[Single burr hole surgery for acute spontaneous subdural hematoma in the aged: patient reports of three cases]

Abstract

The method of treatment for acute spontaneous subdural hematoma in aged patients is controversial. Three cases of acute spontaneous subdural hematoma in aged patients, treated by single burr hole drainage without irrigation, were reported. The first case, an 80-year-old male was admitted with complaints of headache and stupor without any history of head trauma. CT revealed a left subdural hematoma with mixed density. Intractable facial convulsion occurred three days after admission. Single burr hole drainage was performed to remove the hematoma, and facial convulsion disappeared one week after the surgery. The second case, a 70-year-old male was admitted with complaints of consciousness disturbance without any history of head trauma. CT showed a right subdural hematoma with mixed density. The next day, he recovered consciousness and CT demonstrated shrinkage of the hematoma. However, his consciousness deteriorated again 11 days after admission, and CT revealed progression of the hematoma. We performed single burr hole drainage, and the next day, his neurological condition recovered. The third case, an 84-year-old female was admitted with complaints of consciousness disturbance without any history of head trauma. CT revealed a left subdural hematoma with mixed density. Single burr hole drainage was performed to remove the hematoma. She recovered completely and was discharged and return home 1 month after the surgery. Single burr hole drainage is less invasive than craniotomy. Our three cases indicate that this method may be one of the best methods for aged patients with acute spontaneous subdural hematoma which manifests mixed density in CT.