Does Discontinuation of Aspirin Treatment Following Head Trauma Decrease the Incidence of Chronic Subdural Hematoma?
Does Discontinuation of Aspirin Treatment Following Head Trauma Decrease the Incidence of Chronic Subdural Hematoma?
Anti-aggregation therapy, including treatment with low-dose aspirin (LDA) is an established
 risk factor for intracranial hemorrhage, including chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH); however
 evidence guiding the decision to continue or discontinue LDA in patients who have sustained
 mild head trauma with no sign of injury on CT is lacking. The investigators aim to assess
 whether continued aspirin treatment increases the risk of CSDH in mild head trauma patients
 50 years and older who present with negative head CT. The investigators further aim to use
 the initial findings to refine the study design, with the goal of performing a larger,
 multi-institutional study in the future.

 Over a 12-month period, approximately 100 patients ≥50 years of age on LDA prophylaxis
 presenting to Hadassah's Emergency Department after sustaining mild head injury, will be
 examined by the neurosurgeon on call. Those who have no sign of intracranial hemorrhage at
 clinical or CT examination, and who meet inclusion / exclusion criteria, will be invited to
 participate in a randomized study. Informed consent will be obtained. Patients will be
 remotely randomized for continuation or cessation of LDA treatment. Follow-up CT and clinical
 examination will be performed 3-5 weeks after trauma.

 The two-proportions test will be used to assess whether there is a statistically significant
 difference in the rate of CSDH in patients randomized to cessation of LDA therapy and those
 randomized to continuation of LDA. Relationships between the explanatory the dependent
 variables will be explored with classical parametric and nonparametric statistical methods,
 including multivariate analysis, logistic regression, the two proportions test, and the
 independence test. Several measures of association/correlation between pairs of variables
 will be analyzed as well.

 The investigators hypothesize that continuation of LDA will not be associated with increased
 risk for chronic subdural hematoma, and that cessation of treatment will not be associated
 with a decrease in chronic subdural hematoma. The investigators further hypothesize that
 cessation of LDA for this period will not be associated with increased risk for clinically
 significant cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, thrombotic, of embolic event.
Scientific Background Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a well-described sequelae of minor
 head trauma in the elderly population. Known risk factors for the development of this
 condition are old age, previous bleed, intracranial hypotension, and anticoagulant or
 antiaggregant therapy prior to the trauma [1-3, 10].

 Anti-aggregation therapy, including treatment with low-dose aspirin (LDA) is an established
 risk factor for the development of a CSDH. Among patients presenting with a chronic subdural
 hematoma, 16-76% have a history of antiaggregation therapy [6, 9, 13], however it remains
 unclear whether the increased risk is related to treatment prior to the trauma or to the
 continued treatment with LDA after the trauma, while the hematoma is supposedly developing.

 This has implications for daily clinical practice. It is unclear whether continued
 antiaggregation therapy after a minor head trauma increases the risk for development of a
 CSDH, and therefore it is unclear whether cessation of such treatment after a minor head
 trauma is indicated.

 We aim to assess whether continued aspirin treatment increases the risk of CSDH in mild head
 trauma patients 50 years and older who present with negative head CT.

 Brief Review of the Literature The risk of bleeding complications associated with LDA
 prophylaxis has been extensively reported. In 2006, McQuaide and Laine [4] performed a
 systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the relative and absolute risk of clinically
 relevant adverse events in patients treated with LDA or clopidogrel for cardiovascular
 prophylaxis. They included randomized controlled trials comparing cardiovascular outcomes and
 adverse events in patients treated with placebo, LDA, and clopidogrel from 1966-2004 in their
 analysis. The authors found a very modest 0.3% (3 patients per thousand) increase in the
 absolute risk of intracranial bleeding associated with the use of aspirin, although CSDH in
 the wake of head trauma was not specifically discussed.

 A year earlier, Serebruany et al [11] compared the risk of hemorrhage associated with <
 100mg, 100-200mg, and > 200mg doses of aspirin in a meta-analysis of 31 studies involving
 192,036 patients. They reported major bleeding events (intracranial bleeding; overt bleeding
 with decrease ≥ 5g/dl in hemoglobin or ≥ 15% in hematocrit) in 1.5% of patients on doses <
 100 mg, 1.5% of patients at 100-200 mg, and 2.3% of patients on the highest dose. Incidence
 of CSDH was not reported.

 Aspirin has been associated with an increased risk for postoperative intracranial hemorrhage
 [5, 7], and CSDH [13] However in spite of the strong evidence that aspirin treatment
 increases the risk of intracranial hemorrhage, there is a surprising dearth of research
 guiding the decision to continue or discontinue aspirin in patients who have sustained mild
 head trauma with no sign of injury on CT.

