Spontaneous intracranial hypotension is an acute headache disorder caused by cerebrospinal fluid leakage from the spinal region. Its main symptom is severe headache when sitting or standing, which alleviates upon lying down. Patients often require prolonged bed rest, posing significant disability to individuals, families, and even society, especially affecting the productive workforce. Moreover, approximately one-fifth of patients may develop complications such as subdural hematoma, posing a threat to life. Traditional treatment methods, requiring extensive fluid administration and prolonged bed rest, have only about a 28% success rate and are time-consuming. Prolonged illness may even lead to the occurrence of complications.
TVGH Headache Team achieves major breakthrough after 25 years of dedication
The Taipei Veterans General Hospital Headache Team has been dedicated to the field of spontaneous intracranial hypotension for twenty-five years, achieving significant breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment. Vice President Shuu-Juin Wang stated that the TVGH team has developed a safer, more effective, and more personalized treatment plan over 25 years. For the treatment of cerebrospinal fluid leakage, a less invasive blood patch therapy has been developed, significantly reducing the need for surgical repair and reducing the incidence of complications such as subdural hematoma by 28.8%.
Leading global research in non-invasive diagnosis and treatment, reducing disability and mortality rates
Vice President Shuu-Juin Wang stated that for patients whose consciousness is affected due to subdural hematoma, the team promptly repairs cerebrospinal fluid leakage with a blood patch and simultaneously performs drainage of subdural hematoma by neurosurgery through interdisciplinary collaboration. After establishing this complication treatment process, the time from hospital admission to surgery for TVGH patients has decreased by 56.4%, and the proportion of severe disability or death caused by complications has dropped to 0%.
Highest success rate in blood patch therapy on Dura Mater worldwide, lowest surgical repair rate after failure
Vice President Shuu-Juin Wang stated that the TVGH team has accumulated experience in blood patch therapy with 485 cases and 612 treatments. The success rate of blood patch therapy on the dura mater is as high as 99.2%, far exceeding that of advanced countries in Europe and America. Additionally, the team has reduced the proportion of surgical repair after treatment failure to the lowest globally at 0.2%, providing patients with more effective treatment options.
The TVGH team has published 25 important papers in the field of spontaneous intracranial hypotension, many of which are in top international journals. The research results have been recognized by international peers, adopted by multiple countries as clinical guidelines, and won the Silver Award of the National Biomedical Quality Award in 2023.
Establishment of cross-team collaboration mode, changing the standardization process of diagnosis and treatment
In the past, the treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension patients was often managed by a single department. The TVGH Headache Team has further established a cross-team collaboration mode, involving departments such as neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, and anesthesiology, to provide patients with more comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. The significant breakthroughs achieved by the TVGH Headache Team in the treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension have brought new hope to patients with this disease. With the team's continued efforts, patients will be able to receive safer, more effective, and more personalized treatment.
Resource (Mandarin):
自發性顱內低壓治療新突破！北榮頭痛團隊攻克全球難題
