Chronic subdural hematoma:A variable clinical picture that asks for tailored treatment

A chronic subdural hematoma is a common neurological disorder that occurs mainly in the elderly. The inciting event is often a minor head trauma and subsequent inflammation may play a role in the pathogenesis. The clinical spectrum can present heterogeneously, and symptom onset and progression can vary from days to weeks. To date surgical evacuation of the subdural collection remains the main treatment approach for symptomatic patients. Evidence is still scarce for dexamethasone as an effective primary conservative treatment strategy. Future research is necessary to elucidate the effect of various pharmacological therapies compared to primary surgery on functional outcome

National survey on the current practice and attitudes toward the management of chronic subdural hematoma

BACKGROUND: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a frequent pathological entity in daily clinical practice. However, evidence‐based CSDH‐guidelines are lacking and level I evidence from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) is limited. In order to establish and subsequently implement a guideline, insight into current clinical practice and attitudes toward CSDH‐treatment is required. The aim is to explore current practice and attitudes toward CSDH‐management in the Netherlands. METHODS: A national online survey was distributed among Dutch neurologists and neurosurgeons, examining variation in current CSDH‐management through questions on treatment options, (peri)operative management, willingness to adopt new treatments and by presenting four CSDH‐cases. RESULTS: One hundred nineteen full responses were received (8% of neurologists, N = 66 and 35% of neurosurgeons, N = 53). A majority of the respondents had a positive experience with burr‐hole craniostomy (93%) and with a conservative policy (56%). Around a third had a positive experience with the use of dexamethasone as primary (30%) and additional (33.6%) treatment. These numbers were also reflected in the treatment preferences in the presented cases. (Peri)operative management corresponded among responding neurosurgeons. Most respondents would be willing to implement dexamethasone (98%) if equally effective as surgery and tranexamic acid (93%) if effective in CSDH‐management. CONCLUSION: Variation was found regarding preferential CSDH‐treatment. However, this is considered not to be insurmountable when implementing evidence‐based treatments. This baseline inventory on current clinical practice and current attitudes toward CSDH‐treatment is a stepping‐stone in the eventual development and implementation of a national guideline

Dexamethasone therapy versus surgery for chronic subdural haematoma (DECSA trial):study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH) is a common neurological disease with a rapidly rising incidence due to increasing age and widespread use of anticoagulants. Surgical intervention by burr-hole craniotomy (BHC) is the current standard practice for symptomatic patients, but associated with complications, a recurrence rate of up to 30% and increased mortality. Dexamethasone (DXM) therapy is, therefore, used as a non-surgical alternative but considered to achieve a lower success rate. Furthermore, the benefit of DXM therapy appears much more deliberate than the immediate relief from BHC. Lack of evidence and clinical equipoise among caregivers prompts the need for a head-to-head randomised controlled trial. The objective of this study is to compare the effect of primary DXM therapy versus primary BHC on functional outcome and cost-effectiveness in symptomatic patients with CSDH. METHODS/DESIGN: This study is a prospective, multicentre, randomised controlled trial (RCT). Consecutive patients with a CSDH with a Markwalder Grading Scale (MGS) grade 1 to 3 will be randomised to treatment with DXM or BHC. The DXM treatment scheme will be 16 mg DXM per day (8 mg twice daily, days 1 to 4) which is then halved every 3 days until a dosage of 0.5 mg a day on day 19 and stopped on day 20. If the treatment response is insufficient (i.e. persistent or progressive symptomatology due to insufficient haematoma resolution), additional surgery can be performed. The primary outcomes are the functional outcome by means of the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 3 months and cost-effectiveness at 12 months. Secondary outcomes are quality of life at 3 and 12 months using the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Quality of Life after Brain Injury Overall Scale (QOLIBRI), haematoma thickness after 2 weeks on follow-up computed tomography (CT), haematoma recurrence during the first 12 months, complications and drug-related adverse events, failure of therapy within 12 months after randomisation and requiring intervention, mortality during the first 3 and 12 months, duration of hospital stay and overall healthcare and productivity costs. To test non-inferiority of DXM therapy compared to BHC, 210 patients in each treatment arm are required (assumed adjusted common odds ratio DXM compared to BHC 1.15, limit for inferiority < 0.9). The aim is to include a total of 420 patients in 3 years with an enrolment rate of 60%. DISCUSSION: The present study should demonstrate whether treatment with DXM is as effective as BHC on functional outcome, at lower costs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EUCTR 2015-001563-39 . Date of registration: 29 March 2015

