Korean J Neurotrauma.  2018 Oct;14(2):68-75. 10.13004/kjnt.2018.14.2.68.

Complications Following Burr Hole Craniostomy and Closed-System Drainage for Subdural Lesions

• Lee HS
• Song SW
• Chun YI
• Choe WJ
• Cho J
• Moon CT
• Koh YC

• KMID: 2424315
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.13004/kjnt.2018.14.2.68

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Burr hole craniostomy and closed-system drainage (BCD) is a common surgical procedure in the field of neurosurgery. However, complications following BCD have seldom been reported. The purpose of this study was to report our experiences regarding complications following BCD for subdural lesions.
METHODS
A retrospective study of all consecutive patients who underwent BCD for presumed subdural lesions at one institute since the opening of the hospital was performed.
RESULTS
Of the 395 patients who underwent BCD for presumed subdural lesions, 117 experienced surgical or nonsurgical complications. Acute intracranial hemorrhagic complications developed in 14 patients (3.5%). Among these, 1 patient died and 5 patients had major morbidities. Malposition of the drainage catheter in the brain parenchyma occurred in 4 patients, and opposite-side surgery occurred in 2 patients. Newly developed seizures after BCD occurred in 8 patients (2.0%), five of whom developed the seizures in relation to new brain lesions. Eighty-eight patients (22.3%) suffered from nonsurgical complications after BCD. Pulmonary problems (7.3%) were the most common nonsurgical complications, followed by urinary problems (5.8%), psychologic problems (4.3%), and cognitive impairments (3.8%).
CONCLUSION
The incidence of complications after BCD for subdural lesions is higher than previously believed. In particular, catastrophic complications such as acute intracranial hematomas and surgical or management errors occur at rates that cannot be ignored, possibly causing medico-legal problems. Great caution must be taken during surgery and the postoperative period, and these complications should be listed on the informed consent form before surgery.

Keyword

Hematoma, subdural, chronic; Postoperative complications; Trephining

MeSH Terms

Brain
Catheters
Cognition Disorders
Consent Forms
Drainage*
Hematoma
Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic
Humans
Incidence
Neurosurgery
Postoperative Complications
Postoperative Period
Retrospective Studies
Seizures
Trephining

Figure

• 

  FIGURE 1 (A-D) Computed tomography (CT) scans of all patients with surgical errors. CT scans revealed intraparenchymal location of catheter tips. (E) Other CT images showing opposite-side surgery. In one case, the catheter tip was located in the opposite cerebral parenchyma, and (F) in the other case, the surgeon was stopped before dural incision, and surgery was performed on the correct side.

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