Outcome of surgical treatment for subdural fluid collections in infants

Case Series on Removal of Subdural to Peritoneal Shunt After Resolution of Subdural Collection in the First 2 Years of Life

BACKGROUND

Subdural to peritoneal shunt (SPS) placement is an established treatment option for chronic subdural hematoma (SDH) in the pediatric population. Practice patterns vary between institutions, with some advocating shunt removal while others leave the SPS in place after SDH resolution. There remain a paucity of data to document the safety and outcomes after removal of SPS.

OBJECTIVE

To support the safety and efficacy of SPS placement and subsequent removal for chronic SDH in children younger than 2 years.

METHODS

A total of 26 patients younger than 2 years underwent SPS removal procedures over a 5-year period from 2015 to 2019 at a single institution. Patient characteristics, hospital course, and outcomes were prospectively recorded in the hospital electronic medical record. Attention was given to change in head circumference, size of subdural collection, need for reoperation, or complications because of shunt removal.

RESULTS

Patients who underwent SPS placement presented with macrocephaly, signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, and radiographical evidence of subdural collections. The most common etiology of chronic SDH was nonaccidental head trauma (18 of 26 patients). SDS was kept in place for an average of 10 months. Resolution of SDH was demonstrated on imaging for all 26 patients. One patient did require reinsertion of SPS 2 weeks after SPS removal.

CONCLUSION

Removal of SPS remains controversial, and careful consideration of patient, family, and provider preferences and potential risks associated with SPS removal must be taken into consideration.

Management of Subdural Hematohygromas in Abusive Head Trauma

BACKGROUND

The optimal management of nonacute subdural fluid collections in infantile abusive head trauma (AHT) remains controversial.

OBJECTIVE

To review the outcomes and costs of the various treatments for symptomatic subdural fluid collections in children with AHT at a single center.

METHODS

Our AHT database was queried to identify children requiring any intervention for hematohygromas. Demographic, hospital course, radiologic, cost, readmission, and follow-up information were collected.

RESULTS

From January 2009 to March 2018, the authors identified 318 children with AHT, of whom 210 (66%) had a subdural collection of any type (blood or cerebrospinal fluid). A total of 50 required some form of intervention specifically for chronic hematohygromas. The initial management consisted of transfontanelle percutaneous aspiration (n = 31), burr holes with (n = 12) or without (n = 3) external subdural drainage, and mini-craniotomy (n = 4). Of those who were initially managed with 1 or more needle aspiration, 23 (74%) required further intervention-12 subduroperitoneal shunts and 11 nonshunt procedures. No patient who underwent burr holes/external drainage required further intervention (n = 16). Overall, the average number of interventions needed in these 50 children for definitive treatment was 1.8 (range, 1-4). A total of 15 children ultimately required a subduroperitoneal shunt. Complications (infectious, hemorrhagic, and thrombotic) were significant and occurred in all treatment groups except burr holes without drainage (n = 3). The average hospital charge for the entire cohort was $166 300.25 (range, $19 126-$739 248).

CONCLUSION

Based on our experience to date, burr hole with controlled external subdural drainage is an effective and preferred treatment for traumatic hematohygromas; complications and need for additional intervention is low.

Minicraniotomy with a subgaleal pocket for the treatment of subdural fluid collections in infants

OBJECTIVE

Various surgical techniques have been described to treat subdural fluid collections in infants, including transfontanelle aspiration, burr holes, subdural drain, subduroperitoneal shunt, and minicraniotomy. The purpose of this study was to describe a modification of the minicraniotomy technique that avoids the implantation of external drainage catheters and potentially carries a higher success rate.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, the authors describe 11 cases involving pediatric patients who underwent parietal minicraniotomies for the evacuation of subdural fluid collections. In contrast to cases previously described in the literature, no patient received a drain; instead, a subgaleal pocket was created such that the fluid could flow from the subdural to the subgaleal space. Preoperative and postoperative data were reviewed, including neurological examination findings, radiological findings, complications, hospital length of stay, and findings on follow-up examinations and imaging. The primary outcome was failure of the treatment strategy, defined as an increase in subdural fluid collection requiring further intervention.

