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Dural Tenting Sutures in Neurosurgery - is it Necessary?

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Epidural Hematoma
Interventions
Procedure: No dural tenting techniques
Procedure: Dural tenting techniques
Registration Number
NCT03658941
Lead Sponsor
Medical University of Warsaw
Brief Summary

This study evaluates the necessity of dural tenting sutures in craniotomies. The sutures elevate the dura, a layer between the brain and skull. Supposedly, by doing so, they prevent blood collecting between dura mater and the skull. These blood collections, called epidural hematomas, contributed greatly to postoperative mortality in the early days of neurosurgery. There have been several reports questioning the ongoing need for them in neurosurgery, thanks to modern hemostatic techniques. Moreover, it has been published in the literature, and is a common knowledge as well, that some neurosurgeons do not use these sutures at all, and do not have worse outcomes than their colleagues.

In this study, half of the randomly assigned participants will undergo craniotomy without dural tenting sutures and will be considered an intervention group. The other half will undergo craniotomy with these sutures.

Detailed Description

In the early days of neurosurgery, epidural hemorrhages (EDH) contributed to a high mortality rate after craniotomies. Almost a century ago Walter Dandy reported dural tenting sutures as an effective way of preventing postoperative EDH. Over time, his technique gained in popularity and significance to finally become a neurosurgical standard.

Yet, there have been several retrospective reports questioning the ongoing need for dural tenting sutures. Dandy's explanation that the hemostasis under hypotensive conditions is deceiving and eventually causes EDH may be obsolete. These days, proper intra- and postoperative care, including maintenance of normovolemia and normotension and the use of modern hemostatic agents, may be enough for effective hemostasis. Evading of this suturing technique by some surgeons supports this argument even further.

Thus, there is a fundamental need to evaluate the necessity of dural tenting sutures in an unbiased, evidence-based manner.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
490
Inclusion Criteria
  • male or female over 18 and under 75 years old
  • qualified for an elective supratentorial craniotomy with a diameter of at least 3 cm
  • Glasgow Coma Scale 15 preoperatively
  • Modified Rankin Scale 0, 1 or 2 preoperatively
Exclusion Criteria
  • Coagulation abnormalities before the surgery
  • Revision craniotomy
  • Skull base surgery

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
No dural tenting suturesNo dural tenting techniquesNo dural tenting techniques
Dural tenting suturesDural tenting techniquesDural tenting techniques
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Reoperation due to epidural hematomaDuring hospitalization for the surgery, approximately 2 days postoperatively

Surgery for the postoperative extradural hematoma

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
New neurologic deficit or deterioration of a previous oneduring hospitalisation, as evaluated 5-7 days postoperatively, or earlier if the patient is discharged before the fifth postsurgical day.

New neurologic deficit or deterioration of a preoperative deficit, as evaluated on postoperative day 5-7.

Postoperative 30-day readmission to a neurosurgical or neurological department30-day postoperatively

The data required to evaluate readmission rates will be obtained from the hospital databases.

Cerebrospinal fluid leak requiring treatment.during hospitalisation, as evaluated 5-7 days postoperatively, or earlier if the patient is discharged before the fifth postsurgical day.

Presence of a cerebrospinal fluid leak requiring treatment.

Postoperative 30-day mortality30-day postoperatively

The data to measure postoperative 30-day mortality will be obtained from a national database 30 days after the recruitment of all participants has been completed.

Deterioration of postoperative headaches over 5 Numerical Rating Scaleduring hospitalisation, as evaluated 5-7 days postoperatively, or earlier if the patient is discharged before the fifth postsurgical day.

The Numeric Rating Scale is an 11-point scale for patient self-reporting of pain. It ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (the worst imaginable pain). There are no subscales. Higher values indicate more pain and, therefore, represent undesirable outcome.

Epidural collection thickness over 3 mm measured radiographicallyDuring hospitalization, approximately 1-3 days postoperatively

Extradural collection thickness measured in postoperative Computed Tomography by two independent radiologists

Midline shift over 5 mmDuring hospitalization, approximately 1-3 days postoperatively

Extradural collection thickness measured in postoperative Computed Tomography by two independent radiologists

Trial Locations

Locations (5)

Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Warsaw

🇵🇱

Warsaw, Mazovian, Poland

5 Neurosurgery and Pediatric Neurosurgery Department in Lublin, Medical University of Lublin

🇵🇱

Lublin, Lubelskie, Poland

Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Silesia, Regional Hospital, Sosnowiec

🇵🇱

Sosnowiec, Śląskie, Poland

Department of Neurosurgery, 10th Military Research Hospital and Polyclinic

🇵🇱

Bydgoszcz, Kuyavian-pomeranian, Poland

Department of Neurosurgery and Oncology of Central Nervous System, Barlicki University Hospital, Medical University of Lodz

🇵🇱

Łódź, Łódzkie, Poland

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