Should epidural drain be recommended after supratentorial craniotomy for epileptic patients?
BACKGROUND
ED was once and is still commonly applied to prevent mainly EH and subgaleal CSF collection. We designed this study to observe if ED could decrease the incidence and volume of EH and subgaleal CSF collection after supratentorial craniotomy in epileptic patients.


METHODS
Three hundred forty-two epileptic patients were divided into 2 groups according to their first craniotomy date (group 1 in odd date and group 2 in even date). Patients in group 1 had ED and those in group 2 had no ED. The patient numbers and volumes of EH and subgaleal CSF collections in both groups were recorded and statistically analyzed.


RESULTS
There were 22 EHs in group 1 and 20 EHs in group 2. There were 11 and 10 subgaleal CSF collections in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The average volume of EH was 13.5 +/- 8.12 and 14.65 +/- 7.72 mL in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The average volume of subgaleal CSF collection was 42.76 +/- 12.09 and 43.75 +/- 11.44 mL in groups 1 and 2, respectively. There were no statistical differences in the incidence and average volume of EH and subgaleal CSF collection between the 2 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
ED cannot decrease the incidence and volume of EH and subgaleal CSF collection. ED should not be recommended after supratentorial epileptic craniotomy.
Guangming
Zhang
Z
Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Neurological Disorder, Yuquan Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100049, China.
Huancong
Zuo
Z
Wenjing
Zhou
Z
Guoqiang
Chen
C
Xiaosong
Wang
W
D000328:Adult; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004322:Drainage; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006407:Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013353:Subdural Effusion / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017211:Treatment Failure