Contralateral development of acute subdural hematoma (SDH) immediately following a burr-hole craniostomy for chronic SDH

Abstract

Background: Burr-hole trephination is a widely used surgical technique for chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). Although various postoperative complications following burr-hole craniostomy have been discussed, no contralateral acute SDH (ASDH) immediately after the initial surgery without concurrent hemorrhages has been reported so far; we experienced this very rare complication in a previously healthy 84 year old male. Details of this very rare case are presented in this report. Materials and methods: 87 patients with chronic SDH underwent a burr hole trephination, that is, craniostomy between July 2012 and June 2014; there were 47 male and 40 female patients. 24 of 87 patients harbored bilateral SDHs. 67 of 111 lesions were drained with two catheters and the remaining 44 employed a single catheter. Results: Unsatisfactory results following the craniastomy included recurrence, insufficient drain, aggravated acute SDH and contralateral development of incracranial hemorrhage. Contralateral intracranial hemorrhage occurred to three patients. One died and the other two were discharged without any sequelae. One of the three contralateral hemorrhages was a mere ASDH which was complicated to a previously healthy 84 year old male within less than an hour after the initial surgery. The patient was discharged without sequelae. Conclusion: This report represents a contralateral ASDH that occurred less than an hour after a burr-hole trephination for CSDH. Several hypotheses concerning the etiology of this rare complication, albeit inconclusive, are worth contemplation. Excessive drain of CSDH must be refrained from in order not to encounter any unexpected complications.

Keywords

• Hematoma
• Subdural
• Trephining
• Postoperative complications