RESULTS

Eleven patients (8 boys and 3 girls, median age 4.5 months) underwent the described procedure. Eight of the patients had complete resolution of the subdural collection on follow-up imaging, and 2 had improvement. One patient had a new subdural collection due to a second injury. Only 1 patient underwent aspiration and subsequent surgical repair of a pseudomeningocele after the initial surgery. Notably, no patients required subduroperitoneal shunt placement.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors describe a new surgical option for subdural fluid collections in infants that allows for more aggressive evacuation of the subdural fluid and eliminates the need for a drain or shunt placement. Further work with more patients and direct comparison to other alternative therapies is necessary to fully evaluate the efficacy and safety of this new technique.

The efficacy and safety of burr-hole craniotomy without continuous drainage for chronic subdural hematoma and subdural hygroma in children under 2 years of age

PURPOSE

Various treatment modalities have been used in the management of chronic subdural hematoma and subdural hygroma (CSDH/SDHy) in children. However, few studies have examined burr-hole craniotomy without continuous drainage in such cases. Here, we retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of burr-hole craniotomy without continuous drainage for CSDH/SDHy in children under 2 years old. We also aimed to determine the predictors of CSDH/SDHy recurrence.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective chart review of 25 children under 2 years old who underwent burr-hole craniotomy without continuous drainage for CSDH/SDHy at a pediatric teaching hospital over a 10-year period. We analyzed the relationship between CSDH/SDHy recurrence and factors such as abusive head trauma, laterality of CSDH/SDHy, and subdural fluid collection type (hematoma or hygroma).

RESULTS

CSDH/SDHy recurred in 5 of the 25 patients (20 %), requiring a second operation at an average of 0.92 ± 1.12 months after the initial procedure. The mean follow-up period was 25.1 ± 28.6 months. There were no complications related to either operation. None of the assessed factors were statistically associated with recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Burr-hole craniotomy without continuous drainage for CSDH/SDHy appears safe in children aged under 2 years and results in a relatively low recurrence rate. No predictors of CSDH/SDHy recurrence were identified. Advantages of this method include avoiding external subdural drainage-related complications. However, burr-hole drainage may be more effective for CSDH, which our data suggests is more likely to recur than SDHy, providing the procedure is performed with specific efforts to reduce complications.

Ommaya reservoir implantation for the treatment of contralateral progressive traumatic subdural effusion secondary to decompressive craniectomy: a case report

This report describes a new method for the treatment of traumatic subdural effusion (TSE). Following Ommaya reservoir implantation, a patient with contralateral progressive TSE secondary to decompressive craniectomy after traumatic brain injury made a good postoperative recovery.

Subdural to subgaleal shunts: alternative treatment in infants with nonaccidental traumatic brain injury?

OBJECT

The ideal treatment for subdural hematomas (SDHs) in infants remains debated. The aim of this study was to analyze the safety and efficiency of subduro-subgaleal drainage in SDH.

METHODS

The authors conducted a single-center open-label study between August 2011 and May 2012. Data were prospectively collected in a database and retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients (male/female ratio 1.25) with a median age of 5 months were surgically treated. All had preoperative symptoms of intracranial hypertension or seizures. The SDH was bilateral in 16 cases, with a median width of 12 mm. Success of the procedure was noted in 14 of the 18 patients. There was no intraoperative complication or postoperative infection. Drainage failure was attributable to suboptimal positioning of the subdural drain in 2 cases and to migration in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONS

Subduro-subgaleal drainage is an efficient treatment that could be proposed as an alternative to external subdural drainage or subduroperitoneal drainage.

Clinical outcomes of temporary shunting for infants with cerebral pseudomeningocele

OBJECTIVE

Although in the case of subdural collections temporary shunting has been suggested as a viable alternative for definitive drainage of the accumulated fluid until restoration of the normal CSF dynamics, there is no agreement on the best management strategy for pseudomeningocele.

