Subduroperitoneal drainage for subdural hematomas in infants: results in 244 cases

Subduroperitoneal drainage (SDPD) is commonly used in the treatment of infantile subdural hematomas (SDHs). Few studies have focused on this technique and most series have included SDHs of various origins in children of different ages. The surgical procedure is not standardized and results achieved using this technique have not been well documented. The authors reviewed their cases of traumatic SDH treated with SDPD in infants (< 2 years of age). Their standard technique includes bilateral SDPD whenever the SDH is bilateral, placement of a free shunt, and systematic removal of the drainage unit after a few months.

The authors performed SDPD in 244 infants with traumatic SDH. The patients' SDHs were controlled by SDPD in 241 cases, and 78.9% of the patients recovered to live a normal life. Complications of SDPD occurred in 38 patients (15.6%): obstruction in 22 cases (9%), infection in eight cases (3.28%), and internal hydrocephalus in eight cases (3.28%). Early complications could be ascribed to surgical technique, delayed complications were associated with the severity of the initial clinical presentation, and late complications were time dependent and unrelated to initial clinical severity. Poor clinical outcome was correlated to the severity of the initial presentation, but not to complications of surgery.

Because of its efficacy and low complication rate, SDPD is the procedure of choice when subdural taps fail to control SDH. The authors prefer bilateral drainage because of the low rate of complications. Drains should be systematically removed after a few months to prevent long-term complications.