Clinical Analyis of Acute Epidural Hematoma: Factors Affecting Its Outcome

ABSTRACT

As the development of CT scan enabled rapid and precise diagnoses of epidural hematoma, recent efforts have been sought to reduce its mortality rate. This study is a retrospective clinical analysis of one hundred eighty-one consecutive cases of epidural hematoma treated at the Department of Neurosurgery in Dong-guk University Hospital between Jan. 1991 and Dec. 1994. The rate of unsatisfactory outcome is 10.5%, While the mortality rate is 4.9%. Delayed epidural hematoma was founded tobe 12%. The authors have attempted to identify the factors influencing the prognosis of epidural hematoma. Based on the results of the above study we concluded that age, initial Glasgow coma scale, pupillary reflex and its size, IICP findings on brain CT, hematoma amount, associated intracranial lesions, rate of development of symptoms and timing of operation after injury are all relevant prognostic factors.