Small epidural hematoma for surgery

Abstract

Introduction. Epidural hematoma (EDH) is when bleeding occurs between the tough outer membrane covering the brain (dura mater) and the skull. The most common cause is typically head injury. Diagnosis is typically by a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging. If large EDH, treatment is generally by urgent surgery in the form of a craniotomy or burr hole. Without treatment, death typically results. We explore a surgical case of small frontal EDH in patient with Glasgow Coma Score 8.Case report. Thirty years male patient was admitted at Emergency Hospital with Glasgow Coma Score 8 on ventilator. Rapid CT brain was done and showed massive brain edema with small EDH. Conservative treatment had been tried for 24 hours, but with no improvement as we could not give mannitol therapy to this patient. Follow-up CT showed the same EDH and brain edema. We tried new policy and evacuated EDH with giving mannitol and furosemide therapy postoperative. The patient became with Glasgow Coma Score 13 and improved in 7 days.Conclusion. Evacuation of small EDH may be helpful in some conditions not responding to conservative treatment especially in severe brain edema.