Ischemic brain damage in a model of acute subdural hematoma.
Ischemic brain damage is the most important neuropathological finding in humans who die after acute subdural hematoma; however, its causes are poorly understood. We have produced acute subdural hematoma in the rat by injecting 400 microliters of autologous blood (approximately 20% of intracranial volume) into the subdural space. Extensive areas of ischemic damage, involving 14 to 16% of the volume of the hemisphere, developed in this model at 4 and 24 hours after the lesion. The hematomas were associated with a brief peak in intracranial pressure (51 mm Hg), which remained at three times normal levels (14 mm Hg) for 3 hours. In this model, therefore, ischemic damage appears to be due to the local effects of blood overlying the cortex at 4 hours after the ictus, rather than to globally raised intracranial pressure. The implications for the pathophysiology of acute subdural hematomas in humans are discussed.
Miller
J D
JD
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Mississippi, Jackson.
Bullock
R
R
Graham
D I
DI
Chen
M H
MH
Teasdale
G M
GM
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains