Subdural Instillation of a Thrombolytic Agent for Treatment of Recurrent Subdural Hematoma

Fibrinolytic-Facilitated Chronic Subdural Hematoma Drainage-A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The current treatment options for chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) include burr hole drainage, twist drill drainage, and craniotomy with or without postoperative catheter drainage. Although generally effective, these treatments have continued to be complicated by recurrence, especially in partially hemolyzed or septated hematomas. Recently, interest in the use of fibrinolytic agents as an adjunct to surgical treatment to address this limitation has been increasing. We conducted a systematic review, focusing on the efficacy and safety profile of fibrinolytic agents and compared the different fibrinolytic agents.

METHODS

The PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL Plus, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for trials relevant to fibrinolytic administration in the treatment of CSDH. The findings are reported in accordance with the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) guidelines. The data from 1702 subjects from 6 retrospective observational studies were qualitatively analyzed. In addition, we included 11 case series and reports for discussion.

RESULTS

For 1449 patients, the use of urokinase or tissue plasminogen activator improved hematoma drainage and shortened the hospital stay (7.04 days), with an overall hematoma recurrence rate of 1.59%. The incidence of infection, seizure, and intracranial bleeding was 3.18%, 0.80%, and 0.41%, respectively, which compared favorably with previously reported findings for surgical drainage without the use of fibrinolytic agents.

CONCLUSIONS

The routine use of intrathecal urokinase and tissue plasminogen activator could be a new direction in the management of CSDH. Conclusive clinical evidence is lacking, however, and further prospective controlled studies are warranted to confirm the benefit and safety of this treatment strategy and to identify the optimal agent and dosing regimen.

Intracatheter Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Chronic Subdural Hematomas after Failed Bedside Twist Drill Craniostomy: A Retrospective Review

Introduction

Chronic subdural hematomas (cSDH) are common in neurosurgery with various symptoms and significant morbidity and mortality. Treatment varies with procedures including twist-drill (TD) craniostomy, craniotomy, burr hole craniostomy, and craniectomy. Newer treatments including middle meningeal artery embolization are also being explored as no treatment has been determined to be optimal. Due to the lack of consensus treatment, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) has begun to be investigated to promote drainage and has shown promise in some early studies in reducing recurrence rates. We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent TD craniostomy and received intracatheter tPA to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this practice.

Methods 

A single-center retrospective review from December 2018 through August 2018 occurred for patients with cSDH 18 years of age or older who underwent a bedside TD craniostomy. Inclusion criteria included all patients who underwent treatment with TD craniostomy for drainage of cSDH during the time period in which tPA protocol was adopted as a possible therapeutic measure at our center. Exclusion criteria included all patients less than age 18 or incarcerated. Patients were stratified into two groups those that received tPA per our center's neurosurgical protocol and those that received drainage alone. Data collected included demographics, hospital/intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, operative intervention, cSDH thickness throughout stay, length of drainage, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) on arrival and discharge with analysis performed using t-tests.

Results

In all, 20 patients met inclusion: six received tPA at 48 hours per the institutional neurosurgical protocol and 14 did not. The average thickness of cSDH on arrival was significantly larger in the tPA group (26.5 mm vs 14.46 mm, p = 0.0029). Arrival and discharge GCS, average daily drainage, length of stay parameters, and percent change in thickness did not differ between tPA and no tPA groups. The average daily drainage was significantly less prior to the administration of tPA in the tPA group than in the cohort of not receiving tPA (30.71 mL vs 68.99 mL; p = 0.011). Average drainage in patients who received tPA after administration was significantly higher compared to pre-tPA values (131.39 mL vs 30.71 mL; p = 0.046). No patients were readmitted for re-accumulation or required an operating room procedure. There were no adverse outcomes identified through the instillation of tPA.

Conclusion

Intracatheter tPA increased drainage rates in the assessment of pre- and post-tPA values when administered at 48 hours after subdural drain (SDD) placement. Patients who received benefits from tPA tended to have larger subdural hematomas and less drainage prior to the instillation of tPA than patients that benefited from drainage alone. Larger prospective studies should investigate early treatment with tPA to identify if tPA is efficacious for all patients after TD craniostomy and to optimize patient selection with regard to thrombolytic therapy.