Burr-Hole Evacuation of Chronic Subdural Haematoma: A Comparative Study between Evacuation With and Without Drainage

Abstract Background: Chronic Subdural Haematomas (CSDH) are relatively common in the geriatric age group. There are several alternatives for surgical management: Burr-hole evacuation, twist drill craniostomy and craniotomy. The widely performed procedure is burr hole evacuation with drainage. Aim of Study: Evaluation of the surgical treatment of chronic subdural haematomas, we studied two surgical options of CSDH: Burr-hole evacuation with and without drainage. Material and Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed patients with chronic subdural haematomas subjected to surgery in our institute. A total of 72 patients were studied: 38 underwent burr-hole evacuation and irrigation with post-operative drainage (Group D) and 30 were operated without drainage (Group ND). Results: There was no case of recurrence in the 6-month post-operative period. The average period of hospitalization, the number of post-operative complications, the incidence of rebleeding and the amount of the expansion of the cerebral cortex did not differ between the two groups. Conclusion: The vital step of CSDH surgery is meticulous irrigation during the operation. To insert a drain or not, is not of great value.