LAUSR

IntroductionChronic subdural hematomas (cSDH) are commonly deemed to have a benign prognosis. However, detailed and standardized data describing outcome and complications in a large prospective patient cohort is lacking.MethodsRetrospective analysis of prospectively collected data in our institutional patient registry on consecutive patients undergoing surgery for cSDH from 2013 to 2017. Complications were assessed according to the Clavien-Dindo grading system (CDG). The outcome was measured with respect to two endpoints: occurrence of a complication with CDG 3–5 and lack of improvement in Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) at the last follow-up.ResultsOut of 435 operations, 166 (38.3%) presented a complication until 3 months postoperative (CDG 1, 23 (5.3%); CDG 2, 62 (14.3%); CDG 3a, 7 (1.6%); CDG 3b, 64 (14.7%); CDG 4a, 2 (0.5%); and CDG 5, 8 (1.8%)). Higher CDG correlated with a lower KPS (rs = − 0.27, p < 0.001). A lack of improvement in KPS was associated with a Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) > 1 and the iso- or hypodense appearance of the cSDH.ConclusionsThis study provides a reliable estimate of the rate of medical and surgical complications in cSDH surgery. Complications that required a surgical intervention turned out to be rare. Recording complications in a standardized and prospective fashion can therefore serve as a basis for assessing patient outcome and quality control within the department.