Intraoperative Transcranial Sonography for Detection of Contralateral Hematoma Volume Change in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury

Pil Soo Kim; Seung Han Yu; Jung Hwan Lee; Hyuk Jin Choi; Byung Chul Kim

doi:10.13004/kjnt.2017.13.2.137

Abstract

The authors present two clinical cases, in which intraoperative transcranial sonography (TCS) was used to detect a change in contralateral hematoma volume. A 51-year-old female and a 5-year-old male underwent osteoplastic craniotomy for epidural hematoma removal. Scant contralateral hematoma was evident by preoperative computed tomography in both patients. Intraoperative TCS was used to detect changes in contralateral hematomas. After observing a volume change in one case, a second operation was performed immediately. Based in this experience, the authors recommend intraoperative TCS for the detection of contralateral hematoma volume changes.

Introduction

Massive intracranial hematomas are life-threatening emergencies that can occur after acute traumatic brain injury (TBI). Hematoma accumulation increases intracranial pressure (ICP), which can lead to brain damage and a permanent vegetative state or death. The appearance and expansion of a de novo contralateral hematoma after surgery to reduce ICP is a rare event.5 11 13) On the other hand, overlooking new hematoma formation or hematoma expansion in the contralateral side can result in dismal prognoses.17) This paper presents two clinical cases, in which transcranial sonography (TCS) was used to detect a change in contralateral hematoma volume.

Technical methods

TCS was performed by a single operator using a GE logiqE unit (GE healthcare, Milwaukee, WI, USA) and a standard abdominal convex phased-array probe with a mean central frequency of 4 MHz and an abdominal setting. A dynamic range of 45 to 50 dB was used. After applying a small amount of sterile ultrasonic gel, the probe was placed gently above the dura to avoid increasing ICP. Scanning was performed at a depth of 16 cm and the whole brain was scanned in B-mode.

Case Report

Case 1

A 5-year-old male suffered a head injury after falling from a height of 2 meters. Upon admission, five hours after the accident, he had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 15. Brain computed tomography (CT) revealed an epidural hematoma (EDH) in the right temporoparietal area and a subdural hematoma (SDH) in the left temporal area (Figure 1), as well as a skull fracture in both temporal bones. Emergency right craniotomy was performed and the EDH was evacuated. The underlying dura was loose and depressed. Intraoperative TCS applied to the right craniectomy site revealed no expansion of the left side hematoma (Figure 2). The damaged meningeal artery was coagulated, dural tacking sutures were placed to prevent EDH re-accumulation, and the bone flap was repositioned.

After confirming no change in the contralateral hematoma volume by postoperative brain CT immediately after surgery, the patient was admitted to the intensive care unit. After arousal, his GCS score had not changed. The patient was discharged on hospital day 13 with no definite neurological deficit.

Case 2

A 51-year-old female was admitted with a head injury after a pedestrian accident. Upon admission, one hour after the accident, she had a GCS of 14. Brain CT revealed an EDH in the right temporoparietal area, SDH in the left frontal area (Figure 3), and skull fracture in the right temporal and left frontal bone. Emergency right craniotomy was performed and the EDH was evacuated. Softened dura matter was found after performing craniectomy. Intraoperative TCS applied to the craniectomy site revealed volume expansion of the EDH in the left frontal area (Figure 4). The bone flap was repositioned. Her vital signs were stable, and she was transported to the CT room. Brain CT confirmed the presence of a de novo EDH in the left frontal area. As a result, a second operation was performed on the left side. Her postoperative GCS score was 14, and the patient was discharged on hospital day 20 with no definite neurological deficit.

Discussion

New hematoma formation or expansion of a preexisting hematoma on the contralateral side after hematoma evacuation is unusual. The possible causes of hematoma volume increase include a ruptured meningeal arterial branch, venous lacerations causing low-tension bleeding, or a skull fracture.8 17) Other factors include surgical decompression, cerebrospinal fluid fistula, aggressive anti-edema treatment, and systemic hypotension, which can all lead to intracranial hypotension.4 6) The possible mechanisms responsible for the contralateral hematoma increase in Case 2 were skull fracture on the other side and reduced ICP.

