Burr hole: Difference between revisions

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==Background==
*Expanding intracranial hematoma is rapidly fatal and requires early therapeutic intervention. Morbidity/mortality significantly increases if treatment delayed more than 1.9 hours.<ref>Mendelow AD, Karmi MZ, Paul KS, Fuller GA, Gillingham FJ. Extradural haematoma: effect of delayed treatment. British Medical Journal. 1979;1(6173):1240-1242.</ref>
==Indications==
==Indications==
*[[Epidural hemorrhage|Epidural]] or [[Subdural hemorrhage|subdural]] hematoma with midline shift on imaging and unequal pupils on exam.<ref name="Wilson">Wilson MH, Wise D, Davies G, Lockey D. Emergency burr holes: “How to do it.” Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine. 2012;20:24. doi:10.1186/1757-7241-20-24.</ref>
Rapidly deteriorating patients (GCS < 8) with imaging evidence of epidural hematoma causing midline shift, unequal pupils, for whom timely intervention by neurosurgery is not possible. Every attempt should be made to discuss the patient and plan for procedure with a neurosurgeon prior to intervention.
*GCS <8
[[File:Epidural_Hematoma.jpg|thumb|Epidural hematoma without significant midline shift]]
*Anticipated extended time to assessment/treatment by neurosurgeon.


==Contraindications==
==Contraindications==
*GCS >8
*GCS > 8
*Neurosurgery available in reasonable timeframe
*No neuroimaging
*Lack of imaging-confirmed epidural or subdural hematoma
*Neurosurgical intervention available within a timely manner
**In absence of imaging (e.g. in rural area at facility without CT availability), very high clinical suspicion may be enough.<ref name="Wilson" />
***e.g. evidence of severe head trauma and unequal pupils, pt presents awake and talking but rapidly deteriorates in setting of head trauma and unequal pupils, etc.


==Equipment Needed==
==Equipment Needed==
*Sterile PPE
Many items contained in pre-packaged Cranial Access Kit
*Razor
*Knife
*Chlorhexidine or betadine
*Self-retaining retractor
*Scalpel
*Drill
*Small retractors
*Bipolar cautery (if available*
*Drill (manual or air/electric powered)
**Should have both sharp (penetrator) and dull drill bits '''or''' a drill bit with appropriate "clutch" mechanism (preferred)
*Blunt and sharp hooks
*Electrocautery (Bovie), if available
*Sterile saline


==Procedure<ref name="Wilson" /><ref>MacLellan, K. The occasional burr hole. CJRM 1998;3(4):223-2</ref>==
==Procedure<ref>Wilson MH, Wise D, Davies G, Lockey D. Emergency burr holes: "How to do it". Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2012; 20: 24.==
*Place patient supine
*Do not delay transfer if timely neurosurgical intervention is available
*Select optimal site based on location of hemorrhage on CT (if unsure, use temporal site)
*Medically optimize the patient (intubated, normotensive, c-spine precautions, +/- mannitol or hypertonic saline in consultation with a neurosurgeon)
**'''Temporal''' - 2 finger-breadths above and 2 finger-breadths forward of the auditory canal
*Place the patient in the supine position
**'''Parietal''' - over parietal eminence
*Ensure indications are appropriate.
**'''Frontal''' - 10 cm above eye in mid-pupillary line
*Review position of the hematoma on Head CT
*Shave scalp widely over selected site
*Using a marking pen, mark a 3cm line for the incision
*Cleanse skin with chlorhexidine or betadine
*Cleanse the area appropriately (chlorhexidine/betadine)
*Make ~3cm incision and dissect down to bone with scalpel
*Drape in sterile fashion
*Dissect periosteum off bone with scalpel
*Using knife, make a small incision down to the bone
*Apply retractors to maintain field
**Control bleeding with direct pressure
*Apply drill perpendicular to skull and begin drilling while applying firm pressure
*Using a knife, push the periosteum aside
**Have assistant apply gentle saline wash to drilling site
*Insert a self-retaining retractor
*Continue drilling until loss of resistance felt '''or''' drill bit stops spinning (assuming use of "clutch"-type drill bit)
*Use hand drill with firm pressure, surface of drill bit parallel to bone surface (drill perpendicular to bone)
*Use hooks to remove any remaining bone fragments
**If available, have an assistant hold the head still from beneath the drape
*If subdural hematoma, elevate dura with sharp hook and make careful incision with scalpel
**Also consider an additional assistant applying sterile saline to the drill site while creating burr hole
*Allow blood to drain freely (gentle suction may be used, but DO NOT suction brain tissue)
*Slow drill speed once at the inner table of the skull; remove drill
*Once blood flow slows/stops, apply loose dressing. (DO NOT tamponade bleeding)
*Remove any remaining bony fragments
 
