Chronic subdural haematoma treatment with a rigid endoscope

Surgical treatment is the method of choice in cases of chronic subdural haematoma--as a rule: trephination, drainage with lavage, or repeated drainage (drain reinsertion where the haematoma has been evacuated insufficiently). A poorly manageable but non-negligible group is made up of patients (about 5-12 % of all cases) where the less invasive methods of choice keep failing. The equally mini-invasive endoscopic technique appears to be one of the suitable therapeutical approaches before resorting to open-surgery revision. The adapted technique of rigid endoscope insertion permitting sufficient revision and treatment of the subdural space concerned is presented. The method is demonstrated on three case reports where routine trephination with lavage, drainage and repeated drain insertion failed. A very good improvement in clinical condition and graphic findings was achieved in two patients. In the remaining one, the neurological lesion improved ad integrum despite a tiny residual haematoma as visualized by CT. Two weeks later, a clinical relapse had developed and the patient was treated with new trephination and drain reinsertion. The technical aspects of the modification of the endoscopic technique are discussed: stressing the advantages or low-degree invasiveness, scope for keeping intact the inner membrane of the haematoma and avoiding direct invasion of the cerebral tissue. The limits of the method are discussed as well. The authors regard this method as a useful addition to the surgical armamentarium, especially in cases of chronic subdural haematomas resisting conventional approaches.