Surgical treatment of chronic subdural haematoma under monitored anaesthesia care.
OBJECTIVE
General and local uses of anaesthesia are the preferred common methods in the surgical treatment of chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH). The literature provides no information regarding monitored anaesthesia care during surgery of CSDH. In this report we evaluate the clinical results of surgical treatment for CSDH under monitored anaesthesia care.


METHODS
Between 2001 and 2006 twenty consecutive patients with 24 CSDHs were surgically treated under monitored anaesthesia care at one institution. The clinical success of the procedure under monitored anaesthesia care, patient satisfaction, length of hospitalisation, anaesthesia-related complications and neurological outcome were analysed.


RESULTS
Mean age was 60.9 years, with 15 patients aged over 60. ASA physical condition score was IV in 11 patients, III in 1, II in 4 and I in 4. In all patients CSDH was successfully drained by burr hole craniotomy under monitored anaesthesia care. There was no anaesthesia-related morbidity or mortality. Mean hospital stay was 4.5 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary results indicate that surgery for CSDH under monitored anaesthesia care is safe and effective. Conscious sedation using monitored anaesthesia care, that is a middle ground between general anaesthesia and local anaesthesia, may facilitate patient comfort and surgical competence during surgery for CSDH.
Guzel
Aslan
A
Neurosurgery Department, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey. aslang@dicle.edu.tr
Kaya
Sedat
S
Ozkan
Umit
U
Ufuk Aluclu
M
M
Ceviz
Adnan
A
Belen
Deniz
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D020200:Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies