Atorvastatin-Induced Absorption of Chronic Subdural Hematoma Is Partially Attributed to the Polarization of Macrophages

Efficacy of atorvastatin administration after surgery in patients with chronic subdural hematoma

To explore the clinical efficacy of atorvastatin administration after surgery in patients with chronic subdural hematoma. We conducted a retrospective study to analyze the clinical data of patients with chronic subdural hematoma. Patients receiving atorvastatin treatment after surgery were divided into the study group while others were divided into the control group. As the primary outcome, we compared the hematoma recurrence rate. The secondary outcomes were the remaining volume of hematoma and the activities of daily living (Barthel index) score at 3 months after discharge. A total of 53 patients were included in the study: 30 patients in the study group (n = 30) and 23 patients in the control group (n = 23). The baseline clinical data were similar in the 2 groups (P > .05). Four patients had recurrence of hematoma in the study group, while 5 patients had recurrence of hematoma in the control group [4/30 (13.3%) versus 5/23 (21.7%), P = .661] at 3 months after discharge. The mean remaining volume of hematoma was 12.10 ± 8.80 mL in the study group and 17.30 ± 9.50 mL in the control group at 3 months after discharge, respectively. The remaining volume of hematoma in the study group was less than that in the control group (P = .045).The activities of daily living score in the study group were higher than those in the control group (97.83 ± 4.48 vs 94.78 ± 5.73, P = .034) at 3 months after discharge. Atorvastatin administration after surgery barely reduce the recurrence rate of chronic subdural hematoma, however, reduced the remaining volume of hematoma and improved neurological function.

A Prospective Study of the Effect and Safety of Atorvastatin on the Recurrence of Chronic Subdural Hematoma after Burr Hole Surgery

Introduction  Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a common neurosurgical condition. Recent studies showed efficacy of atorvastatin in reducing the requirement of surgical treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin in reducing the recurrence of CSDH after burr hole surgery. Methods  This prospective study included patients with CSDH who underwent burr hole surgery. Atorvastatin at 20 mg per day was administered to all patients for 4 weeks postoperatively. The major outcome was the recurrence rate of CSDH at 8 weeks following the operation. Results  Seventy-three patients who completed the 4-week course of atorvastatin were included. The mean age was 73.9 years. The most common cause of CSDH was falling. The mean hematoma volume was 106.3 mL. There was no adverse effect of atorvastatin in all of 73 patients. During the 8-week postoperative period, recurrent CSDH was found in 2 of 73 (2.7%) patients. In a comparison of the recurrence rate of CSDH between patients with use of atorvastatin from the present and previous studies (2.6-4.8%), and patients without use of atorvastatin from previous studies (9.8-19%), a marked reduction in recurrent CSDH after burr hole surgery was found in patients with use of atorvastatin. Conclusion  An administration of atorvastatin of 20 mg daily for 4 weeks following burr hole surgery is safe and may be helpful in reducing the recurrence rate of CSDH after burr hole surgery.