• Acta neurochirurgica · Feb 2013

    Review Case Reports

    Surgery for contralateral acute epidural hematoma following acute subdural hematoma evacuation: five new cases and a short literature review.

    • Jian Shen, Jian Wei Pan, Zuo Xu Fan, Yong Qing Zhou, Zhe Chen, and Ren Ya Zhan.
    • Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou City, 310003, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China.
    • Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2013 Feb 1;155(2):335-41.

    BackgroundThe occurrence of a contralateral acute epidural hematoma (AEDH) following removal of an acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) is a rare but nearly devastating postoperative complication. Here, we describe a series of five patients with contralateral AEDH and provide a review of the literature to elucidate the characteristics and improve management of these patients.MethodsA total of 386 patients underwent ASDH evacuations in our hospital between August 2008 and July 2011. Five of these patients (1.3 %) developed AEDH that required surgery. Thirty-two additional patients were identified by a search of the PubMed database. Clinical features, surgical treatment, and outcomes (scored by Glasgow outcome scale, GOS) of the collective 37 AEDH cases were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsContralateral AEDH after ASDH evacuation occurred in 27 males (73 %) and 10 females (27 %) (mean age: 35.9 ± 14.2 years). Twenty-six patients (70 %) had unfavorable outcomes (GOS 1-3), and 11 patients (30 %) had favorable outcomes (GOS 4-5). Contralateral skull fractures and intraoperative acute brain swelling occurred in 30 (81 %) and 28 (76 %) patients, respectively. The preoperative Glasgow coma score (GCS) was significantly associated with outcome (p < 0.05).ConclusionsLower preoperative GCS score is an independent risk factor for prognosis of contralateral AEDH after ASDH. Postoperative management should include assessment of AEDH in patients treated for contralateral skull fractures and who experienced intraoperative acute brain swelling. We recommend early decompression with a burr-hole craniotomy, immediately followed by a decompressive craniectomy. This strategy provides gradual decompression, while advancing the initial surgical time and preventing the suddle decreased tamponade effect. As such, it may help decrease the risk of contralateral AEDH associated with decompression.

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