*Drain visible (flowing) extradural blood
==Follow-up==
*Subdural blood may be evacuated following dural puncture (do not perform unless trained and neurosurgical consultant advises)
*After procedure, pt should be immediately transferred to facility with appropriate neurosurgical availability.
**This is technically more difficult, as subdural blood is more likely to clot and be difficult to evauate
*Transfer patient to facility with neurosurgical capabilities


==Complications==
==Complications==
*Bleeding
*Procedure failure (incorrect position, equipment malfunction, etc.)
*Infection
*Damage to brain parenchyma
*Damage to brain parenchyma
*Intracranial infection
*Damage to subdural contents
*Continued bleeding


==See Also==
==See Also==
[[Epidural hemorrhage]]<br>
[[Epidural hemorrhage]]
[[Subdural hemorrhage]]
 
==External Links==
[http://resus.me/burr-holes-by-emergency-physicians/ Resus.Me Discussion of Burr Holes by Emergency Physicians]


==References==
==References==
*Smith SW, Clark M, Nelson J, Heegaard W, Lufkin KC, Ruiz E. Emergency department skull trephination for epidural hematoma in patients who are awake but deteriorate rapidly. J Emerg Med. 2010 Sep;39(3):377-83. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2009.04.062. Epub 2009 Jun 17.
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Revision as of 21:29, 17 August 2015

Indications

Rapidly deteriorating patients (GCS < 8) with imaging evidence of epidural hematoma causing midline shift, unequal pupils, for whom timely intervention by neurosurgery is not possible. Every attempt should be made to discuss the patient and plan for procedure with a neurosurgeon prior to intervention.

Epidural hematoma without significant midline shift

Contraindications

  • GCS > 8
  • No neuroimaging
  • Neurosurgical intervention available within a timely manner

Equipment Needed

Many items contained in pre-packaged Cranial Access Kit

  • Knife
  • Self-retaining retractor
  • Drill
  • Bipolar cautery (if available*

Procedure<ref>Wilson MH, Wise D, Davies G, Lockey D. Emergency burr holes: "How to do it". Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2012; 20: 24.

  • Do not delay transfer if timely neurosurgical intervention is available
  • Medically optimize the patient (intubated, normotensive, c-spine precautions, +/- mannitol or hypertonic saline in consultation with a neurosurgeon)
  • Place the patient in the supine position
  • Ensure indications are appropriate.
  • Review position of the hematoma on Head CT
  • Using a marking pen, mark a 3cm line for the incision
  • Cleanse the area appropriately (chlorhexidine/betadine)
  • Drape in sterile fashion
  • Using knife, make a small incision down to the bone
    • Control bleeding with direct pressure
  • Using a knife, push the periosteum aside
  • Insert a self-retaining retractor
  • Use hand drill with firm pressure, surface of drill bit parallel to bone surface (drill perpendicular to bone)
    • If available, have an assistant hold the head still from beneath the drape
    • Also consider an additional assistant applying sterile saline to the drill site while creating burr hole
  • Slow drill speed once at the inner table of the skull; remove drill
  • Remove any remaining bony fragments
  • Drain visible (flowing) extradural blood
  • Subdural blood may be evacuated following dural puncture (do not perform unless trained and neurosurgical consultant advises)
    • This is technically more difficult, as subdural blood is more likely to clot and be difficult to evauate
  • Transfer patient to facility with neurosurgical capabilities

Complications

  • Procedure failure (incorrect position, equipment malfunction, etc.)
  • Damage to brain parenchyma
  • Intracranial infection
  • Damage to subdural contents
  • Continued bleeding

See Also

Epidural hemorrhage

External Links

Resus.Me Discussion of Burr Holes by Emergency Physicians

References

  • Smith SW, Clark M, Nelson J, Heegaard W, Lufkin KC, Ruiz E. Emergency department skull trephination for epidural hematoma in patients who are awake but deteriorate rapidly. J Emerg Med. 2010 Sep;39(3):377-83. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2009.04.062. Epub 2009 Jun 17.