Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34862284›Full record

SynthesisBMJ open2021

Acute subdural haematoma in the elderly: to operate or not to operate? A systematic review and meta-analysis of outcomes following surgery.

Susruta Manivannan, Robert Spencer, Omar Marei, Isaac Mayo, Omar Elalfy, John Martin, Malik Zaben

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
22citing papers in PubMed
2.5field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

22 citing papers in PubMed, 36 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Surgical timing and mortality in acute traumatic subdural hematoma: is the four-hour threshold confounded by injury severity?European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2026
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  9. Unraveling the complexity of acute subdural hematoma in elderly patients: The impact of anticoagulant therapy and the pursuit of better outcomes.Ulusal travma ve acil cerrahi dergisi = Turkish journal of trauma & emergency surgery : TJTES · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Susruta Manivannan *Department of Neurosurgery, Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, Southampton, UK.
Robert Spencer *Department of Neurosurgery, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
Omar MareiSchool of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Isaac MayoDepartment of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK.
Omar ElalfySchool of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
John MartinDepartment of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK.
Malik ZabenDepartment of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK zabenm@cardiff.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0002-7446-4532
University Hospital of Wales · GBIndiana University School of MedicineHampton University · USQueen Elizabeth University Hospital · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesAcute subdural haematoma (ASDH) is a devastating pathology commonly found on CT brain scans of patients with traumatic brain injury. The role of surgical intervention in the elderly has been increasingly questioned due to its associated morbidity and mortality. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to quantify the mortality and functional outcomes associated with surgical management of ASDH in the elderly was performed. DESIGN/

settingA multidatabase literature search between January 1990 and May 2020, and meta-analysis of proportions was performed to quantify mortality and unfavourable outcome (Glasgow Outcome scale 1-3; death/ severe disability) rates.

participantsStudies reporting patients aged 60 years or older.

interventionsCraniotomy, decompressive craniectomy, conservative management. OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality and functional outcomes (discharge, long-term follow-up (LTFU)).

results2572 articles were screened, yielding 21 studies for final inclusion and 15 for meta-analysis. Pooled estimates of mortality were 39.83% (95% CI 32.73% to 47.14%; 10 studies, 308/739 patients, I

conclusionsOutcomes following surgical evacuation of ASDH in patients aged 60 years and above are poor. This constitutes the best level of evidence in the current literature that surgical intervention for ASDH in the elderly carries significant risks, which must be weighed against benefits. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020189508.

Indexed as

Brain Injuries, TraumaticHematoma, Subdural, AcuteAgedCraniotomyGlasgow Outcome ScaleHumansMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsTreatment Outcomegeriatric medicineneurosurgerytrauma management

Identifiers

PMID34862284
PMCPMC8647543
OpenAlexW3216542659

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.