 Tauber et al [14] recently assessed the incidence of secondary intracranial hemorrhage in a
 prospective study of 100 mild head trauma patients 65 years and older on LDA prophylaxis.
 Primary CT scan in all participants revealed no evidence of intracranial hemorrhage. Repeat
 CT, performed within 12-24 hours, revealed secondary intracranial hemorrhage leading to death
 in one patient, surgical intervention in one, and conservative management with an uneventful
 clinical course in two patients. The authors recommended repeat CT after 12-24 hours or
 48-hour in-hospital observation for elderly patients on LDA prophylaxis.

 In 2003, Spektor et al. investigated the role of LDA prophylaxis in the evolvement of acute
 traumatic findings after a mild-to-moderate head injury [12]. They evaluated 231 patients,
 comparing those on aspirin treatment to those who were not. Interestingly, the authors found
 no significant increase in the frequency of intracranial hemorrhage in patients receiving
 prophylactic LDA treatment, however they did not assess the incidence of delayed bleeding.

 In 1992, Reymond et al reviewed the characteristics of 39 patients who developed chronic
 subdural hematoma in a population of 198 patients admitted after severe head trauma with
 various forms of intracranial bleeding on original CT [8]. They found that risk factors for
 intracranial hemorrhage were age, alcohol consumption, and anticoagulation or antiaggregation
 therapy. Five (13%) patients with chronic subdural hematoma had been treated with aspirin.
 The authors concluded that patients on prophylactic LDA treatment are at risk of developing
 chronic subdural hematoma.

 Several other studies retrospectively evaluated the role of LDA treatment in the evolution of
 chronic subdural hematomas. The proportion of patients with chronic subdural hematoma who
 were treated by aspirin varied widely. O'Brien et al reported treatment w LDA in 93 of 123
 (76%) patients with spontaneous hematomas [6]. On the other end of the scale, Rust et al.
 reported this treatment in only 18 of 81 patients (22%) [9] and Stroobandt in 16 of 100 (16%)
 [13].

 Two studies reported no effect of aspirin treatment on the recurrence rate of chronic
 subdural hematomas after drainage. Torohashi et al [15] retrospectively reviewed 343
 consecutive patients treated with surgical drainage for CSDH and subsequent recurrence.
 Patients were advised to discontinue anticoagulation and antiaggregation for one week after
 initial drainage. The authors found no statistically significant relationship between
 anticoagulation or antiaggregation therapy and recurrence of CSDH, however recurrence
 occurred with a shorter interval in patients treated with anticoagulation or antiaggregation
 therapy.

 Research Objectives Assess whether continuation of low-dose aspirin therapy increases risk
 for development of chronic subdural hematoma in the 3-5 weeks following mild head trauma in
 patients 50 years and above.

 Assess whether cessation of LDA therapy decreases the risk for development of chronic
 subdural hematoma in the 3-5 weeks following mild head injury in patients 50 years and above.

 Assess whether cessation of LDA therapy is associated with an increase in clinically
 significant adverse events, including myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack, or
 vascular or thrombo-embolic events in the 3-5 weeks following mild head trauma in patients 50
 years and above.

 Establish a study protocol that may serve as the basis of a larger and more definitive
 multi-institutional study.

 We hypothesize that continuation of LDA will not increase the risk of CSDH in the 3-5 week
 follow-up period after minor head trauma.

 We hypothesize that discontinuation of LDA for 3-5 weeks will not be associated with an
 increase in the number of in clinically significant cardiovascular events.

 Expected Significance There is currently no consensus regarding the continuation or cessation
 of prophylactic aspirin treatment following mild head trauma in patients with no immediate
 evidence of hemorrhagic injury. The evidence-based knowledge that will be gained in this
 study, and from larger multi-institutional studies will have significant clinical
 implications.

 Methods All patients seen in Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center's Department of
 Emergency Medicine after head trauma are examined by the neurosurgeon on call. A complete
 history is taken, and patients undergo a thorough physical and neurological examination.
 Patients reporting to the Emergency Department after mild trauma who are treated with LDA at
 the time of injury are routinely referred for immediate non-contrast head CT. Blood tests to
 assess prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, INR, and platelet count are performed.
 A detailed history is taken to ascertain the reason for aspirin therapy. Patients with head
 CT that is negative for traumatic findings, and with normal neurologic examination or no
 change from neurological baseline before trauma, are discharged from the emergency
 department. The policy regarding continuation or discontinuation of LDA after mild head
 trauma is not well established.

 We propose to offer patients aged 50 and above who suffer mild head trauma, who are on LDA
 therapy (75-100 mg) at time of trauma, who have normal neurological examination or no change
 from neurological baseline before trauma, no evidence of intracranial hemorrhage on initial
 CT, and who meet other inclusion and exclusion criteria, participation in a randomized trial
 to assess the effects of aspirin continuation versus aspirin cessation.

