Sunday, April 13, 2014

Subdural and Epidural Hematoma

The struggle when trying to figure out whether your patient is suffering from a subdural or an epidural hematoma. For me, to this day, I still get confused. 

Let's break each one down, and try to learn something.

Subdural Hematoma:
-Caused by a head injury
-Deadliest hematoma
-Blood fills the skull, at a very rapid rate
-Signs/symptoms will be rapid
    >Confused speech, difficulty walking, lethargy, LOC, N&V, Numbness, Seizure

Epidural Hematoma:
-Caused by a skull fracture
-Occurs when there is a rupture of a blood vessel (artery), which bleed into the space between the dura mater and the skull
-Onset of signs/symptoms can be within hours or longer
     >Confusion, ALOC, Enlarged pupil on one side, H/A, Weakness, N&V


Click on any of the pictures below, to enlarge them




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