AB212. 201. Emergency burr holes for extradural haematoma prior to secondary transfer to a neurosurgical centre

Abstract

Background: An extradural haematoma (EDH) can cause a rapidly progressive increase in intracranial pressure with life-threatening consequences. Several studies have shown that delayed decompression of an EDH in a patient with signs of severely raised intracranial pressure is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. When the time interval between the onset of coma and decompression of the haematoma exceeds 2 hours, mortality rises from 17% to 67%. This poses a challenge for geographically remote hospitals which may have lengthy transfer times to the nearest neurosurgical centre.