Cerebellar haemorrhage after non-traumatic evacuation of supratentorial chronic subdural haematoma: report of two cases

Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2006 Sep;148(9):993-6. doi: 10.1007/s00701-006-0800-y. Epub 2006 Jun 29.

Abstract

Cerebellar haemorrhage is an unusual complication of supratentorial neurosurgery. Several causative pre-operative factors and medical risk factors may predispose patients to cerebellar haemorrhage, however its etiology remains still unclear. Only two case reports have previously described the occurrence of cerebellar haemorrhage after subdural haematoma evacuation by burr-hole trepanation. We present two patients with this rare postoperative complication of minor supratentorial neurosurgery and possible underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are discussed. Our two cases support the post- rather than per-operative pathogenetic hypothesis. Although the complication is associated with a significant morbidity and mortality, most cases follow a benign course.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Basilar Artery / injuries
  • Basilar Artery / pathology
  • Basilar Artery / physiopathology
  • Brain Hemorrhage, Traumatic / etiology*
  • Brain Hemorrhage, Traumatic / pathology*
  • Brain Hemorrhage, Traumatic / physiopathology
  • Cerebellum / blood supply
  • Cerebellum / pathology
  • Cerebellum / physiopathology
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Craniotomy / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Hypotension / complications
  • Intracranial Hypotension / pathology
  • Intracranial Hypotension / physiopathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurosurgical Procedures / adverse effects*
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology*
  • Postoperative Complications / pathology*
  • Postoperative Complications / physiopathology
  • Suction / adverse effects
  • Therapeutic Irrigation / adverse effects
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome