Chronic subdural hematoma with mild to moderate symptoms: The effect of initial treatment approach on clinical outcome

Background: The effect of a conservative (wait-and-watch) approach in chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) patients with mild to moderate symptoms, is poorly studied. Surgical evacuation is effective, but inherently carries the risk of surgical or anesthetic complications. Research question: To assess t...

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Main Authors: Merijn Foppen, Roger Lodewijkx, Mariam Slot, William P. Vandertop, Dagmar Verbaan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Brain and Spine
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772529425000384
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author Merijn Foppen
Roger Lodewijkx
Mariam Slot
William P. Vandertop
Dagmar Verbaan
author_facet Merijn Foppen
Roger Lodewijkx
Mariam Slot
William P. Vandertop
Dagmar Verbaan
author_sort Merijn Foppen
collection DOAJ
description Background: The effect of a conservative (wait-and-watch) approach in chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) patients with mild to moderate symptoms, is poorly studied. Surgical evacuation is effective, but inherently carries the risk of surgical or anesthetic complications. Research question: To assess the effect of conservative or operative (burrhole craniostomy) treatment on clinical outcome, in cSDH patients with mild to moderate symptoms. Methods: This single center, retrospective cohort study included 444 cSDH patients with a Markwalder Grading Scale score 1 or 2, treated between 2012 and 2022. The primary outcomes were complication rate, length of hospital stay and 30-days’ mortality. The results were analyzed using both intention-to-treat and as-treated approaches. Propensity score techniques were applied to adjust for clinical and radiological baseline differences. Results: Of the 114 conservatively treated patients, 49 (43%) crossed-over to surgery. The 330 remaining patients were treated surgically. In the intention-to-treat and as-treated analysis, initial surgery was associated with a higher complication rate (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.04–3.94; OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.04–7.91) and longer hospital stay (β 2.34, 95% CI 0.15–4.52; β 6.62, 95% CI 3.60–9.64). Conservative treatment was associated with higher 30-day mortality (as-treated OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.06–0.66, favoring surgery), but this was unrelated to cSDH. Conclusion: In this selected cohort of cSDH patients with mild to moderate symptoms, a conservative approach was associated with less complications and hospital stay. For these patients, a ‘conservative treatment first’ regimen may therefore be considered. Corroboration in a prospective cohort with neurological and functional outcomes is warranted.
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spelling doaj-art-ec691c757e534f01a7d6fe96e1f68cb12025-08-20T03:15:42ZengElsevierBrain and Spine2772-52942025-01-01510421910.1016/j.bas.2025.104219Chronic subdural hematoma with mild to moderate symptoms: The effect of initial treatment approach on clinical outcomeMerijn Foppen0Roger Lodewijkx1Mariam Slot2William P. Vandertop3Dagmar Verbaan4Department of Neurosurgery, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurovascular Disorders, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Corresponding author. Amsterdam UMC, location AMC, Meibergdreef 9, Room H2-241, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.Department of Neurosurgery, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurovascular Disorders, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsDepartment of Neurosurgery, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurovascular Disorders, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsDepartment of Neurosurgery, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurovascular Disorders, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsDepartment of Neurosurgery, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurovascular Disorders, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsBackground: The effect of a conservative (wait-and-watch) approach in chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) patients with mild to moderate symptoms, is poorly studied. Surgical evacuation is effective, but inherently carries the risk of surgical or anesthetic complications. Research question: To assess the effect of conservative or operative (burrhole craniostomy) treatment on clinical outcome, in cSDH patients with mild to moderate symptoms. Methods: This single center, retrospective cohort study included 444 cSDH patients with a Markwalder Grading Scale score 1 or 2, treated between 2012 and 2022. The primary outcomes were complication rate, length of hospital stay and 30-days’ mortality. The results were analyzed using both intention-to-treat and as-treated approaches. Propensity score techniques were applied to adjust for clinical and radiological baseline differences. Results: Of the 114 conservatively treated patients, 49 (43%) crossed-over to surgery. The 330 remaining patients were treated surgically. In the intention-to-treat and as-treated analysis, initial surgery was associated with a higher complication rate (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.04–3.94; OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.04–7.91) and longer hospital stay (β 2.34, 95% CI 0.15–4.52; β 6.62, 95% CI 3.60–9.64). Conservative treatment was associated with higher 30-day mortality (as-treated OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.06–0.66, favoring surgery), but this was unrelated to cSDH. Conclusion: In this selected cohort of cSDH patients with mild to moderate symptoms, a conservative approach was associated with less complications and hospital stay. For these patients, a ‘conservative treatment first’ regimen may therefore be considered. Corroboration in a prospective cohort with neurological and functional outcomes is warranted.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772529425000384HumansHematomaSubduralChronicRetrospective studiesConservative treatment
spellingShingle Merijn Foppen
Roger Lodewijkx
Mariam Slot
William P. Vandertop
Dagmar Verbaan
Chronic subdural hematoma with mild to moderate symptoms: The effect of initial treatment approach on clinical outcome
Brain and Spine
Humans
Hematoma
Subdural
Chronic
Retrospective studies
Conservative treatment
title Chronic subdural hematoma with mild to moderate symptoms: The effect of initial treatment approach on clinical outcome
title_full Chronic subdural hematoma with mild to moderate symptoms: The effect of initial treatment approach on clinical outcome
title_fullStr Chronic subdural hematoma with mild to moderate symptoms: The effect of initial treatment approach on clinical outcome
title_full_unstemmed Chronic subdural hematoma with mild to moderate symptoms: The effect of initial treatment approach on clinical outcome
title_short Chronic subdural hematoma with mild to moderate symptoms: The effect of initial treatment approach on clinical outcome
title_sort chronic subdural hematoma with mild to moderate symptoms the effect of initial treatment approach on clinical outcome
topic Humans
Hematoma
Subdural
Chronic
Retrospective studies
Conservative treatment
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772529425000384
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