In general, neurological deterioration, pupillary dilation contralateral to a hematoma, seizure, and intractably elevated ICP are clinical presentations of de novo hematoma formation or volume expansion of a contralateral hematoma after surgery.14 17) Most neurosurgeons rely on immediate postoperative CT when hematoma formation or expansion is expected, such as, in patients with a prior contralateral skull fracture or hematoma or severe brain herniation development after ipsilateral hematoma evacuation. Although the early detection and decompression of contralateral hematoma could minimize secondary insult to the normal brain, safety concerns associated with CT scanning, surgical wound closure, and transportation for CT arise. Some authors have recommended explorative burr hole trephination on the contralateral side during first surgery,14) but this is considered by many to be too invasive to confirm the possibility of hematoma expansion or formation. Intraoperative CT is an excellent diagnostic tool and is utilized in some institutes, but its capital cost, preparation and operating times, and the hazards posed by radiation exposure are troublesome.

Therefore, we considered intraoperative TCS as an alternative diagnostic tool in TBI. In both described cases, we suspected the possibility of contralateral hematoma expansion because of a skull fracture and preexisting SDH on the contralateral side. In Case 1, there was no volume change in the contralateral side as determined by immediate postoperative CT. In Case 2, the hyperechoic lesion on the contralateral side was detected by intraoperative TCS (Figure 4A). While postoperative CT was still performed to confirm the pathology, we were able to save the time required for preparation of an operation suite and anesthesiologist time for secondary operation. Had a large lesion requiring immediate evacuation been detected by intraoperative TCS, immediate postoperative CT would have been avoided and much more time been saved.

Intraoperative TCS has several advantages as a diagnostic tool. First, it can provide relatively sensitive images of the brain. Accurate descriptions of sonographic features of cerebral anatomy are available in the literature. Some reports have shown hematomas, midline shifts, and ventricular enlargements can be detected using a low-frequency probe through the temporal bone of an intact skull.2 3 7 9 10) Others have suggested this technique be used at bed-side in patients with decompressive craniectomy.12 15 16) The quality of the image is good, and the accuracy is not reduced by dural grafts. Furthermore, after bone flap removal, the frequency of the probe may be higher than that of TCS.1) Therefore, a better definition of the superficial part of brain parenchyma can be obtained. In addition, when massive intraoperative brain herniation is encountered, intraoperative TCS can be particularly useful for differentiating various ipsilateral pathologies requiring surgery, such as, intracerebral hematoma or SDH with severe brain swelling.

Second, intraoperative TCS reduces the time and effort required for imaging as compared with postoperative CT, preparation and scanning of whole brain takes less than 10 minutes, and surgical wound closure and transport for CT are not required. Furthermore, the use of TCS reduces the risk of patient deterioration during transportation and decision making time.

Third, the equipment required for intraoperative TCS is readily available in most institutes. Ultrasonography is commonly used by anesthesiologists and several intraoperative Doppler sonography machines widely used for neurovascular surgery can be converted to B-mode ultrasonography by the simple addition of a probe. In addition, TCS poses no risk of radiation exposure to patient or health care providers.

However, intraoperative TCS also its disadvantages, the most obvious of which is that its imaging quality is limited compared with that of CT. Caricato et al.7) described near non-visualization of hypodense ischemic lesions or late phase of hemorrhages on CT scans in 11 patients by bedside TCS. Niesen et al.10) reported that 3 of 25 (12%) cases of SDH were missed when TCS was used, because of insufficient temporal bone windows. In our experience, acoustic artifacts around the skull can be problematic. TCS also has a more limited field of view than CT, which means the operator has to tilt and pan the probe to acquire a complete image of the brain.7 10) In Case 2, contralateral EDH on the frontal lobe could have been missed if we had not expected the existence of hematoma due to the presence of a preexisting left frontal bone fracture. Furthermore, because TCS is a user-dependent technique, operators require adequate training regarding accurate evaluations of the brain.

For these reasons, TCS can never replace CT. Nevertheless, we believe intraoperative TCS is a useful point-of-care diagnostic tool, particularly in cases of TBI when time-consuming evaluations are limited because of possible systemic compromise and the need for prompt decision making. A prospective study is needed to improve understanding of the utility and limitations of TCS as compared with CT.

Conclusion

Despite its limitations versus brain CT, intraoperative TCS is considered a potentially useful diagnostic tool for the detection of contralateral hematoma volume change in patients with TBI.