• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.379-385
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• 2015

Chronic subdural hematomas mainly occur amongst elderly people and usually develop after minor head injuries. In younger patients, subdural collections may be related to hypertension, coagulopathies, vascular abnormalities, and substance abuse. Different techniques can be used for the surgical treatment of symptomatic chronic subdural hematomas : single or double burr-hole evacuation, with or without subdural drainage, twist-drill craniostomies and classical craniotomies. Failure of the brain to re-expand, pneumocephalus, incomplete evacuation, and recurrence of the fluid collection are common complications following these procedures. Acute subdural hematomas may also occur. Rarely reported hemorrhagic complications include subarachnoid, intracerebral, intraventricular, and remote cerebellar hemorrhages. The causes of such uncommon complications are difficult to explain and remain poorly understood. Overdrainage and intracranial hypotension, rapid brain decompression and shift of the intracranial contents, cerebrospinal fluid loss, vascular dysregulation and impairment of venous outflow are the main mechanisms discussed in the literature. In this article we report three cases of different post-operative intracranial bleeding and review the related literature.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.761-766
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• 2018

Objective : Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a rare complication of unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) clipping surgery. To prevent postoperative CSDH by reducing subdural fluid collection, we applied the modified arachnoid plasty (MAP) during the UIA clipping surgery to seal the dissected arachnoid plane. Methods : This retrospective study included 286 patients enrolled from July 2012 to May 2015. We performed arachnoid plasty in all patients, with MAP used after June 17, 2014. Patients were divided into two groups (non-MAP vs. MAP), and by using uni- and multivariate analyses, baseline characteristics, and relationships with postoperative CSDH between the two groups were analyzed. The degree of preoperative brain atrophy was estimated using the bicaudate ratio (BCR) index. Results : Ten patients (3.5%) among 286 patients had postoperative CSDH after clipping. Nine (3.1%) were in the non-MAP group, and one (0.9%) was in the MAP group. The higher BCR index showed statistical significance with occurrence of postoperative CSDH in both uni- (p=0.018) and multivariate (p=0.012; odds ratio [OR], 8.547; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.616-45.455) analyses. MAP was associated with a lower risk of postoperative CSDH (p=0.022; OR, 0.068; 95% CI, 0.007-0.683). Conclusion : This study shows that the degree of preoperative brain atrophy is associated with an increased occurrence of CSDH after clipping and that MAP could help reduce the risk of postoperative CSDH after unruptured aneurysm clipping via a lateral supraorbital approach.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.5
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• pp.552-561
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• 2023

Objective : A chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a collection of bloody fluid located in the subdural space and encapsulated by neo-membranes. An inner subdural hygroma (ISH) is observed between the inner membrane of a CSDH and the brain surface. We present six cases of CSDH combined with ISH treated via endoscopy. Methods : Between 2011 and 2022, among the 107 patients diagnosed with CSDH in our institute, six patients were identified as presenting with CSDH combined with ISH and were included in this study. Preoperative computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed simultaneously, and endoscopic surgery for aspiration of the hematoma was performed in all cases of CSDH combined with ISH. Results : The mean age of patients was 71 years (range, 66 to 79). The patients were all male. In two cases, the ISH was not identified on CT, but was clearly seen on MRI in all patients. The inner membrane of the CSDH was tense and bulging after draining of the CSDH in endoscopic view due to the high pressure of the ISH. After fenestration of the inner membrane of the CSDH and aspiration of the ISH, the membrane was sunken down due to the decreasing pressure of the ISH. There was one recurrence in post-operative 2-month follow up. The symptoms improved in all patients after surgery, and there were no surgery-related complications. Conclusion : CSDH combined with ISH can be diagnosed on imaging, and endoscopic surgery facilitates safe and effective treatment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.458-465
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• 2016

