This Friday the world of manga dawns with a sad one. Japanese cartoonist Akira Toriyama, known worldwide as the creator of the iconic Dragon Ball series, has died at the age of 68. Toriyama died from an acute Subdural Hematoma, as announced by his studio Bird Studio in an emotional statement released through social networks.
"Manga artist Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1, 2024 due to an acute subdural hematoma. He was 68 years old. It's a shame because he had a lot of work to do and there were still things he wanted to achieve. However, the deceased left behind many jobs as an artist "explains a statement shared through the social networks of the iconic Dragon Ball series.
As the statement explained, the author already received his last goodbye before the announcement of his death, since his family wanted to say goodbye to him in the strictest privacy. "Due to the wishes of the individual who desires peace and tranquility, we will decline any messages of condolences or offerings. We kindly request that you refrain from conducting interviews with the family," the text read. "We sincerely hope that the unique world of Akira Toriyama's works will continue to be loved by everyone for a long time," he concluded.
After the news came to light, many have wondered what Subdural Hematoma is. It is an accumulation of blood that occurs between one of the coverings of the brain, called the dura mater, and the brain itself. That blood comes from the rupture of a vessel, usually a vein. It does not happen inside the brain, so it cannot be considered a brain disease. In fact, many believe that it is a Stroke, but it is not the same.
The most common cause is head trauma. Generally, it occurs as a result of a blow to the head. When the trauma is severe and the hematoma occurs immediately, it is called acute subdural hematoma. This rapid buildup of blood compresses underlying brain tissue, often causing brain injury or even death. On the other hand, there are predisposing factors, such as the fact of taking anticoagulants.
As for the symptoms, they mainly depend on the brain area involved. Unless it is a very serious case, blood accumulates in the subdural space slowly and symptoms appear gradually. These include disorientation, tendency to drowsiness, confused speech, headache, nausea and vomiting or epileptic seizures, among others.
As for the diagnosis, it can be observed through a cranial CT scan or Magnetic Resonance (MRI). Taking into account the patient's clinical situation, the size and the duration of the hematoma, doctors decide what is the best treatment. If the patient shows little neurological symptoms on examination or the hematoma is small, conservative management can be chosen, avoiding the surgical option. If not, you will have to undergo surgery.
