MedPath

Embolization of the Middle Meningeal Artery for the Prevention of Chronic Subdural Hematoma Recurrence in High Risk Patients (EMPROTECT)

Not Applicable
Conditions
Chronic Subdural Hematoma
At Risk of Post-operative Recurrence
Burr-hole Surgery
Interventions
Procedure: MMA embolization
Registration Number
NCT04372147
Lead Sponsor
Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
Brief Summary

Standard of care for the management of symptomatic chronic subdural hematomas (SDHs) is neurosurgical burr-hole evacuation followed by drainage. Post-operative recurrence rates may be as high as 10 to 20 %. In particular, recurrence rate increases with antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy. Middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization has been proposed as a novel treatment of chronic SDH. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of MMA embolization in reducing the risk of chronic SDH recurrence at 6 months after burr-hole surgery as compared with standard medical post-operative treatment in patients at high risk of post-operative recurrence.

Detailed Description

Introduction: chronic SDHs are some of the most frequently encountered neurosurgical emergencies. The gold standard treatment of symptomatic chronic SDHs is burr-hole surgery followed by temporary closed system drainage. Post-operative recurrence rates may be as high as 10 to 20% and are a major source of morbidity and repeated surgery. MMA embolization is a promising minimally invasive procedure recently proposed as a treatment of chronic SDH. It is hypothesized that post-operative MMA embolization may reduce recurrence rate in patients at high risk of recurrence.

Aims: the primary objective of the trial is to assess the efficacy of MMA embolization in reducing the risk of chronic SDH recurrence at 6 months after burr-hole surgery as compared with standard medical treatment in patients at high risk of post-operative recurrence. Secondary objectives include evaluating the impact of post-operative MMA embolization on rate of recurrence requiring new surgery (at 6 months), rate of functional dependency (at 1 and 6 months) , mortality (at 1 and 6 months) , cumulative hospital stay duration, related to the SDH, and complication rate at 6 months.

Methods: multicenter open label randomized controlled trial. Eligible patients will be assigned either to the intervention or a control arm through blocked randomization with randomblock sizes and stratified on the center, antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy and unilateral vs bilateral SDH. Patients in the intervention group will undergo a CT angiography scan of the supra aortic trunks, followed by MMA embolization procedure within 7 days of the burr-hole surgery in addition to standard medical care. Patients in the control group will receive standard medical care only. Outcomes will be evaluated at 1 and 6 months. The primary outcome measure will be the rate of chronic SDH recurrence 6 months after index burr-hole surgery, as defined bellow. In order to demonstrate a decrease in recurrence rate from 15 to 5% between the intervention and control arms with a power of 80%, bilateral global alpha risk of 5%, with two planned sequential tests according to the method of Lan \& Demets, and 20% patients lost to follow-up, 342 patients are required, 171 in each arm. The primary outcome will be analyzed according to intention to treat.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
342
Inclusion Criteria

Patient:

  • Aged ≥ 18 years
  • Operated for a SDH recurrence or operated for a first episode of SDH if at least one of the following recurrence risk factors is present:
  • Chronic alcoholism defined by a daily alcohol consumption > 30g/day
  • Or liver cirrhosis
  • Or antiplatelet therapy
  • Or anticoagulant therapy
  • Or thrombocytopenia with a platelet count < 100 x10(3) per µL
  • Or surgery without use of external drain
  • With affiliation to a social security scheme
  • Having signed an informed consent form or for whom a delegate close relative or a support person has signed an informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • SDH evacuation by craniotomy or twist-drill craniostomy rather than burr-hole surgery
  • Beyond 7 days after the index surgery (surgery for recurrent SDH or first surgery in case of a risk factor as indicated in the inclusion criteria)
  • Functionally dependant patient with an mRS score ≥ 4 before the SDH
  • Patient with a life expectancy < 6 months
  • Patient with renal failure as defined by a creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min
  • Pregnancy
  • History of allergy to a iodinated contrast agent
  • Procedure deemed unachievable under local anesthesia (because of patient agitation or discomfort for instance) in a patient with a contraindication to both conscious sedation and general anesthesia.
  • Patient refusal
  • Patient for whom follow-up is deemed problematic (living abroad or homeless for instance )
  • Patients under legal guardianship or trusteeship

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
intervention groupMMA embolizationMMA embolization procedure within 7 days of the burr-hole surgery in addition to standard medical care
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
SDH recurrence6 months

Rate of chronic subdural hematoma (SDH) recurrence 6 months after index burr-hole surgery, defined as:

* Reappearance of a homolateral SDH with a midline shift \> 5mm or a symptomatic homolateral SDH, including leading to death

* Or, the presence of a homolateral SDH \> 10mm in maximal thickness on the 6 months control head CT scan

* Or, the need for repeated surgery for a homolateral SDH recurrence

* Or, the need for a new hospital admission in relation to a homolateral SDH recurrence

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
disability and dependency1 and 6 months

- Rate of disability and dependency at 1 and 6 months, defined by a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≥ 4.

The mRS is an ordered scale coded from 0 (no symptoms at all) through 5 (severe disability) 6 (death)

hospital stay6 months

- Total cumulative duration of hospital stay, during the 6 months follow-up period, directly or indirectly related to the SDH

complication rates6 months

- Minor and major embolization procedure-related complication rates

repeated surgery6 months

- Rate of repeated surgery for a homolateral SDH recurrence during the 6 months follow-up period

mortality1 and 6 months

- Mortality rate at 1 and 6 months

Trial Locations

Locations (12)

Fondation Rothschild

🇫🇷

Paris, France

CHU Tours

🇫🇷

Tours, France

Hôpital d'instruction des armées de Percy

🇫🇷

Clamart, France

Hôpital Beaujon

🇫🇷

Clichy, France

Hôpital Henri-Mondor

🇫🇷

Créteil, France

CHU Lille (Hôpital Roger Salengro)

🇫🇷

Lille, France

CHU de Limoges

🇫🇷

Limoges, France

Hôpital Nord (CHU MARSEILLE)

🇫🇷

Marseille, France

CHU de Marseille

🇫🇷

Marseille, France

Hôpital Lariboisière

🇫🇷

Paris, France

Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière

🇫🇷

Paris, France

Hôpital Sainte Anne

🇫🇷

Paris, France

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath