lethal of all intracranial injuries. Of 1,150 consecutive severe HI patients, 137 (12%) had ASDH. The following variables were assessed in regards to outcome morbidity/mortality from ASDH: mechanism of injury, age, sex, neurologic presentation, postoperative intracranial pressure (ICP), and timing from injury to operative evacuation of the ASDH. The only variables found to statistically correlate with outcome were presenting neurologic condition (p = 0.001) and elevated postoperative ICP greater than 45 mm Hg (p = 0.001). The timing from injury to operative evacuation of the ASDH in regards to outcome morbidity/mortality was not statistically significant even when examined at hourly intervals (p = 0.418).     

急性硬膜下血肿手术时机对预后的影响

目的 研究手术时机对急性硬膜下血肿预后的影响.方法 收集了202例接受手术治疗的急性硬膜下血肿患者,统计分析伤后2、4、6、8h等时间为界限的死亡率和功能生存率.结果 各个时间界限的死亡率和功能生存率差异无统计学意义,但是随着受伤至手术间隔时间的延长,死亡率呈现出逐渐增加、功能生存率逐渐降低的趋势.并且,死亡患者的受伤至手术时间要显著大于生存患者.结论 急性硬膜下血肿手术时机对预后有潜在的影响.符合有手术指征的患者,急性硬膜下血肿需要尽早手术清除血肿.     

Influence of operative timing on prognosis of patients with acute subdural hematoma

Objective: To study the influence of operative timing on the prognosis of patients with acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) in order to provide theoretical basis for clinical treatment.Methods: The clinical data of 202 patients with ASDH undergoing operations were collected, and the mortalities and functional survival rates were analyzed 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after injury.Results: No significant difference was found in mortalities and functional survival rates at different operative timings. However, there was a clear trend that the shorter the operative timing was, the lower the mortality and the higher functional survival rate were. In addition, the mean time from injury to operation of non-survivors was significantly longer than that of survivors.Conclusions: Operative timing has potential influences on the prognosis of patients with ASDH. Surgical evacuation of ASDH should be performed as soon as possible once the operation indication emerges.     

Influence of operative timing on prognosis of patients with acute subdural hematoma

Objective: To study the influence of operative timing on the prognosis of patients with acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) in order to provide theoretical basis for clinical treatment.Methods: The clinical data of 202 patients with ASDH undergoing operations were collected, and the mortalities and functional survival rates were analyzed 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after injury.Results: No significant difference was found in mortalities and functional survival rates at different operative timings. However, there was a clear trend that the shorter the operative timing was, the lower the mortality and the higher functional survival rate were. In addition, the mean time from injury to operation of non-survivors was significantly longer than that of survivors.Conclusions: Operative timing has potential influences on the prognosis of patients with ASDH. Surgical evacuation of ASDH should be performed as soon as possible once the operation indication emerges.     

Acute spontaneous subdural hematoma

A review of the literature reveals 20 reported cases of acute spontaneous subdural hematoma. We present an additional case with a tabulation of pertinent data. The prototype case is described, emphasizing the benign and insidious onset followed, invariably, by a deteriorating neurological status leading, almost always, to surgical evacuation. A high index of suspicion for this entity is of great importance, because a delay in diagnosis may lead to an increase in the morbidity and the mortality of this condition.     

Acute subdural hematoma: Outcome and outcome prediction

Patients with traumatic acute subdural hematoma were studied to determine the factors influencing outcome.Between January 1986 and August 1995, we collected 113 patients who underwent craniotomy for traumatic acute subdural hematoma. The relationship between initial clinical signs and the outcome 3 months after admission was studied retrospectively.Functional recovery was achieved in 38% of patients and the mortality was 60%. 91% of patients with a high Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score (9–15) and 23% of patients with a low GCS score (3–8) achieved functional recovery. All of 14 patients with a GCS score of 3 died. The mortality of patients with GCS scores of 4 and 5 was 95% to 75%, respectively. Patients over 61 years old had a mortality of 73% compared to 64% mortality for those aged 21–40 years. 97% of patients with bilateral unreactive pupil and 81% of patients with unilateral unreactive pupil died. The mortality rates of associated intracranial lesions were 91% in intracerebral hematoma, 87% in subarachnoid hemorrhage, 75% in contusion.Time from injury to surgical evacuation and type of surgical intervention did not affect mortality. Age and associated intracranial lesions were related to outcome. Severity of injury and pupillary response were the most important factors for predicting outcome.     

