Intracranial Subdural Hematoma Post-Spinal Anesthesia: Report of Two Cases and Review of 33 Cases in the Literature

Intracranial subdural hematoma is a rare complication of spinal anesthesia. We report two cases of women who developed chronic subdural hematoma post-spinal anesthesia diagnosed after prolonged clinical evolution of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) and we analyze other 33 cases found on literature review. In 35 patients (ages 20–88 years, 19 males), 14 were older than 60 years (40%), of which 12 (86%) were males. The relationship is inverted in the group of younger patients (< 60 years), in which we observed twice as many women (14:7). Two peaks of higher incidence were observed: 30–39 years (31%) and 60–69 years (29%). The length of time from the beginning of symptoms until diagnosis ranged from 4 hours to 29 weeks. Headache was the main complaint in 26/35 (74.3%) patients; changes in the level of consciousness in 14/35 (40.0%); vomiting in 11/35 (31,4%); hemiplegia or hemiparesis in 8/35 (22.9%); diplopia or VI nerve paresis in 5/35 (14.3%); and language disorders in 4/35 (11.4%). Contributing factors included: pregnancy, multiple punctures, use of anticoagulants, intracranial vascular abnormalities, and brain atrophy. In 15 cases, a contributing factor was not mentioned. Four out of 35 patients (11.4%) remained with neurologic sequelae, and 4/35 (11.4%) died. The presence of any of the signs or symptoms mentioned above should alert for the possibility of an intracranial subdural hematoma as a complication of puncture of the dura mater, especially in those patients with PDPH for more than one week, at which time investigation by neuroimaging is necessary. Hematoma subdural intracraniano é uma complicação rara pós-anestesia subaracnóidea. Relatamos dois casos de mulheres que desenvolveram hematoma subdural crônico pós-anestesia subaracnóidea, diagnosticados após a evolução clínica prolongada de cefaleia pós-punção dural (CPPD) e analisamos outros 33 casos encontrados em revisão da literatura. Nos 35 pacientes (idade entre 20–88 anos, 19 homens), 14 tinham mais de 60 anos (40%) sendo 12 (86%) homens. A relação se inverte no grupo de pacientes mais jovens (< 60 anos), no qual há duas vezes mais mulheres (14:7). Dois picos de maior incidência foram observados: 30–39 anos (31%) e 60–69 anos (29%). O período de tempo decorrido entre o início dos sintomas até o diagnóstico variou entre 4 horas e 29 semanas. Cefaleia foi referida por 26/35 (74,3%) casos; alteração do nível de consciência em 14/35 (40,0%); vômitos em 11/35 (31,4%); hemiplegia ou hemiparesia em