Clot Removal Surgery

Clot removal surgery generally deals with removal of a blood mass formed in the area between the external portion (dura) and middle portions of the meninges that encases the brain.

CAUSES OF CLOTS

Medically known as subdural hematoma, brain clots generally occur due to injury to the brain, mostly due to a fall, that tears and bleeds veins in the interiors of the dura. It occurs more frequently among the infirm and the aged, infants and also in accident cases. In fact it does not require a big blow to the brain to develop a blood clot even a slight injury can cause such a clot. In children, they may occur due to a fall or even due to child abuse, popularly known as the shaken baby syndrome.

DIAGNOSIS OF A SURGICAL CASE

If such a brain injury occurs without any signs of damage to the skull, diagnosis is dependent on indicative symptoms, which may even take several weeks to show up. Some of the common ones are headache, confusion and sleepiness, single sided weakness or paralysis, fatigue, inflamed or asymmetric pupils, seizures or fainting after the injury and even coma. In infants the following symptoms may be noticed:

A clot can be best confirmed with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

A SURGICAL CLOT

Small subdural hematomas generally do not require surgery and the blood accumulation can be gradually absorbed with treatment and monitoring over weeks. However, larger clots can grow with time even if bleeding stops and can constrict the brain and prove fatal. Hence, such a clot requires surgical intervention.

THE SURGICAL PROCEDURE

The surgery drains liquid blood by making openings into the skull. A portion of the skull may also be opened up to clear a large area or to stitch a bleeding vein. A growing clot can also be checked with corticosteroids and diuretics.

POST SURGICAL CARE

Anticonvulsant drugs (such as phenytoin) are prescribed to check convulsions that the patient may be at risk even after two years of the clot formation. If proper care is taken recovery is usually good, though headache, forgetfulness, lack of attention, nervousness and nausea may occur till around six months after surgery.