Abstract
Etizolam, an anti-anxiety agent which is an antagonist of platelet-activating factor receptors, was administered to patients with chronic subdural hematoma (CSH) after hematoma removal to assess the effectiveness for preventing recurrence compared with control patients not given the drug after surgery. The remaining volumes of subdural hematomas on brain computed tomography were measured approximately 1 month after removal. Volume in the etizolam group (15 patients) was significantly smaller than in the control group (24 patients). Hematoma recurrence was not detected in the etizolam group 3 months after surgery, but occurred in the control group. The difference was significant. Etizolam administration may be useful for the prevention of recurrence of CSH.