 Intake- and follow-up examinations will be completed according to standard forms that will be
 used by all physicians involved in the care of participants in the study (Appendix 1-2).
 Informed consent will be obtained (Appendix 3). Patients will be randomized. An attending
 neuroradiologist will read the admission CT. Patients with a finding of intracranial
 hemorrhage, or possible intracranial hemorrhage will be excluded from the study and followed
 appropriately by a physician from the Department of Neurosurgery.

 Two weeks after injury, a study nurse will contact patients by telephone, to schedule
 follow-up CT and clinic evaluation, with follow-up reminders as needed. Follow-up clinical /
 neurological examination and head CT will be performed 3-5 weeks after injury. Achieving
 follow-up CT 3-5 weeks after the injury is routine in the patients' population included in
 this study.

 At final assessment participants will be evaluated for clinical or imaging evidence of CSDH
 as well as other intracranial hemorrhage, or cardiac, thrombotic, or embolic condition. In
 the case of a clinically significant adverse cardiovascular or cerebrovascular event, the IRB
 will be notified, and the patient will be treated as appropriate for the clinical situation.
 At study completion, LDA prophylaxis will be prescribed for individual patients as clinically
 indicated, with cardiology or other consultation as appropriate.

 Informed Consent The attending neurosurgeon will fully explain the basis for the study and
 its clinical importance, as well as the risks involved with the continuation or cessation of
 LDA prophylaxis, and invite the eligible patient to participate in the study. Eligible
 patients who are fully conscious and who agree to participate in the study, or their legally
 authorized representatives, will be asked to sign an informed consent form (Appendix 3).
 Patients with no legal guardian who suffer from dementia or any other concurrent illness
 which prevents them from giving informed consent, will be excluded from the study.

 Randomization Randomization of all participants will be performed remotely via an online
 program.

 Patients in arm 1 will be requested to continue their aspirin therapy according to previous
 instructions; those in arm 2 will be requested to cease aspirin therapy for the initial 3-5
 weeks following their mild head trauma.

 Primary Endpoint

 -  Occurrence of CSDH Secondary Endpoints

 -  Intervention for surgical evacuation of CSDH

 -  Occurrence of other clinically significant intracranial hemorrhage

 -  Intervention for surgical evacuation of other intracranial hemorrhage

 -  Occurrence of clinically significant cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, thrombolic, or
 embolic event

 -  Intervention for treatment of cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, thrombolic, or embolic
 event

 The possible relationship between LDA prophylaxis and a variety of other demographic and
 clinical variables will also be assessed, including patient age and gender, coagulation
 profile, mechanism of injury, loss of consciousness, and time elapse from traumatic head
 injury to any clinically significant sequelae. We will assess the relationship between
 aspirin cessation and incidence of clinically significant events in patients with ischemic
 heart disease.

 Statistical Analysis Since the incidence of CSDH in patients on LDA is has not been studied
 directly, it is not currently possible to estimate the number of patients required to achieve
 statistical power for this research. Study enrollment will continue through the first year,
 with an estimated 100 participants in this period. Based on preliminary findings at that
 point, we expect to determine the total required study population.

 The two-proportions test will be used to assess whether there is a statistically significant
 difference in the rate of CSDH in patients randomized to cessation of LDA therapy and those
 randomized to continuation of LDA. Relationships between the explanatory the dependent
 variables will be explored with classical parametric and nonparametric statistical methods,
 including multivariate analysis, logistic regression, the two proportions test, and the
 independence test. Several measures of association/correlation between pairs of variables
 will be analyzed as well.

 With the pilot data from 100 patients, our statistician will be consulted to perform a power
 analysis to assess the required sample size to have a greater than 80% chance of detecting a
 significant difference between the two groups at significance level of p < 0.05.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Completion of informed consent by the patient or a legally appointed guardian

 -  Age ≥ 50 years

 -  Sustained mild head trauma with visit to the emergency department of the
 Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center within 24 hours after trauma

 -  Low-dose aspirin therapy (75-100 mg) at time of head trauma

 -  Admission non contrast head CT with no evidence of intracranial hemorrhage or skull
 fracture, as assessed by the neurosurgical resident on call and confirmed by an
 attending neuroradiologist

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Documented or suspected myocardial infarction within the last 12 mo

 -  Documented or suspected transient ischemic event or cerebrovascular accident within
 the last 12 months

 -  Coronary intervention within the last 6 mo

 -  Vascular stenting or bypass within the last 6 mo

 -  End-stage renal failure requiring dialysis

 -  Treatment with aspirin dose other than 75-100 mg

 -  Concomitant treatment by anti-coagulant or other anti-aggregant (e.g. warfarin, low
 molecular weight heparin, or clopidogrel)