Posttraumatic acute arterial subdural hematoma manifested during anesthesia.
Traumatic acute arterial subdural hematomas are rare and are associated with a high mortality rate. The authors report a case in which the initial computed tomographic (CT) scan examination failed to reveal a hematoma. Within the subsequent 4 hours, while recovering from anesthesia given so that hemostasis of bleeding soft tissue injuries could be obtained, the patient suddenly developed bilaterally dilated pupils, both nonreactive to light. A repeat CT scan then revealed large subdural and intracerebral hematomas. The case is discussed and the pertinent literature is reviewed.
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D005260:Female; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000293:injuries; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed