Live Life Team
Treatment
Treatment of subdural haematoma shall depend on the blood clot type like the size and severity of the symptom. In case subdural haematoma is in small size and not causing severe symptoms, surgery is not advisable. The tiny subdural haematoma can heal with monitoring and care. Hospitalization will be required till the blood clot has completely healed. Regular examination and monitoring will be required in the condition worsens. Most of the cases need surgeries to remove the subdural haematoma and a neurosurgeon shall perform the surgery.
Surgery for subdural haematomas
The process of removing subdural haematoma involves surgeries of two types
Low invasive process using burr holes
Craniotomy
Craniotomy
This surgery involves in getting access to your brain and then removing subdural haematoma using general anaesthesia meaning you shall be sleeping during this process. The neurosurgeon removes a skull section temporarily. The removing section shall depend on the location of subdural haematoma. Using irrigation and suction, the clot of blood will be removed gently. Section of the skull that is removed shall be replaced and also fixed with help of small mini plates or strong stitches.
In case of acute subdural haematoma, craniotomy is required. Even in case of chronic subdural haematoma this shall be needed.
Burr holes
Tiny holes made in skull are called as Burr holes. This allows the neurosurgeon in draining the blood from subdural haematoma so that it can be removed. Using rubber tube that is flexible blood clots are drained which are fed through burr holes. Local anaesthesia is given in this surgery. Burr holes are created by drilling and are later closed by staples or stitches. In case you have chronic haematoma, then surgery of burr hole is recommended as it is lesser invasive as compared to craniotomy. Surgery of burr holes is done at times in an emergency situation to reduce pressure from brain before craniotomy surgery is performed.
After surgery
After the surgery, hospitalization is required to keep you under observation so that blood clots are not reformed. Very rarely subdural haematoma can reform in case the originally ruptured blood vessels are not healed completely.
Recovery
If you had subdural haematoma, you can leave the hospital once there are no chances to develop any blood clots. To make sure the blood vessels are healed and bleeding has stopped many CT scans will be required.
Neuro-Rehabilitation
In case subdural haematoma causes any damage to brain it requires more care and time for recovery. In such case you shall need a neuro rehabilitation team which includes occupational therapist, speech therapist and physiotherapist. They shall help you regain lost abilities to speak, live and move. There can be a possibility of a permanent damage like weakness in limbs, concentration, memory problems and mood swings.
Getting back to normal
After getting discharged from the hospital, it will take you some time to feel normal. The recovery time varies from one person to another. You may feel normal and feel like returning to work but you need to consult the medical team before reporting to work. You need to take precautions like work pressure should be avoided, resting completely and avoiding distractions like TV and radio. Headaches and tiredness are often experienced after subdural haematoma treatment which is very normal.
Medical assistance will be needed immediately if you are in the process of recovering from subdural haematoma and:
You feel confused or drowsy,
You experience nausea,
You can’t see properly, or
One of the legs, arms feels weak.
Consult your GP or call 0845 4647 (NHS Direct) if you experience the above mentioned symptoms.
