Preoperative trepanation and drainage for acute subdural hematoma: Two case reports

Craniotomy is frequently used for the treatment of acute subdural hematoma; however, it the procedure exhibits a high mortality rate. Preoperative trepanation and drainage in an emergency ward may reduce intracranial pressure, shorten operation time and lower patient mortality, and is thus applicable to the treatment of acute subdural hematoma. The present study reports the cases of two elderly patients that benefitted from trepanation and drainage of an acute subdural hematoma. In each case, the family members of the patients refused to consent to a craniotomy; thus, burr-hole drainage was selected as an alternative option for relieving intracranial pressure. The risks require careful evaluation when considering whether trepanation with drainage is an option for a patient. Following treatment, the two cases were cured and discharged on days 48 and 18 after admission, respectively. The present case studies indicate that trepanation with drainage may be a promising approach for reducing craniotomy-associated mortality and closely monitoring condition variation in elderly patients. Following trepanation with drainage, certain patients do not undergo a craniotomy.