Neurosurgical complications of anticoagulant therapy.

Ten cases of subdural hematoma and one case of spinal epidural hematoma encountered in patients who were receiving anticoagulant therapy are discussed.This surprisingly large number of complications was observed within three years in a single hospital and represents 36.6% of all chronic and subacute subdural hematomas seen during the same period. The cases are analyzed and the conclusion reached that the causal relationship between anticoagulant therapy and hemorrhage cannot be denied.Suggestions are made as to how to decrease the danger of such complications.