Acute subdural hematoma due to near-drowning--case report. (1/51)

A 46-year-old male was transferred to our hospital after near-drowning when swimming. Examination found no subcutaneous hematoma or abrasion on his head. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was started immediately. Emergent computed tomography (CT) revealed no abnormalities. The next day, his consciousness level improved and repeat CT suggested an acute spontaneous subdural hematoma in the parieto-occipital region. The acute subdural hematoma was evacuated. The source of bleeding was probably an abnormally large vein located in the center of the hematoma. The patient was discharged without neurological deficit. Repeat CT is needed even if there were no abnormality on initial CT after drowning.  (+info)

Cranial subdural haematoma associated with dural puncture in labour. (2/51)

A 23-yr-old primagravida sustained a dural puncture during epidural catheter insertion and developed a headache that settled with oral diclofenac and codydramol. On the third day after delivery, she convulsed twice without warning. As plasma urate was increased, the putative diagnosis of an eclamptic fit was made, and magnesium therapy was started. A contrast CT scan revealed that the cause of the patient's symptoms was a subdural haematoma with raised intracranial pressure. A coincidental arteriovenous malformation was noted. This case emphasises the need to consider the differential diagnoses of post-partum headache. The management of acute intracranial haematoma is described.  (+info)

Acute subdural haematoma : a reappraisal. (3/51)

Acute subdural haematoma is a well-entrenched nosological entity implying subdural collection of blood following acute head injury. Pathologically, it is usually associated with or, for that matter, secondary to cerebral contusion and laceration. Based on cumulated experience, clinical and pathological studies it is proposed that, for too long the neurosurgeons have put emphasis on the clot rather than the totality of the pathological anatomy and that they have focused their therapeutic strategy on removal of the accumulated blood, unmindful of the associated parenchymatous lesion. Not surprisingly, such attempts have been associated with a very high mortality. On the basis of nearly four decades of personal experience and critical review of the literature, evidence has been provided that to reduce the mortality associated with this condition, it is necessary to evolve a strategy, not only to evacuate the blood but comprehensively deal with the associated parenchymatous lesions and the cascade of secondary insult to the underlying brain.  (+info)

Acute subdural hematoma in patients who underwent aneurysm clipping--four case reports. (4/51)

Four patients presented with intracranial hemorrhage mainly consisting of acute subdural hematoma (ASDH), who had all undergone aneurysm clipping 2-20 years earlier. Whether the clips had slipped or new trauma had caused the bleeding was difficult to determine, since the initial computed tomography showed that the subarachnoid hemorrhage or the intracerebral hematoma developed near the clips. Angiography in three patients showed that the clips had not slipped off. Three of four ASDHs appeared in the same side as the craniotomy used for the previous aneurysm surgery. Anti-platelet agents and ventriculoperitoneal shunting had been previously used in two patients with no causal signs of trauma. The outcomes were poor in three patients and one patient died. Weakening of the extra- or intracranial structure after aneurysm surgery might have been involved together with the postoperative anti-platelet agent and shunt treatment in the etiology of the present ASDH.  (+info)

Abnormal pupillary activity in a brainstem-dead patient. (5/51)

The pupils in brainstem-dead patients are classically fixed and dilated. We present a case of a brainstem-dead patient whose pupils displayed persistent asynchronous pupillary constriction and dilatation independent of external physical stimuli. Central causes for the phenomenon were excluded leaving an unexplained peripheral cause as the most likely explanation. Early recognition of this phenomenon prevents delay in the diagnosis of brainstem death, lessening to some extent the distress for the family, and facilitating earlier organ donation and allowing the better use of resources.  (+info)

Giant aneurysm of the pericallosal artery causing acute subdural hematoma--case report. (6/51)

A 66-year-old female presented with a very rare giant aneurysm of the distal pericallosal artery. She lost consciousness and was admitted. Computed tomography demonstrated a subdural hematoma over the left cerebral convexity and a mass in the frontal lobe. Cerebral angiography disclosed a giant aneurysm located on the distal segment of the right pericallosal artery. The subdural hematoma was removed and the aneurysmal neck was clipped, but she died 15 days after the operation. Autopsy found the giant aneurysm (33 x 30 x 27 mm) on the distal segment of the right pericallosal artery. Highly atheromatous changes were recognized in part of the aneurysmal wall, the arteries near the circle of Willis, and the distal anterior cerebral artery (ACA) adjacent to the aneurysm. There were no anomalous vessels such as azygos ACA. Giant aneurysms situated beyond the genu of the corpus callosum are extremely rare. Atherosclerosis was probably a major etiological factor in this case.  (+info)

Acute subdural hematoma after lumboperitoneal shunt placement in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus. (7/51)

Acute subdural hematoma (SDH) is a rare but disastrous complication after lumboperitoneal shunt placement. Four of 206 adult patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus (1.9%) who underwent lumboperitoneal shunt placement suffered acute SDH following head trauma. The interval between shunt placement and acute SDH was one month to 7 years. Two patients had subdural effusion on computed tomography (CT) at 2- and 6-month follow up. All four patients required assistance in their daily activities before acute SDH onset. The traumatic event was a fall. On admission, CT revealed a large SDH that required surgical removal in two patients, of whom one had manifested subdural effusion after shunt placement. The other two patients had a small SDH. None of the four patients had cerebral contusions. Patients with lumboperitoneal shunts, especially those not capable of independent daily activities, are at risk for acute SDH after even minor head trauma.  (+info)

Pseudosubarachnoid haemorrhage in subdural haematoma. (8/51)

Two patients with large bilateral subdural haematomas with patterns of non-enhanced brain computed tomography (CT) falsely suggesting coexistent subarachnoid haemorrhage are presented. The CT images showed marked effacement of the basal cisterns with hyperdense signal along the tentorium, sylvian fissure, and the perimesencephalic cisterns. In both cases, the suspicion of subarachnoid haemorrhage led to the performance of angiographic studies to rule out vascular lesions. Thus, recognition of this radiological feature is important to avoid unnecessary testing and treatment delay.  (+info)