• Gastone Pansini, Antonio Pisano, Simone Orlandini, Eleonora Becattini, Luigi Pansini, and Alessandro Della Puppa.
• Department of Neurosurgery and Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Pharmacology and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
• World Neurosurg. 2022 Nov 1; 167: 626662-66.

BackgroundIntraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) in traumatic brain injury is a fast, easy, and low-cost technique that has been poorly investigated so far even though it could potentially answer many of the intraoperative needs of the surgeon. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of IOUS in patients undergoing surgery for traumatic acute subdural hematoma (aSDH), focusing on its influence on intraoperative surgical strategy, particularly regarding the management of intracerebral contusions (ICCs) associated with aSDH.MethodsData of patients who consecutively underwent surgical evacuation of traumatic aSDH with IOUS assistance at our institution from May 2017 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were dichotomized into an ICC group (ICCs associated with aSDH on preoperative computed tomography scan) and no ICC group (no ICCs associated with aSDH on preoperative computed tomography scan).ResultsThe study included 41 patients. Before aSDH evacuation, IOUS findings were similar to preoperative computed tomography data. After aSDH evacuation, IOUS detected a new-onset ICC in 13% of patients in the no ICC group and a volume increase of the known ICCs in 22% of patients in the ICC group. Therefore, IOUS made it possible to evacuate these new-onset or expanding hematomas in the same operation, changing our surgical strategy and avoiding a delayed reintervention.ConclusionsOur study suggests that IOUS in patients undergoing surgery for traumatic aSDH can promptly identify possible evolution of a primary head injury, leading to early and effective treatment.Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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