METHODS

The authors performed a retrospective chart review in order to evaluate the clinical outcomes of infants temporarily shunted for pseudomeningocele without encephalocele at our institution (The University of Illinois at Peoria/Illinois Neurological Institute) in the period from 2004 to 2012. The epidemiological characteristics, clinical management, and final outcomes of such subpopulation were compared with a control group which received temporary shunting for subdural hematomas (SDH) during the same period.

RESULTS

Four patients (100% male) ranging in age from 8.9 to 27.1 months (mean = 13.88) with pseudomeningocele and 17 patients (64.7% male) ranging in age from 1.9 to 11.8 months (mean = 4.15) with SDH were identified. Although the initial management included sequential percutaneous subdural tapping in 82% of the patients, all children ultimately failed such strategy, requiring either subdural-peritoneal (81% of the cases) or subgaleal-peritoneal (19% of the cases) shunting. The mean implant duration was 201 days for the pseudomeningocele group and 384 days for the SDH one. Mean post-shunt hospitalization was 2 days for patients with pseudomeningocele and 4 days for patients with SDH. There was no statistical difference in terms of complications, length of hospitalization post-shunting, or clinical outcomes between the patients with pseudomeningocele and those with SDH.

CONCLUSIONS

Temporary shunting of infants with pseudo-meningocele constitutes a viable therapeutic alternative with favorable clinical outcomes and a low risk of shunt dependency similar to those of children with SDH.

Minicraniotomy versus bur holes for evacuation of chronic subdural collections in infants-a preliminary single-institution experience

OBJECT

Various surgical interventions have been described to evacuate chronic subdural collections (CSCs) of infancy. These include transfontanel percutaneous aspiration, subdural drains, placement of bur hole(s) with or without a subdural drain, and shunting. Shunt placement typically provides good long-term success (resolution of the subdural fluid), but comes with well-known early and late complications. Recently, the authors have used a mini-osteoplastic craniotomy technique with the goal of definitively treating these children with a single surgery while avoiding the many issues associated with a shunt. They describe their procedure and compare it with the traditional bur hole technique.

METHODS

In this single-institution retrospective study, the authors evaluated 26 cases involving patients who underwent treatment for CSC. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were reviewed, including radiographic findings (density of the subdural fluid and ventricular and subarachnoid space size), neurological examination findings, and intraoperative fluid description. The primary outcome was treatment failure, defined as the patient requiring any subsequent surgical intervention after the index procedure (minicraniotomy or bur hole placement).

RESULTS

Fifteen patients (10 male and 5 female; median age 5.1 months) collectively underwent 27 minicraniotomy procedures (each procedure representing a hemisphere that was treated). In the bur hole group, there were 11 patients (6 male and 5 female; median age 4.6 months) with 18 hemispheres treated. Both groups had subdural drains placed. The average follow-up for each treatment group was just over 7 months. Treatment failure occurred in 2 patients (13%) in the minicraniotomy group compared with 5 patients (45%) in the bur hole group (p = 0.09). Furthermore, the 2 patients who had treatment failure in the minicraniotomy group required 1 subsequent surgery each, whereas the 5 in the bur hole group needed a total of 9 subsequent surgeries. Eventually, 80% of the patients in the minicraniotomy group and 70% of those in the bur hole group had resolution of the subdural collections on the last imaging study.

CONCLUSIONS

The minicraniotomy technique may be a superior technique for the treatment of CSCs in infants compared with bur hole evacuation. The minicraniotomy provides greater visualization of the subdural space and allows more aggressive evacuation of the fluid, better irrigation of the space, the ability to fenestrate any accessible membranes safely, and continued egress of fluid into the subgaleal space. Although this preliminary report has obvious limitations, evaluation of this technique may be worthy of a prospective, multiinstitutional collaborative effort.

Traumatic subdural hydroma: clinical characteristics and classification

BACKGROUND

Traumatic subdural hydroma (TSH) is a common complication of head injuries. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical characteristics and classification of TSH.

METHODS

One hundred and ninety-two patients with TSH were treated in Qilu hospital during a 13-year period (1989-2001). We reviewed each patient's clinical records and radiological findings.

