Clinical Research Directory

Preventing Recurrences of Chronic Subdural Hematoma in Adult Patients by Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization

Patients with a chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH), that is, a blood accumulation between two meninges developing over a long period of time, often have recurrent bleedings after an initial operation. The study aims to show that additional surgery reduces the risk of recurrent bleeding. The additional procedure aims to block small blood vessels in the skull with tiny plastic particles. The small blood vessels are embolized using X-rays and a contrast medium and a fine tube that is inserted into the diseased vessels of the head via the groin. Patients of full age who have undergone burr hole trepanation as a first operation, i.e. a blood drain through a hole in the cranial cavity, can participate in the study. Participating patients are randomly assigned to a control group with treatment according to clinical routine or a treatment group with an additional occlusion of the blood vessels in the skull. In addition, patients can consent to a genetic test to determine the relationship between a coagulation factor and the risk of recurrence of the hematoma. In order to record the test results, check-up examinations are carried out after one and three months.

Tranexamic Acid to Prevent OpeRation in Chronic Subdural Hematoma

Rationale: Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is a frequently occurring disease, occurring mainly in the elderly. Surgical evacuation is effective, but also associated with life-threatening risks. In these old, often frail, patients with multi-comorbidity, surgery also comes with significant risks for future cognitive functioning and therefore, loss of independency. In five small retrospective series, tranexamic acid (TXA), an antifibrinolytic drug, showed a beneficial effect on the spontaneous resolution of the hematoma and, with that, the necessity for surgery. This randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial aims to prove the efficacy of TXA. Objectives: Primarily to evaluate the efficacy of TXA to prevent surgery for cSDH. Secondarily to evaluate the efficacy of TXA to reduce cSDH volume, neurological impairment (mNIHSS), the incidence of falling incidents, the mortality rate, the use of care and health-related costs (iMCQ and iPCQ), to improve cognitive functioning (MOCA), performance in activities of daily living (Barthel and Lawton-Brody), functional outcome (mRS), the level of quality of life. Study design: Double-blind placebo-controlled multicentre randomized clinical trial. Study population: All patients, age 50 and above, diagnosed with cSDH for whom a conservative treatment is selected as primary treatment strategy. Intervention: The intervention group will receive oral TXA 500mg twice daily for 4 weeks, the control group will receive a placebo twice daily. The TXA or placebo treatment is additional to standard care. Main study endpoint: The number of patients requiring surgery within 12 weeks after start treatment. Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: Patients will use the study medication twice daily for four weeks. Follow-up is at 4, 8and 12 weeks with a standard CT-scan of the head, outpatient clinic visits and 4 patient-reported questionnaires. These outpatient clinic visits are standard care; the third CT-scan, the questionnaires and extra clinical tests are extra. Each patient may benefit from the study if the study medication proves effective in preventing surgery for cSDH, whereas the risk of potential side effects of the medication is slight (e.g. the risk of thromboembolic events is only 0.01-0.1%). Surgery remains a possibility for those patients in whom study medication is not effective.