Latin Neurosurgery
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 Latin Neurosurgery
Case Report

Is postoperative imaging mandatory after drainage of chronic subdural hematoma? Illustrative case

Carlos Umberto Pereira, Marcelo Barreto Barbosa, Antonio Carlos Silveira Azevedo, Lauro Roberto de Azevedo Setton

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Abstract

Introduction: Chronic subdural hematoma (HSDC) has been a frequent neurosurgical condition. Its diagnosis is made using neurological and imaging examinations. The initial treatment has been surgical, and complications due to surgery are hematoma recurrence and pneumocephalus. Case presentation: 75-year-old male patient. History of progressive headache, difficulty in moving the right upper and lower limbs, and behavioral disturbance. Cranial tomography (CT) of the skull without contrast showed bilateral hypodense frontoparietal lesion. Bifrontoparietal trepanation and drainage of the hematoma were performed. In the immediate postoperative period, the neurological condition worsened and it was difficult to move the left side of the body. A control cranial CT scan showed an acute right parietal epidural hematoma. Conservative treatment was performed with progressive improvement of the neurological condition. Conclusion: The indication of CT control in the immediate postoperative period of DCS drainage is indicated when the neurological condition worsens.

Keywords

chronic; subdural hematoma; outcome; postoperative, computed tomography

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Submitted date:
04/09/2025

Accepted date:
04/12/2025

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