Middle meningeal artery embolization may be an effective treatment for patients with chronic subdural hematoma resistant to atorvastatin

To investigate the efficacy and safety of MMA embolization in patients with CSDH who failed atorvastatin treatment.

Seventeen CSDH patients who failed atorvastatin treatment from Jan 1, 2021 to Dec 31, 2021 were included in the study. All patients were treated with MMA embolization using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles.

Twenty-six MMAs (unilateral embolization in 8 patients and bilateral embolization in 9 patients) were successfully embolized in all patients. Hematoma re-accumulated in only one patient (5.9%) after MMA embolization and was surgically evacuated. Procedural adverse events, mortality, or complications were not observed. At the last follow-up of an average of 51.5 days post MMA embolization, maximum hematoma thickness improved in 95.2% of CSDHs with a mean reduction of 52.1%, while mRS score improved in 94.1% of patients. In addition, 5 (29.4%) patients with unilateral hematoma underwent bilateral MMA embolization and hematoma absorbed completely in all 5 cases.

MMA embolization may be a minimally invasive alternative to surgical evacuation for CSDH patients resistant to atorvastatin. In unilateral CSDH, bilateral superselective angiography and bilateral MMA embolization could be a useful and effective treatment strategy.