Introduction
Chronic subdural hematoma (CSH) is an abnormal collection of liquid blood between the dura mater and the arachonoid mater which is frequently encountered in neurosurgical conditions, especially in the elderly (1,2). Various ethological factors have been identified but head trauma is the most common (3). Surgeons may encounter unwanted post-operative complications such as cerebral edema, tension pneumocephalus, recurrent hematoma, seizure, failure of the brain to re-expand (3-5). But intra-ventricular hemorrhage (IVH) after evacuation of CSH is a rarely encountered complication. We report a patient who had an isolated IVH which was identified following evacuation of left frontotemporaparietal CSH.
Case Report
A 72-year-old female patient was referred to the emergency room with right hemipharesis and two days of complaints of confusion. Right hemiparesis, lack of orientation and pathological reflexes were identified in her first neurological examination. Also, we learned from her children that she had suffered a head trauma three weeks previously and she did not take an anticoagulant thearpy. Cranial computed tomography (CT) and cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed, and chronic-subacute subdural hemorrhage and septations with 1.2 centimeter midline shift were identified on CT (Figure 1A) and on MRI (Figure 1B). We decided to perform urgent surgery via burr hole exploration. Informed patient consent was obtained from her guardians. The patient’s body and head were laid on her right side and then burr hole was made in the left frontal bone with a high-speed drill under local anesthesia and intravenous sedation. The external membrane of the chronic subdural hemorrhage at the left frontal bone was coagulated with bipolar and then opened. Compressive hemorrhage in the subdural space leaked out on its own. Frontal feeding catheter was placed in the subdural space. The subdural space was washed with saline. The frontal part of the internal membrane of the CSH was opened under the operating microscope with a bipolar. The frontal burr hole feeding catheter was left in place. The feeding catheter was connected to a closed drainage system. A cranial CT was performed on the 3rd post-operative day (Figure 2A) and then the feeding catheter was withdrawn. Bilateral IVH was observed in the occipital horns of the lateral ventricular, but there was no midline shift. The second cranial CT was performed on the 6th day of post-operative (Figure 2B). We observed hemorrhage in the occipital horn of the lateral ventricular again, but there was no acute hydrocephalus. The patient was discharged on the 7th day after surgery with complete recovery.
Discussion
Different bleeding paterns have been definied after evacuation of subdural hemorrage in the literature. Cortical hyperemia beneath the hematoma, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), supratenterial intracerebral, intra-ventricular, and rometo cerebellar hemorrhages are rarely reported (6). In a large series of 1,000 cases CSH, 4 cases of post-operative intracranial bleeding were described (4%) (7). Rusconi et al. (6), have been reported unusual post-operative hemorrhagic events with an incidence of 0.78% (3 patients) (6). Other authors have been reported an incidence range between 0.2-4% (8,9). Overdrainage, rapid brain decompration and shift of the intracranial contents, massive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) loss, veneous outflow impairment and vascular dysregulation with blood flow increas, are the mechanisms currently debated (6).
Two possible mechanisms have been suggested to explain isolated IVH after evacuation of CSH. The first of these was suggested by Cook et al. (10) Their hypothesis was that elderly patients with physiological aging of the cerebral vascular tree may not tolerate a sudden restoration of normal perfusion pressure in areas of deranged cerebral vascular autoregulation (5). The second hypothesis was suggested by Savardekar and Salunke (5). They hypothesized that after sudden decompression of the brain, the differential expansile qualities of solid (brain) and liquid (CSF) components of the cranium may result in mechanical stress at the interface. It may then cause rupture of the engorged subependymal veins (2). In addition to these, Muneza et al. (3) suggested that fragile cerebral vessels, direct vascular damage and a shift of the midline structures might be contributory factors for IVH (4).
Our case is similar to the literature. The patient was elderly, and she had a subacute-CSH which included a 1.2 centimeter midline shift. CSH was evacuated via burr holes under local anesthesia and intravenous sedation. We identified an isolated hemorrhage in the lateral ventricular occipital horns on the 3rd day after surgery. Our opinion is that when evacuation of CSH is started suddenly it may cause rapid correction of midline shift. Rapid correction of the midline shift and rapid movement of the brain may lead to vascular shearing owing to mechanical stress especially on coroid plexus vessel. The elderly may be susceptible to this vascular shear due to vascular aging. Our hypothesis seems to be supported by two hypotheses. In addition to these, the other causes of isolated IVH include coagulation disorders, pituitary apoplexy, sickle cell anemia, drug consumption and vasculitides, but none of these was demonstrated. In our opinion is that, isolated IVH is a different event and may not be explained with vascular self-adjustment which was suggested to explain for intracerebral hemorrhage and SAH following removal of the subdural hemorrhage.
Multiple surgical techniques have been defined in tle literature for evacuation of chronic subdural hemorrhage, including twist drill craniostomy, burr-hole craniostomy, and craniotomy. And various complication have been reported related with surgical techniques (11). In our case, we have prefered the burr hole craniostomy for evacuation of subacut-chronic subdural hemorrhage under the local anesthesia and intravenous sedation. Our opinion is that gradual and graded evacuation can be archived by covering of the burr hole with a sponge or a cotonoid immedietly after opening the dura and the outher membrane. And than, A sponge or a cotonoid can be removed intermittent. By that mechanism, evacuation of subdural hemorrhage can be controlled and slowed down in a controlled way and this procedure can be continued till the subdural pressures equalize with the atmospheric pressures. This gradual and graded evacuation of subdural hemorrhage may decrease the mechanical stres on coroid plexus vessels.
In conclusion, although isolated IVH is rarely encountered, surgeons should keep it in mind because IVH may result in lethal complications following evacuation of CSH. Clinical awareness of this complication is essential. We suggest that slow and gradual decompression may protect the patient from this complication. Aging, amount of midline shift and speed of correction of midline shift may be contributory factors. Causative factors have not yet been clearly identified. Therefore, further investigations and large patient series are needed to clarify this phenomenon.
Ethics
Informed Consent: Informed patient consent was obtained from her guardians.
Peer-review: Externally and internally peer-reviewed.
Authorship Contributions
Concept: Z.K., Y.S.A., A.Y., Design: Z.K., A.Y., Supervision: Z.K., A.T., Data Collection or Processing: Z.K., O.B., M.Ö.Y., Analysis or Interpretation: Z.K., A.T., A.Y., Literature Search: Z.K., O.B., A.T., Writing: Z.K., Critical Review: Z.K., A.T., A.Y.
Conflict of Interest: There is no conflict of interest between the authors.
Financial Disclosure: No financial support has been received from anywhere for this article.