RESULTS

Based on clinical features and dynamic observation of CT scanning, TSHs were classified into four types: resolution, steadiness, development and evolution. The resolution type often occurred in the prime of life, and the patients had normal intracranial pressure and good prognoses after conservative treatment. The elderly made up the majority of the steadiness type. Their main clinical manifestations included headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abnormal mentality, etc. Generally, no positive nervous systemic sign related to TSH was observed. The prognoses of the steadiness type treated by conservative therapy were also satisfactory. The development type was common in babies and children and mainly manifested as progressively increasing intracranial pressure, mild hemiplegia, aphasia and abnormal mentality. The patients with development type often needed surgical treatment where there was an associated risk of dying from accompanying cerebral parenchymal damage or postoperative complications once in a while. The evolution type with chronic subdural haematoma occurred between 22 and 100 days after TSH and in the cases of small hydromas treated conservatively, with mild accompanying cerebral damage, characterised by the polarised age, and chronic increased intracranial pressure, there was always a good prognosis after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

The mechanism, clinical characteristics, treatment methods and prognoses varied with the different types of TSH.

Subdural effusion complicating neonatal meningitis: successful treatment with acetazolamide

Postmeningitis subdural effusion is rare in neonates when compared to infants and children. For treatment, various modalities are described. Serial subdural punctures and surgical drain placement are advised for cases having a mass effect on imaging. We report a neonate with symptomatic postmeningitis subdural effusion, who failed to respond to serial subdural punctures, but subsequently managed successfully with acetazolamide. He had no recurrence further. His development was normal at 18 months of age.

Factors influencing the complication rate of subduroperitoneal shunt placement for the treatment of subdural hematomas in infants

OBJECT

In this study the authors' goal was to identify the complication rate of subduroperitoneal (SDP) shunts for the treatment of subdural hematomas (SDHs) in infants and to determine the influences on and predictive factors for these complications.

METHODS

The authors present a case series spanning the years 1994 to 2003 and include a statistical analysis of 161 children 2 years of age or younger with SDH who were treated using a unilateral valveless SDP shunt. The patient history, characteristics, and treatment methods including prior therapies, neuroimaging findings, and clinical outcomes were measures of evaluation. Thirty-six children (22.4%) suffered complications related to SDP shunts: obstruction in 27 (16.8%), infections in eight (5%), disconnection in four (2.5%), migration in three (1.9%), wound complications (leakage and skin ulceration) in two (1.2%), and symptomatic subdural rebleeding in one (0.6%) necessitating bur hole evacuation. Seventeen children (10.6%) underwent placement of a second SDP shunt because of ipsilateral or contralateral persistent fluid collections, or premature shunt removal. With the exception of 12 patients (7.4%), shunt removal was performed systematically and resulted in the following minor complications in 30 children (18.6%): an adherent proximal catheter in 16 (9.9%), transient symptoms of intracranial hypertension in six (3.7%), subcutaneous cerebrospinal fluid accumulation in four (2.5%), local infections in three (1.9%), and hydrocephalus requiring placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt in one (0.6%). Status epilepticus at presentation and neuroimaging findings such as areas of hyperdensity on computed tomography (CT) scans representing fresh blood in the subdural fluid collections before shunt insertion and at follow up were predictors of shunt-related complications. Correlations were also discovered for the following CT findings: ischemic lesions before shunt treatment, cerebral atrophy and ventricular dilation during the last follow up, and residual medium to large collections before shunt removal. Children who attained a good outcome were less affected by shunt-related complications, unlike those who presented with focal deficits and/or visual impairment.

CONCLUSIONS

Subduroperitoneal shunt placement for the treatment of SDH in infants is--despite the complication rate--an effective and often inevitable treatment option, especially for most large and symptomatic SDHs; a certain number of complications could be reduced with careful and precise surgical techniques. Close observation for detection of risks is mandatory, and seizure control is essential to prevent further brain injury that may result in large subdural fluid collections that are difficult to treat.

