[Acute epidural hematoma in the posterior fossa in patients with hemophilia A--report of two surgically treated cases].

Case I: A 9-year-old boy, diagnosed as having hemophilia A at 8 months, was admitted complaining of slight headache and nausea one day after a minor head trauma. Neurological deficits were absent but CT scan revealed an epidural hematoma in the posterior fossa. Shortly afterwards, he lapsed into coma with apnea and dilated pupils. Following resuscitation, emergency suboccipital craniectomy and total removal of the bilateral supra- and infratentorial extradural hematoma was performed under AHG administration. The patient gradually regained consciousness, but during the subsequent nine weeks he underwent three major operations (laparotomy): the first two for hemostasis of gastrointestinal bleeding, and the last one for strangulated intestinal obstruction. Although this patient necessitated 16 weeks of AHG administration, he was discharged without any side effects after 4 months of hospitalization. Case II: A 10-year-old boy, diagnosed earlier as having hemophilia A, experienced a minor head trauma and was admitted because of headaches and nausea. CT scan revealed an epidural hematoma in the posterior fossa. Removal of the hematoma was successfully completed under AHG administration. The patient was discharged without any neurological deficits. In the above hemophilic cases, we used a high concentrated AHG and maintained at 70% of the plasma concentration of the VIII factor during the first 14 postoperative days. The high concentrated AHG was safe for long term administration, so one should not hesitate operation even in the case of intracranial hemorrhage of hemophilic patients. CT scan should be recommended to the patient of hemophilia A even in minor head trauma.