Dex-CSDH study outcomes published in the New England Journal of Medicine

Dex-CSDH is a pragmatic, multi-centre, double-blind, phase III randomised, placebo-controlled trial assessing the clinical utility of a tapering 2-week course of dexamethasone following Chronic Subdural Haematoma. The patients were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive a 2-week tapering course of oral dexamethasone, starting at 8 mg twice daily, or placebo. The decision to surgically evacuate the hematoma was made by the treating clinician. The primary outcome was a score of 0 to 3, representing a favorable outcome, on the modified Rankin scale at 6 months after randomization; scores range from 0 (no symptoms) to 6 (death).

The results of the trial suggest that among adults with symptomatic chronic subdural hematoma, most of whom had undergone surgery to remove their hematomas during the index admission, treatment with dexamethasone resulted in fewer favorable outcomes and more adverse events than placebo at 6 months, but fewer repeat operations were performed in the dexamethasone group. Dexamethasone was associated with more adverse events than placebo.

For more information visit: N Engl J Med

Published December 31 2020