Conservative management of acute epidural hematoma in a pediatric age group.

Objective: Craniotomy and evacuation is the standard treatment of acute epidural hematoma (EDH). Here, the authors report their experience in nonoperative management of acute EDH in children with mild head injury.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed charts of patients with conservatively treated EDH at the Department of Neurosurgery, King Abdulla University Hospital, Irbid, Jordan, between August 2003 and October 2007.

Collateral blood flow patterns in patients with unilateral ICA agenesis and cerebral aneurysm.

Background: Agenesis of one or both internal carotid arteries (ICA) is usually a benign congenital anomaly. Many patients are diagnosed incidentally and remain asymptomatic, however associated cerebral aneurysms can be life-threatening and result in high morbidity and mortality rates in this population.

Material & Methods: Based on the timing of ICA agenesis, during the fetal life, we classified the collateral blood flow pattern into three major types; type I: Collateral blood flow via primitive vessels, type II: Collateral blood flow via ICA branches, and type III: collateral blood flow via branches of the external carotid artery (ECA).