What are possible consequential damages? | Operation of a cerebral hemorrhage

What are possible consequential damages?

In principle, brain surgery can always result in consequential damage. However, it is often the case that the spread of the bleeding would lead to even worse consequential damage, which one tries to prevent by the operation. Particularly in the case of deeper-lying cerebral hemorrhages, the surgeon must first gain access to the bleeding cavity, where nerve cells are inevitably damaged along the access route.

This does not always result in noticeable consequential damage. However, if larger areas are injured, the typical neurological symptoms such as paralysis and sensitivity disorders can occur. Difficulties in speaking can also occur after the operation.

Coordination and balance disorders are particularly common in operations in the cerebellum area. It remains to be seen to what extent these symptoms persist in the long term. Memory and concentration disorders are usually of temporary duration. Epileptic seizures are also a possible complication. They can also occur some time after the operation due to scarring in the brain tissue.

What are the chances of survival after surgery?

There is no general answer to this question. How high the mortality rate after an operation is depends on the individual risk of the patient. Age and previous illnesses are decisive for the risk of anaesthesia.

It is also a question of how complex the operation is. Hemorrhages close to the surface are easier to operate on than deeper-lying bleedings with invasion of the ventricular system (= cavities in the brain with an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid). In addition, one should know that the probability of death from a cerebral hemorrhage alone is between 30 and 50%. By means of a surgical intervention one tries to improve the prognosis of the patient.

How long does a cerebral hemorrhage operation take?

The question of how long the operation for a cerebral hemorrhage takes cannot be answered in a generalized way. The duration of an operation begins for the relatives with the induction of anesthesia, depending on the age and previous illnesses of the patient, this can last up to over an hour. Often, accesses for infusions and invasive blood pressure measurement have to be made first.

To ensure that the head remains stable during the operation, it is fixed with a frame. The hair on the head must be shaved off at the point where the skull is to be opened. These preparatory measures up to the skin incision can take 1-2 hours.

The duration of the actual operation depends very much on the type of operation. Which access route is chosen? Where is the bleeding located?

Can the bleeding cavity be cleaned easily? Does the cause of the bleeding in the form of an aneurysm (aneurysm of the vessel) have to be eliminated? Of course, this prolongs the procedure.

Possible complications such as secondary bleeding also prolong the duration of the operation. It also takes at least one hour for the patient to return to the recovery room or intensive care unit after the operation. While for the relatives in the waiting room the time often passes agonizingly slowly, it must be said that even simple uncomplicated operations on the skull take several hours. Basically, it can be safely stated that the more complex the operation, the longer it takes.