from yossi

As we wait for arefuah shliema, i would like to share some medical info. so that no gets to anxious why things aren't happening faster, all signs show progress steady and good.

GENERAL INFO.

Bubby suffered a subdural hematoma known as (SDH) a condition when blood collects underneath the protective covering of the brain known as the DURA. The Dura is the outermost and strongest of the 3 protective layers of the brain. with (SDH) viens (blood vessels) that are in the Dura may tear and bleed . Blood collects within the dura causing the dura to expand, push and compress the brain. This compression can lead to medical problems when not treated soon enough.

The brain is protected by 2 layers. 1) the skull which protects from external damage. 2) Between the skull and the brain itself is a tough leathery tissue, called the Dura. The dura serves 2 prurposes, a. another layer of protection around the brain. b) providing vasculation that nourishes the brain with blood and spinal fluid. During a severe blunt head trauma the bridging blood vessels that connect the dura to the skull mat tear beacause of shearing forces to the head. A shearing force is one that is applied parallel to the blood vessel rather then directly prpindicular to it.

After the shearing stress the broken vessels bleed into the space between the skull and the dura The pooling of blood puts pressure to the brain and it swells in response. Because the skull creates a defined volume, there is no extra room for thr brain to swell and therefore parts of the brain become compressed.

Doctors may use adjectives as acute, subacute, and chronic to describe the time course and volume of blood in (SDH), Acute; hematomas that gather large amounts of blood, Sub acute: refer to SDH that occur 3-5 days following a head injury. Chronic - refer to SDH that produce symptoms 2-3 weeks after an injury. SDH are classified as simple and complicated. After surgical removal patients need to remain in intensive care for some time.

Good news:

Half of all cases are simple with a strong chance of comlete recovery. 80% of patients with slow choronic SDH recover fully. (Karen as a relative who had a similar fall in his 70s, he recoverd fully and is now in his 90s.) While many have risks with siezures, it can be controlled with medication. Immediate surgery and treatment (which was bubbys case) also greatly reduce risks of long term problems. In all from the research is very in line with the optimistic hold of doctors.

Also the more relaxing and brain rest the better are results. So we all keep praying and hoping for a complete Refuah Amen.