title: The impact of aspirin therapy and anticoagulation on the prevalence of spontaneous subdural haematoma.
abstract: A retrospective analysis was performed of all patients who received operative intervention for subdural haematoma at the Beaumont neurosurgical unit between 1994 and 1997 inclusive. There were 123 spontaneous (mean age 74 +/- 5 years) and 77 traumatic haematomas (mean age 43 +/- 23 years) in the series. Ninety three patients (76%) in the spontaneous group were on antiplatelet agents or anticoagulants (78 aspirin, 15 warfarin) and the indication for their use was unknown in twenty four patients (19%). The re-operation rate in the group on aspirin and anticoagulants was twice that in the non aspirin / non anticoagulant group. These results highlight a significant medical problem and emphasise the need for cautious use of antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents, particularly in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin; D001241:Aspirin