Dexamethasone therapy versus surgery for chronic subdural haematoma (DECSA trial): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH) is a common neurological disease with a rapidly rising incidence due to increasing age and widespread use of anticoagulants. Surgical intervention by burr-hole craniotomy (BHC) is the current standard practice for symptomatic patients, but associated with complications, a recurrence rate of up to 30% and increased mortality. Dexamethasone (DXM) therapy is, therefore, used as a non-surgical alternative but considered to achieve a lower success rate. Furthermore, the benefit of DXM therapy appears much more deliberate than the immediate relief from BHC. Lack of evidence and clinical equipoise among caregivers prompts the need for a head-to-head randomised controlled trial. The objective of this study is to compare the effect of primary DXM therapy versus primary BHC on functional outcome and cost-effectiveness in symptomatic patients with CSDH.METHODS/DESIGN: This study is a prospective, multicentre, randomised controlled trial (RCT). Consecutive patients with a CSDH with a Markwalder Grading Scale (MGS) grade 1 to 3 will be randomised to treatment with DXM or BHC. The DXM treatment scheme will be 16 mg DXM per day (8 mg twice daily, days 1 to 4) which is then halved every 3 days until a dosage of 0.5 mg a day on day 19 and stopped on day 20. If the treatment response is insufficient (i.e. persistent or progressive symptomatology due to insufficient haematoma resolution), additional surgery can be performed. The primary outcomes are the functional outcome by means of the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 3 months and cost-effectiveness at 12 months. Secondary outcomes are quality of life at 3 and 12 months using the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Quality of Life after Brain Injury Overall Scale (QOLIBRI), haematoma thickness after 2 weeks on follow-up computed tomography (CT), haematoma recurrence during the first 12 months, complications and drug-related adverse events, failure of therapy within 12 months after randomisation and requiring intervention, mortality during the first 3 and 12 months, duration of hospital stay and overall healthcare and productivity costs. To test non-inferiority of DXM therapy compared to BHC, 210 patients in each treatment arm are required (assumed adjusted common odds ratio DXM compared to BHC 1.15, limit for inferiority < 0.9). The aim is to include a total of 420 patients in 3 years with an enrolment rate of 60%.DISCUSSION: The present study should demonstrate whether treatment with DXM is as effective as BHC on functional outcome, at lower costs.TRIAL REGISTRATION: EUCTR 2015-001563-39 . Date of registration: 29 March 2015

Het chronisch subduraal hematoom

Het chronisch subduraal hematoom is een aandoening die met name optreedt bij oudere, kwetsbare patiënten. In deze klinische les bespreken wij deze aandoening die een spectrum aan klinische presentaties kent. Niet alleen het klinisch beeld is wisselend, ook de behandeling varieert van een expectatief beleid tot een operatie of medicatie. Wij beschrijven de ziektegeschiedenis van 2 symptomatische patiënten met een chronisch subduraal hematoom, van wie 1 operatief werd behandeld en de ander medicamenteus

Change in Hematoma Size after Dexamethasone Therapy in Chronic Subdural Hematoma Subtypes: A Prospective Study in Symptomatic Patients

The main treatment strategy for chronic subdural hematoma is surgical intervention. When a conservative pharmacological approach is considered in symptomatic patients, mainly dexamethasone therapy is applied. Recent trials revealed dexamethasone therapy to be an ineffective treatment in symptomatic patients with chronic subdural hematoma. Whether the efficacy of dexamethasone therapy differs in radiological hematoma subtypes is unknown. The aim of this substudy was to identify which hematoma subtype might be favorable for dexamethasone therapy. As part of a randomized controlled trial, symptomatic chronic subdural hematoma patients received 19-days dexamethasone therapy. The primary outcome measure was the change in hematoma size as measured on follow-up computed tomography (CT) after 2 weeks of dexamethasone in six hematoma (architectural and density) subtypes: homogeneous total, laminar, separated and trabecular architecture types, and hematoma without hyperdense components (homogeneous hypodense, isodense) and with hyperdense components (homogeneous hyperdense, mixed density). We analyzed hematoma thickness, midline shift, and volume using multi-variable linear regression adjusting for age, sex and baseline value of the specific radiological parameter. From September 2016 until February 2021, 85 patients were included with a total of 114 chronic subdural hematoma. The mean age was 76 years and 25% were women. Larger decrease in hematoma thickness and midline shift was revealed in hematoma without hyperdense components compared with hematoma with hyperdense components (adjusted [adj.] b -2.2 mm, 95% confidence interval [CI] -4.1 to -0.3 and adj. b -1.3 mm, 95% CI -2.7 to 0.0 respectively). Additional surgery was performed in 57% of patients with the highest observed rate (81%) in separated hematoma. Largest hematoma reduction and better clinical improvement was observed in chronic subdural hematoma without hyperdense components after dexamethasone therapy. Evaluation of these parameters can be part of an individualized treatment strategy

National survey on the current practice and attitudes toward the management of chronic subdural hematoma

Background: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a frequent pathological entity in daily clinical practice. However, evidence-based CSDH-guidelines are lacking and level I evidence from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) is limited. In order to establish and subsequently implement a guideline, insight into current clinical practice and attitudes toward CSDH-treatment is required. The aim is to explore current practice and attitudes toward CSDH-management in the Netherlands. Methods: A national online survey was distributed among Dutch neurologists and neurosurgeons, examining variation in current CSDH-management through questions on treatment options, (peri)operative management, willingness to adopt new treatments and by presenting four CSDH-cases. Results: One hundred nineteen full responses were received (8% of neurologists, N = 66 and 35% of neurosurgeons, N = 53). A majority of the respondents had a positive experience with burr-hole craniostomy (93%) and with a conservative policy (56%). Around a third had a positive experience with the use of dexamethasone as primary (30%) and additional (33.6%) treatment. These numbers were also reflected in the treatment preferences in the presented cases. (Peri)operative management corresponded among responding neurosurgeons. Most respondents would be willing to implement dexamethasone (98%) if equally effective as surgery and tranexamic acid (93%) if effective in CSDH-management. Conclusion: Variation was found regarding preferential CSDH-treatment. However, this is considered not to be insurmountable when implementing evidence-based treatments. This baseline inventory on current clinical practice and current attitudes toward CSDH-treatment is a stepping-stone in the eventual development and implementation of a national guideline