OU Researcher Contributes to Study Published in Prestigious New England Journal of Medicine

The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine has participated in a groundbreaking study that could significantly improve care for patients with subdural hematomas, a serious condition where blood pools between the skull and brain. This study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, shows that combining traditional brain surgery with a less invasive procedure called embolization can reduce the risk of needing a second surgery by three times!

Subdural hematomas — often resulting from head injuries — can cause severe symptoms such as headaches, confusion, and vomiting due to the pressure of pooled blood on the brain. While surgery is essential to remove the hematoma, it carries a risk of recurrence, necessitating additional surgeries that can lead to poor outcomes and increased healthcare costs.

The EMBOLISE clinical trial, which included 39 academic health institutions across the United States, investigated the effectiveness of adding embolization to the standard surgical treatment. Embolization involves blocking the artery that supplies blood to the hematoma, thereby reducing the likelihood of recurrence. Results showed a dramatic reduction in the need for repeat surgeries, with the combined treatment approach lowering the recurrence rate from 11% to 4%.

Hakeem Shakir, M.D., neurosurgeon at OU Health and assistant professor of neurosurgery in the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine led the study locally, contributing to this national effort to enhance patient care. He emphasized the potential of this combined treatment to change the standard of care, particularly benefiting the aging population. This advancement highlights the importance of the clinical, research, and educational missions of OU Health and the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.

Read more from The University of Oklahoma about the impact of the EMBOLISE clinical trial.

OU Researcher Contributes to Study Published in Prestigious New England Journal of Medicine