Objective : The aim of this study is to analyze the differences in the incidence, predicting factors, and clinical course of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) following surgical clipping between unruptured (UIA) and ruptured intracranial aneurysm (RIA). Methods : We conducted a retrospective analysis of 752 patients (UIA : 368 and RIA : 384) who underwent surgical clipping during 8 years. The incidence and predicting factors of CSDH development in the UIA and RIA were compared according to medical records and radiological data. Results : The incidence of postoperative CSDH was higher in the UIA (10.9%) than in the RIA (3.1%) (p=0.000). In multivariate analysis, a high Hounsfield (HF) unit (blood clots) for subdural fluid collection (SFC), persistence of SFC ${\geq}5mm$ and male sex in the UIA and A high HF unit for SFC and SFC ${\geq}5mm$ without progression to hydrocephalus in the RIA were identified as the independent predicting factors for CSDH development (p<0.05). Conclusion : There were differences in the incidence and predicting factors for CSDH following surgical clipping between UIA and RIA. Blood clots in the subdural space and persistence of SFC ${\geq}5mm$ were predicting factors in both UIA and RIA. However, progression to hydrocephalus may have in part contributed to low CSDH development in the RIA. We suggest that cleaning of blood clots in the subdural space and efforts to minimize SFC ${\geq}5mm$ at the end of surgery is helpful to prevent CSDH following aneurysmal clipping.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.271-275
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• 2015

Objective : Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a rare complication of unruptured aneurysm clipping surgery. The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence and risk factors of postoperative CSDH after surgical clipping for unruptured anterior circulation aneurysms. Methods : This retrospective study included 518 patients from a single tertiary institute from January 2008 to December 2013. CSDH was defined as subdural hemorrhage which needed surgical treatment. The degree of brain atrophy was estimated using the bicaudate ratio (BCR) index. We used uni- and multivariate analyses to identify risk factors correlated with CSDH. Results : Sixteen (3.1%) patients experienced postoperative CSDH that required burr hole drainage surgery. In univariate analyses, male gender (p<0.001), size of aneurysm (p=0.030), higher BCR index (p=0.004), and the use of antithrombotic medication (p=0.006) were associated with postoperative CSDH. In multivariate analyses using logistic regression test, male gender [odds ratio (OR) 4.037, range 1.287-12.688], high BCR index (OR 5.376, range 1.170-25.000), and the use of antithrombotic medication (OR 4.854, range 1.658-14.085) were associated with postoperative CSDH (p<0.05). Postoperative subdural fluid collection and arachnoid plasty were not showed statistically significant difference in this study. Conclusion : The incidence of CSDH was 3.1% in unruptured anterior circulation aneurysm surgery. This study shows that male gender, degree of brain atrophy, and the use of antithrombotic medication were associated with postoperative CSDH.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.40-44
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• 2015

Cases of incomplete Kawasaki disease (KD), wherein the patient does not fulfill the full diagnostic criteria for KD, are often detected in infants younger than 6 months of age. The clinical manifestations in infants with incomplete KD may resemble other infectious diseases, including meningitis. For this reason, clinicians may have difficulty differentiating incomplete KD from other infectious diseases in this population. Various neurological features are associated with KD, including aseptic meningitis, subdural effusion, facial nerve palsy, cerebral infarction, encephalopathy, and reversible corpus callosum splenial lesions on magnetic resonance imaging. We report a case of a 5-month-old girl with incomplete KD, associated with cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis and an epidural fluid collection. Echocardiography indicated dilatation of the main coronary arteries. The girl made a complete recovery, with resolution of both the epidural fluid collection and coronary artery aneurysms. In this case, the child is well, and showed normal developmental milestones at the 7-month follow-up.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.338-342
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• 1998

Postural headache due to spontaneous intracranial hypotension occurs without any diagnostic lumbar puncture, myelography, cranial or spinal injury, or spinal anesthesia. The clinical characteristics of the syndrome are disappearance of the headache or a notable decrease in its severity with recumbency, the finding of meningeal enhancement and subdural fluid collection on brain MRI, the pleocytosis and the increased CSF protein concentration. We report a case of a 40-year-old woman who exhibited the signs and symptoms of postural headache due to low CSF pressure. Her headache started suddenly at the occiput and radiated to frontal head. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of her brain showed enhancement of the meninges and subdural fluid collection. Intrathecal radionuclide cisternography showed the delayed appearance of the isotope in the cranium and the minimal CSF leak at the left upper thoracic region. Her headache was relieved completely after a lumbar (L2-L3) epidural injection of 12 ml of autologous blood and remained asymptomatic.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.301-305
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• 2017

