Acute onset of intracranial subdural hemorrhage five days after spinal anesthesia for knee arthroscopic surgery: a case report

• Main Authors: Hagino Tetsuo, Ochiai Satoshi, Watanabe Yoshiyuki, Senga Shinya, Saito Masanori, Naganuma Hirofumi, Sato Eiichi, Haro Hirotaka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2012-03-01
• Series: Journal of Medical Case Reports
• Online Access: http://www.jmedicalcasereports.com/content/6/1/75

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Spinal anesthesia is a widely used general purpose anesthesia. However, serious complications, such as intracranial subdural hemorrhage, can rarely occur.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 73-year-old Japanese woman who had acute onset of intracranial subdural hemorrhage five days after spinal anesthesia for knee arthroscopic surgery.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This case highlights the need to pay attention to acute intracranial subdural hemorrhage as a complication after spinal anesthesia. If the headache persists even in a supine position or nausea occurs abruptly, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain should be conducted. An intracranial subdural hematoma may have a serious outcome and is an important differential diagnosis for headache after spinal anesthesia.</p>