title: Anticonvulsants for preventing seizures in patients with chronic subdural haematoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anticonvulsant therapy is sometimes used prophylactically in patients with chronic subdural haematoma, although the benefit is unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of prophylactic anticonvulsants in patients with chronic subdural haematoma, in both the pre- and post-operative periods.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the Cochrane Injuries Group's Specialised Register, CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE (OvidSP), EMBASE (OvidSP), PubMed, LILACS, and the databases clinicaltrials.gov, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and Current Controlled Trials. The search was through 27th March 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled trials comparing any anticonvulsant versus placebo or no intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three authors screened the search results to identify relevant studies. No studies met the inclusion criteria for the review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No randomised controlled trials were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No formal recommendations can be made about the use of prophylactic anticonvulsants in patients with chronic subdural haematoma based on the literature currently available. There are no randomised controlled trials on this topic, and non-controlled studies have conflicting results. There is an urgent need for well-designed randomised controlled trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital de São José, Lisboa, Portugal. bratilal@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Bernardo O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Ratilal
authors.forename: Lia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pappamikail
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sampaio
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020200:Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants