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Acute Subdural Haematoma DRAFT

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Overview

This is usually diagnosed in the context of a significant brain injury, i.e. after trauma. Please consider whether this patient needs urgent assessment in your nearest Emergency department.

If the patient is well and does not have a neurological deficit, please refer these patients to our on-call team via Refer a Patient. 

Recovery after a conservatively or surgically managed acute subdural haematoma can be prolonged and it is not unusual for patients to experience persistent symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, ‘brain fog’, fatigue and difficulty concentrating.

Signs and symptoms to monitor for are new neurological deficits, worsening/debilitating headaches associated with nausea or vomiting, confusion or decline in mobility. These can be features of further injury or a developing chronic subdural haematoma and warrant urgent assessment in a primary or emergency care setting.

Patients who suffer from significant persistent post-head injury symptoms can be referred to the Head Injury Therapy Unit (Head Injury Therapy Unit (HITU) | North Bristol NHS Trust).



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