Operative Timing in Patients with Traumatic Acute Subdural Hematomas

PURPOSE: Acute traumatic subdural hematoma (SDH) increases after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and leads to high mortality. The time to operation is a correctable prognostic factor in TBI, but the timing of hematoma evacuation still remains controversial. We assessed the correlation between operative timing and mortality in traumatic acute SDH. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study over an 8-year period in 163 surgical patients with acute traumatic SDH. Information was obtained about demographic, clinical, and radiological findings, surgical management, and mortality at discharge. RESULTS: Overall, 85 patients (52.1%) died, and 47 patients (28.8%) showed good recovery. The patients who underwent earlier surgery were more likely to have severe head injury. The time to operation in patients that died was shorter than patients with good recovery. The mean time for evacuation [Ed-Is this the same as time to surgery, or is this specifically when the hematoma was removed? Please clarify.] was 351.7+/-220.5 minutes in patients who died and 395.5+/-363.3 minutes in patients with good recovery. Patients undergoing surgery within 4 hours of injury had a mortality rate of 54.4% versus 50.9% receiving surgery after 4 hours. But the risk ratio for time spent to surgery increased until 240 minutes and then decreased. Logistic regression on patients with 240 minutes until surgery showed that the probability of death increased with time to surgery. CONCLUSION: Patients who undergo surgery within 180 minutes after injury have a lower probability of death than those with delayed surgery.

Tako-tsubo Syndrome after Acute Traumatic Subdural Hematoma Mimicking Acute ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Electrocardiographic changes frequently occur after severe physical or emotional stress. Such changes can mimic acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with elevated serum cardiac-specific markers (CK-MB, Troponin I), segmental wall motion abnormalities, and myocardial dysfunction. Several reports, however, have found that coronary angiography revealed no significant stenosis. We present a 70-yearold female with a traumatic subdural hematoma testing positive for cardiac enzymes, and ECG changes suggestive of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Such a case, however, fits the diagnostic parameters of Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy, or Tako-tsubo syndrome; even though its etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment remain uncertain. Tako-tsubo syndrome is characterized by a distinctive form of systolic dysfunction that predominantly affects the distal LV chamber, but a favorable outcome with appropriate medical therapy is expected. Because of its unusual nature and favorable prognosis, it is clear that Tako-tsubo syndrome is an important affliction that should be recognized by any emergency department.