Subdural hematoma

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Subdural hematoma

Increased intracranial pressure

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Subdural hematoma

Alternative Names:

Subdural hemorrhage

Treatment:

A subdural hematoma is an emergency condition! Treatment includes lifesaving measures, controlling symptoms, and minimizing or preventing permanent brain damage.

Medications vary according to the type and severity of symptoms and the extent of brain damage. Diuretics may be used to reduce swelling. Anticonvulsant medications such as phenytoin may be used to control or prevent seizures.

Emergency surgery may be required to reduce pressure within the brain. This may involve drilling a small hole in the skull to relieve pressure and allow the hematoma to drain. Large hematomas or solid blood clots may need to be removed through a larger opening in the skull (craniotomy).

Expectations (prognosis):

The outlook following a subdural hematoma varies widely depending on the type of head injury, the size of the blood collection, and how quickly treatment is obtained.

Acute subdural hematomas present the largest challenge, with high rates of death and injury. Subacute and chronic subdural hematomas have good outcomes in most cases, with symptoms going away after the blood collection is drained.

There is a high frequency of seizures following a subdural hematoma, but these are usually well controlled with medication.

Complications:

Temporary or permanent weakness, numbness, difficulty speaking
Seizures
Brain herniation
Persistent symptoms such as memory loss, dizziness, headache, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating

Calling your health care provider:

Serious head injuries and complications like subdural hematoma require emergency medical attention. Call 911 or go immediately to an emergency room. Spinal injuries often accompany head injuries, so always consider immobilizing the patient's neck if the patient must be moved before medics arrive.

Review Date: 8/14/2004
Reviewed By: Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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