Diagnostic method for differentiating external hydrocephalus from simple subdural hygroma

Object

The various terms used to describe subdural fluid collection—“external hydrocephalus,” “subdural hygroma,” “subdural effusion,” “benign subdural collection,” and “extraventricular obstructive hydrocephalus”—reflect the confusion surrounding the diagnoses of these diseases. Differentiating external hydrocephalus from simple subdural hygroma may be difficult, but the former appears to be a distinct clinical entity separate from the latter. In this report, the authors present a diagnostic method for differentiating external hydrocephalus from simple subdural hygroma, based on their clinical experience in treating subdural fluid collection after mild head trauma.

Methods

Twenty patients with subdural fluid collection after mild head trauma were included in this study. Ventricle size was measured using a modified frontal horn index (mFHI); that is, the largest width of the frontal horns divided by the bicortical distance in the same plane, instead of the inner table distance. Bur hole trephination was performed on the appearance of a subdural fluid collection thicker than 15 mm on computed tomography (CT), persistent (longer than 4 weeks) or increasing in size, and accompanied by neurological symptoms (confusion or memory impairment). During the procedure, subdural pressure was measured using a manometer before opening the dura mater. Subdural pressure varied among the patients, ranging from 3 to 27.5 cm H2O. Four patients with a subdural pressure greater than 15 cm H2O had hydrocephalus after surgery (p < 0.05). Hydrocephalus developed in a pediatric patient (2 years old) with a subdural pressure of 12 cm H2O. All of the patients in whom hydrocephalus developed after bur hole trephination had had enlarged ventricles (mFHI > 33%) on preoperative CT scans.

Conclusions

Monitoring subdural pressure may be a valuable tool for differentiating subdural hygroma from external hydrocephalus in patients with mild head trauma. Additionally, the mFHI reflects the nature of the subdural collection more accurately than the standard frontal horn index.

Surgical treatment outcomes in subdural effusion: a clinical study

OBJECTIVE

In this study, patients who underwent surgery due to subdural effusion were retrospectively analyzed. The location, depth and etiology of the subdural effusion, the surgical approach that was used and the recurrence rates were studied in these patients.

METHOD

A total of 32 patients who were followed up and treated for subdural effusion at the Neurosurgery Clinic of the Yüzüncü Yil University School of Medicine were included in the study; 18 (56%) of the patients were male and 14 (44%) were female. The surgical techniques applied were surgical burr hole drainage, repeated subdural transaxial puncture and subduroperitoneal shunt approaches. The patients were evaluated by computerized tomography of the brain in week 1 and in the third month after surgery. Recurrences were evaluated based on radiological findings and the clinical condition of the patients.

RESULT

The consciousness level of the patients was proportional to the mass effect of the subdural effusion. Lower recurrence rates were found in patients with a large midline shift resulting from the subdural effusion. In addition, recurrence rates were higher in patients with cerebral atrophy and lower protein content in the subdural effusion fluid. It was observed that these patients responded better to the subduroperitoneal shunt treatment.

Removal of subdural-peritoneal shunts in infants

INTRODUCTION

A common method of treating subdural collections is the insertion of a unilateral subdural-peritoneal shunt. In most cases, the shunt can be removed a few months later, but there is the anxiety that removal could cause complications and some surgeons elect to leave the shunts permanently implanted, on the understanding that they are not causing problems. A retrospective review was performed of patients who had their subdural shunts removed after CT evidence of resolution of the collections, with the intention of assessing the possible risks and benefits.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Of the 19 patients who had insertion of a subdural shunt for infantile subdural collections by a single surgeon between 1999 and 2003, 14 were eligible for removal of the shunt and 13 had the shunt removed, while in 1 patient the parents refused the option of removal. Mean age at shunt insertion was 9.1 months (range 1.5-25.4 months). The mean shunt implantation time was 5 months (range 0.5-11 months). The mean follow-up period was 30.3 months (range 1-59 months).

RESULTS

All shunts were removed successfully without complications. There was difficulty in removing the shunt in one case (implantation time 10 months) because of migration of the shunt, requiring extension of the incision and a small craniectomy. None of the patients required re-insertion of the shunt.

CONCLUSION

Subdural shunts can be removed safely, but it is advisable to perform such an operation during the first 6 months after insertion to avoid undue operative difficulties.