The outcome from acute subdural and epidural intracranial haematomas in very elderly patients.
Out of a consecutive series of 1082 operations performed on head-injured patients over a 9-year period, 28 cases of acute subdural haematomas (SDHs) or epidural haematomas (EDHs) occurring in patients aged between 80 and 100 years were selected. Mortality rates in these patients (100% in 2 EDHs, 88% in 26 SDHs) were significantly higher (p less than 0.01) compared with patients under 80 years (12% in 308 EDHs, 57% in 215 SDHs). Pre-existing diseases, primary events precipitating falls, and multiple system failure complicating the postoperative course accounted for most of the deaths. None of the patients operated upon with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 11 or less survived. A typical 'talk and die' course occurred in two cases. Three patients, all operated on for SDH, survived and returned to their pre-injury conditions. It was concluded that, whilst the question as to whether to submit very old comatose patients to life-prolonging measures remains unsettled, there is a case for the prompt evacuation of extra-axial clots in patients with minimal impairment of consciousness.
Cagetti
B
B
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Genoa Medical School, Italy.
Cossu
M
M
Pau
A
A
Rivano
C
C
Viale
G
G
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006407:Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate