No formal recommendations can be made about the use of prophylactic anticonvulsants in patients with chronic subdural hematoma based on the literature currently available till 2013. There are no randomised controlled trials on this topic, and non-controlled studies have conflicting results. There is an urgent need for well-designed randomised controlled trials ¹⁾.

Patients suffering from seizures may have worse outcome. The benefit of a systematic perioperative prophylaxis using antiepileptic drugs has to be evaluated ²⁾.

The finding in the study of Grobelny et al.demonstrates that preoperative AED prophylaxis likely reduces the incidence of postoperative seizures in patients with CSDH treated with bur hole drainage. A future prospective randomized study is necessary to evaluate the effect of seizure reduction on clinical outcome ³⁾.

No formal recommendations can be made about the use of prophylactic anticonvulsants in patients with chronic subdural haematoma based on the literature currently available. Non-controlled studies came up with conflicting results. There is an urgent need for well-designed randomised controlled trials ⁴⁾.

Post-operative seizure rate appeared high in the group with mixed-density type lesions on CT, and in those with left unilateral CSDH and suggest the use of prophylactic anticonvulsants for patients with mixed-density lesions on pre-operative CT ⁵⁾.

The onset of new seizures was found in 17 (18.5%) of 92 patients and was associated with increases in morbidity and mortality. Patients who received prophylactic ACM demonstrated a significant decrease in the occurrence of seizures, and we therefore recommend the use of phenytoin prophylaxis in patients treated surgically for chronic subdural hematoma ⁶⁾.

A study suggests that routine use of antiepileptic prophylaxis is not justified in patients with chronic subdural haematoma caused by minor head injuries, or other causes when there are no additional lesions present on CT scans ⁷⁾.