Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research.

2013 Nov, Vol-7(11): 2594-2595 2594 2594

DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2013/5709.3609
Case Report
Bilateral Acute Epidural Hematoma with
Good Outcome
Keywords: Cranial epidural haematoma, Traumatic brain injury, Computed tomography

WELLINGSON SILVA PAIVA
1
, ALMIR FERREIRA DE ANDRADE
2
, ADERALDO COSTA ALVES JUNIOR
3
, IURI NEVILLE RIBEIRO
4
,
MANOEL JACOBSEN TEIXEIRA
5
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CASE REPORT
An unknown middle aged man was found unconscious and
was brought to our service. On the admission, the patient was
comatose and his Glasgow Coma Scale was 8/15. Both the pupils
were isochoric and reactive to light with left periorbital edema
and a report of seizure. ATLS (Advanced Trauma Life Support)
primary survey did not reveal any other abnormality. A Computed
Tomography (CT) was taken which showed asymmetric Bilateral
Epidural Hematoma (BEH) that measuring 127cm at left and
57cm at right, with a total volume of 184cm, and bilateral overlying
skull fracture [Table/Fig-1]. He underwent emergency surgery for
removal of the Epidural Haematomas (EDH). Both the focal lesions
had immediate surgical indication and the drainage was performed
simultaneously. The head was placed in Mayeld tongs in neutral
position; this cranial xation system was placed in the midline of
the skull, with the tongs xation slightly diverted to avoid holes
on the sagittal sinus.Tongs application on the skull fractures was
avoid. Incisions were made at the same time. The craniotomies
were also performed simultaneously. Once completed trepanation
on one side, already was performed and the other side, quickly
performed the two large craniotomies without complications, with
satisfactory CT control [Table/Fig-2]. The patient had a prolonged
hospitalization due to clinical complications and the need for
inpatient rehabilitation and was discharged after one month.
During follow-up he presented with Glasgow Outcome Scale 4/5
ninety days after the trauma.
DISCUSSION
The rst BEH case was described by Roy in 1884. Since then,
BEH reports have been sporadic with an incidence rangs from
0,5 to 2% of all EDH [1,2]. High mortality rates (42-100%) have
been reported in old series of BEH. With the widespread use of
CT scan, early diagnosis has changed the surgical results and
prognosis with recent series reported a decrease in mortality rates
to 15,7% [1].
Linear skull fractures are associated with EDH in 61-95% of cases.
In over one-half of all patients, the middle meningeal artery gives
rise to the haematoma [3,4]. However, the main cause of bleeding
in the BEH is usually venous bleeding [1]. We suppose that our
case of BEH was caused by arterial bleeding after the laceration of
both right and left middle meningeal arteries as a result of bilateral
skull fracture. In general, haematomas secondary to arterial
bleeding require more urgent evacuation since it can rapidly lead
to intracranial hypertension (ICH). When surgery is indicated, either
arterial or venous EDH are treated by craniotomy, with haematoma
evacuation, haemostasis and dural retention sutures (along bone
edges and centrally).
Once the diagnosis of BEH is made, urgent surgical treatment
should be considered, and in cases of asymmetric EDH, the
responsible one for the neurological deterioration (when possible
to identify) must be removed rst. In cases which the hematoma
is small, it can be followed with close clinical and tomographic

[Table/Fig-2]: Postoperative Skull CT demonstrated a good surgical result
with hematomas well evacuated.
[Table/Fig-1]: In A Axial Skull CT showing asymmetric BEH. In B
Skull CT with bone window showing fractures (arrows) and underlying
hematomas suggesting arterial source.
Abstract
Epidural haematomas are one of the most common complicated closed-head injuries, but they, rarely show any bilateral localization. We
are reporting here a case of a man found unconscious with Glasgow Coma Scale score; 8/15. Computed tomography of skull revealed
bilateral epidural hematoma. Two emergency craniotomies were performed simultaneously, with satisfactory radiological control and
neurological outcome. We discussed the aspects of a etiology and treatment about this unusual condition.
www.jcdr.net Almir Ferreira de Andrade et al., Bilateral Acute Epidural Hematoma with Good Outcome
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2013 Nov, Vol-7(11): 2594-2595 2595 2595
Keywords: Cranial epidural haematoma, Traumatic brain injury, Computed tomography

total volume of intracranial hematoma:184cm, due to ICH. and
Required approach provided an effective treatment.
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observation or treated by embolization of the middle menigeal
artery to prevent additional enlargement of EDH [2,5]. We opted
to remove both haematomas in the same procedure due to their
large volumes. To this end, we positioned the patient in the dorsal
decubitus position. The head was placed in Mayeld tongs by the
two surgeons to facilitate surgical access to cranium both sides,
so the EDHs could be treated at the same time. We think BEH
should be evacuated simultaneously whenever possible in order
to relieve more quickly the ICH and prevent an eventual increment
of the contra lateral haematoma during removal of the rst EDH in
a sequential manner.
In the largest series [1,6,7], when BEH has different dimensions,
the side with a larger volume should be evacuated rst,
followed by the contralateral haematoma, and when they have
similar volumes should be evacuated rst side of the dominant
hemisphere. However, simultaneous craniotomy is possible and
recommended, allowing the emergency treatment of intracranial
hypertension, and functional recovery even in patients operated in
critical neurological conditions.
Mortality is signicantly higher in unconscious patients with
haematomas >150cm size [4]. The patient was unconscious with

Date of Submission: Feb 03, 2013
Date of Peer Review: May 14, 2013
Date of Acceptance: Sep 10, 2013
Date of Publishing: Nov 10, 2013
PARTICULARS OF CONTRIBUTORS:
1. Faculty, Division of Neurosurgery University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Brazil.
2. Faculty, Division of Neurosurgery University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Brazil.
3. Faculty, Division of Neurosurgery University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Brazil.
4. Faculty, Division of Neurosurgery University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Brazil.
5. Faculty, Division of Neurosurgery University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Brazil.
NAME, ADDRESS, E-MAIL ID OF THE CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Dr. Wellingson Silva Paiva,
Enas Carvalho de Aguiar Street, 255, Ofce 4080.
Zipcode 5403-010 So Paulo, SP, Brazil.
E-mail: [email protected]
FINANCIAL OR OTHER COMPETING INTERESTS: None.