Multiloculated hydrocephalus (MLH) is a condition in which patients have multiple, separate abnormal cerebrospinal fluid collections with no communication between them. Despite technical advancements in pediatric neurosurgery, neurological outcomes are poor in these patients and the approach to this pathology remains problematic especially given individual anatomic complexity and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hydrodynamics. A uniform surgical strategy has not yet been developed. Current treatment options for MLH are microsurgical fenestration of separate compartments by open craniotomy or endoscopy, shunt surgery in which multiple catheters are placed in the compartments, and combinations of these modalities. Craniotomy for fenestration allows better visualization of the compartments and membranes, and it can offer easy fenestration or excision of membranes and wide communication of cystic compartments. Hemostasis is more easily achieved. However, because of profound loss of CSF during surgery, open craniotomy is associated with an increased chance of subdural hygroma and/or hematoma collection and shunt malfunction. Endoscopy has advantages such as minimal invasiveness, avoidance of brain retraction, less blood loss, faster operation time, and shorter hospital stay. Disadvantages are also similar to those of open craniotomy. Intraoperative bleeding can usually be easily managed by irrigation or coagulation. However, handling of significant intraoperative bleeding is not as easy. Currently, endoscopic fenestration tends to be performed more often as initial treatment and open craniotomy may be useful in patients requiring repeated endoscopic procedures.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.240-244
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• 2008

Objective : Sotos Syndrome is characterized by macrocephaly, overgrowth, and developmental delay, and more than 300 patients have been reported worldwide to date. The authors reviewed the clinical characteristics of 8 patients with Sotos Syndrome in Korea for a new understanding and treatment strategies. Methods : The medical records of a total of eight Korean children with Sotos Syndrome were reviewed. All patients underwent developmental checkup, lumbar punctures for measurement of intracranial pressure (ICP), brain and spine magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography. Results : All 8 patients showed macrocephaly and the characteristic craniofacial features of Sotos Syndrome. Other clinical characteristics shown were overgrowth (7/8), developmental delay (7/8), congenital heart defect (3/8), flat foot (8/8), scoliosis (4/8), spina bifida (8/8), hydrocephalus (4/8), cavum vergae (3/8), and increased subdural fluid collection (5/8). Mean ICP measured via lumbar puncture was $27.35{\pm}6.25\;cm$ $H_2O$ (range 20 to 36 cm $H_2O$). Two patients received ventriculo-peritoneal shunt, and 1 patient underwent subduro-peritoneal shunt with improvement. Spinal orthosis was applied to 4/5 patients with scoliosis and 4/8 children with flat foot were provided with foot orthosis. Conclusion : In this first Korean study of 8 Sotos Syndrome patients we demonstrated the presence of spina bifida and increased ICP, which had not been previously described. The authors therefore suggest that all patients with Sotos Syndrome should undergo examination for the presence of spina bifida, and that shunt procedures would improve development and alleviate clinical symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2005

Objective : This study is performed to compare older with younger groups about clinical characteristics and overall outcome of treatments for the intracranial aneurysms. Methods : We retrospectively investigated 633 patients with cerebral aneurysms who were admitted to our institute from January 2000 to May 2004. The authors divided the patients of cerebral aneurysm into two groups, one the third, fourth decades and the other eighth, ninth decades, analyzed clinical characteristics and overall outcome of treatments. Results : There were 57 patients [9.0%] under 39years old and 58 patients [9.2%] over 70. The female to male sex ratio was 0.5 : 1 in the younger group[YG] and 7.3 : 1 in the older group[OG], showing a female predominance with increasing age. In the YG, aneurysms were found in anterior communicating artery[A-com] [44.8%], middle cerebral artery [31.0%]. In the OG, aneurysm of posterior communicating artery [30.1%] was most common followed by that of A-com [26.9%]. More smokers and alcoholics were found in the YG. Older age was related to poor Hunt-Hess grade, Fisher's grade on admission, high incidence of unruptured aneurysms, and endovascular surgery. There was a higher prevalence of hypertension, intraventricular hematoma, hydrocephalus, and rebleeding in the preoperative state in the OG and postoperative complications including hydrocephalus, subdural fluid collection, and systemic complications. Overall outcome was poorer with advancing age [p=0.01]. Conclusion : The patients with aneurysms in the YG have distinct characteristics compared to those in the OG. Because of a good clinical grade on admission, a thin subarachnoid clot, and Low incidence of perioperative complications, the overall outcomes of the young patients were better than those of the old patients.