Proposed Use of Prophylactic Decompressive Craniectomy in Poor-grade Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients Presenting with Associated Large Sylvian Hematomas

Abstract

The data gathered in this study demonstrate that decompressive craniectomy can be performed safely as part of initial management for a subcategory of patients with SAH who present with large sylvian fissure hematomas. In addition, the performance of decompressive craniectomy in the patients described in this article seemed to be associated with rapid and sustained control of ICP. Although the number of patients in this study is small, the data lend support to the hypothesis that decompressive craniectomy may be associated with good or excellent outcome in a carefully selected subset of patients with SAH.