Acute subdural hematoma in infancy

BACKGROUND: Acute subdural hematoma in infants is distinct from that occurring in older children or adults because of differences in mechanism, injury thresholds, and the frequency with which the question of nonaccidental injury is encountered. The purpose of this study is to analyze the clinical characteristics of acute subdural hematoma in infancy, to discover the common patterns of this trauma, and to outline the management principles within this group. METHODS: Medical records and films of 21 cases of infantile acute subdural hematoma were reviewed retrospectively. Diagnosis was made by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Medical records were reviewed for comparison of age, gender, cause of injury, clinical presentation, surgical management, and outcome. RESULTS: Twenty-one infants (9 girls and 12 boys) were identified with acute subdural hematoma, with ages ranging from 6 days to 12 months. The most common cause of injury was shaken baby syndrome. The most common clinical presentations were seizure, retinal hemorrhage, and consciousness disturbance. Eight patients with large subdural hematomas underwent craniotomy and evacuation of the blood clot. None of these patients developed chronic subdural hematoma. Thirteen patients with smaller subdural hematomas were treated conservatively. Among these patients, 11 developed chronic subdural hematomas 15 to 80 days (mean = 28 days) after the acute subdural hematomas. All patients with chronic subdural hematomas underwent burr hole and external drainage of the subdural hematoma. At follow-up, 13 (62%) had good recovery, 4 (19%) had moderate disability, 3 (14%) had severe disability, and 1 (5%) died. Based on GCS on admission, one (5%) had mild (GCS 13-15), 12 (57%) had moderate (GCS 9-12), and 8 (38%) had severe (GCS 8 or under) head injury. Good recovery was found in 100% (1/1), 75% (8/12), and 50% (4/8) of the patients with mild, moderate, and severe head injury, respectively. Sixty-three percent (5/8) of those patients undergoing operation for acute subdural hematomas and 62% (8/13) of those patients treated conservatively had good outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Infantile acute subdural hematoma if treated conservatively or neglected, is an important cause of infantile chronic subdural hematoma. Early recognition and suitable treatment may improve the outcome of this injury. If treatment is delayed or the condition is undiagnosed, acute subdural hematoma may cause severe morbidity or even fatality.     

Acute traumatic infratentorial subdural hematoma]

The case of an injured man, aged 54, is reported. On the basis of the neurological symptoms, without neuro-radiological contrast examinations, in presence of negative skull osteogram, on the day of the injury suboccipital craniectomy and removal of the subdural haematoma have been performed. The diagnostical difficulties of the occipital injury are pointed out, since both the occipital and infratentorial regions are "silent" regions for the carotis-angiography. In the case of subdural haematoma the suboccipital decompression performed in due time may be exactly as much successful as the supratentorial decompression.     

Acute non-traumatic extensive subdural spinal hematoma

Acute spinal subdural hematoma is a somewhat rare pathology. Its severity comes from the constitution of an acute spinal cord compression. In many cases MRI is useful for the differential diagnosis with the epidural hematoma. A 79-year-old patient was referred for emergency neurosurgery for acute spinal cord compression. The vascular risk in this patient was significant: hypertension, oral anticoagulants. Clinically, acute non-traumatic subdural spinal hematoma was suspected. The spinal cord MRI was in favor of the diagnosis which was confirmed intraoperatively. The surgical procedure revealed an extensive hematoma which infiltrated the spinal cord. The diagnosis of nontraumatic subdural spinal hematoma may be difficult in some cases and correctly established only during the surgical procedure. In comparison with reports in the literature, we discuss the underlying mechanisms of this hematoma. Spinal subdural haematoma must be considered in patients taking anticoagulant therapy or with a coagulation disorder who present signs of acute spinal cord compression. MRI sagittal T1 and T2-weighted images are adequate and reliable for diagnosis of spinal subdural hematoma. Prompt surgical evacuation of this hematoma is crucial.     

Acute subdural hematoma from ruptured cerebral aneurysm

Purpose  

The combination of ruptured aneurysms with acute subdural hematomas (aSDHs) is a rare presentation. Patients with aSDH associated with aneurysmal bleeding represent a subgroup within the spectrum of aneurysmatic hemorrhage. We summarize the clinical characteristics, diagnostic evaluation, and management of a series of cases presenting with aSDH associated with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).