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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04410146

The SQUID Trial for the Embolization of the Middle Meningeal Artery for Treatment of Chronic Subdural Hematoma (STEM)

STEM Study is a pivotal, international, multi-center, prospective, randomized (1:1) controlled trial designed to provide an assessment of the safety and effectiveness of Middle Meningeal Artery (MMA) embolization with SQUID for the management of Chronic Subdural Hematoma (cSDH)

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Key information

About this study

The study objective is to provide an assessment of the safety and effectiveness of Middle Meningeal Artery (MMA) embolization with SQUID for the management of Chronic Subdural Hematoma (cSDH).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male or female Subject whose age is ≥ 30 at the time of consent
  • Pre-morbid mRS (Modified Rankin Scale) 0-1 within the previous 12 months
  • cSDH measures ≥ 10 mm in greatest thickness
  • cSDH exerts mass effect upon the subjacent brain, as indicated by local cortical flattening or midline shift
  • Imaging characteristics indicative of chronicity (≥ 50% of the volume of the collection should be isodense or hypodense to normal cortical gray matter on Computed Tomography (CT))
  • Subject presents with one or more of the following neurological symptoms: headache; cognitive decline; speech difficulty or aphasia; gait impairment or imbalance; focal neurological deficit (weakness, paresthesia or sensory deficit involving of one or more extremities or facial droop); and/or seizure
  • Subject, or his/her legally authorized representative, understands the nature of the procedure, consents to participation in the study and provides a signed Informed Consent Form
  • Female Subjects of child-bearing potential must be able to provide a current negative urine pregnancy test and agree to an appropriate method of contraception throughout the trial
  • Subject is able and willing to return to the investigational site for all follow-up visits (e.g., 30-day, 90-day, 180-day and 1-year), as required per protocol

Exclusion criteria

  • Subject with prior ipsilateral craniotomy or burr hole evacuation of cSDH
  • Subject with prior Embolization of either MMA
  • Subject requires (in the opinion of the treating surgeon) a full or mini craniotomy
  • Subject with urgent or emergent (within 1 hour of assessment) subdural hematoma evacuation needed
  • Subject with a cSDH with a focal location (confined to the frontal or temporal base or the inter-hemispheric space without cerebral convexity involvement)
  • cSDH developed due to underlying condition such as a vascular lesion, brain tumor, arachnoid cyst, spontaneous intracranial hypotension or secondary to a previous craniotomy
  • Life expectancy of <1 year
  • Subject who presents with an intracranial mass other than subdural hematoma
  • Subject who presents with a meningioma with mass effect and/or ≥1 cm or currently undergoing radiation therapy for carcinoma or sarcoma of the head or neck region
  • Subject with serum creatinine level > 3.0 mg/dL at time of enrollment (this will restrict the use of contrast) and not on dialysis
  • Subject with significant liver function impairment at the time of enrollment
  • Subject with a life-threatening allergy to radiographic contrast (unless treatment for allergy is tolerated or can be managed medically)
  • Subject who is currently enrolled in another investigational study protocol that could potentially confound the current study endpoints

Treatment and study plan

SQUID Embolization

Device

Embolization of the Middle Meningeal Artery using the SQUID non-adhesive liquid embolic agent

SQUID Embolization and Surgical Evacuation

Device

Embolization of the Middle Meningeal Artery using the SQUID non-adhesive liquid embolic agent and the surgical of the sub-dural hematoma

Surgical evacuation

Procedure

Surgical evacuation of the sub-dural hematoma

Standard medical management

Other

Standard Medical Management

Primary outcomes

  1. Primary Effectiveness Endpoint-Number of Participants With Treatment Failure

    Time frame: On 180-day from intervention

    Treatment failure as defined by the occurrence of any of the following events:

    • Residual or re-accumulation of the SDH (≥10 mm) on 180-day scan from intervention.
    • Re-operation (after index procedure) or surgical rescue within 180-days of intervention.
    • Any new, major disabling stroke, myocardial infarction (MI) or death from any (neurological) cause within 180-days of intervention.
  2. Primary Safety Endpoint-Number of Participants With Major Disabling Stroke or Any Death Within 30 Days of Intervention

    Time frame: Within 30-days from intervention

    Major disabling stroke or any death within 30-days from intervention.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Any Investigational Device/MMAE Procedure-related AE/SAE

    Time frame: Through 1-year visit

    Number of participants with an adverse event (AE) or serious adverse event (SAE) adjudicated as probably or causally related to the investigational device or Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization (MMAE) procedure.

  2. mRS Shift Analysis at 180-day Visit

    Time frame: 180-day from intervention

    The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) is an ordinal scale used to measure the degree of disability or dependence in the daily activities of people who have suffered a stroke. Scores range from 0 (no symptoms) to 6 (death):

    0: No symptoms

    • No significant disability
    • Slight disability
    • Moderate disability
    • Moderately severe disability
    • Severe disability
    • Dead The Shift Analysis (also known as an ordinal analysis) evaluates the distribution of mRS scores to identify a general improvement or 'shift' across the entire range of the scale, rather than just comparing 'good' vs. 'poor' outcomes.

Other outcomes

  1. mRS ≤ 2 (Binary)

    Time frame: 180 days

    The Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) is a clinician-reported measure used to assess the degree of functional disability or dependence in daily activities following a neurological event. This binary outcome dichotomizes the 7-point scale (0-6) into two categories: Favorable Outcome (mRS 0-2) and Unfavorable Outcome (mRS 3-6).

    A score of ≤ 2 signifies that the participant is functionally independent and capable of looking after their own affairs without assistance. Results will be reported as the proportion of participants in each treatment arm achieving a score of 0, 1, or 2 at the 180-day follow-up.

  2. Global Neurocognitive Performance

    Time frame: Baseline and 180 Days

    T-scores were used to convert raw data to standardized scale with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. A higher T-score indicates better cognitive performance (a score near 40 indicates a low average to average range). Global neurocognitive performance was assessed by taking the mean T-score for all individual neurocognitive markers (Hopkins Verbal Learning Tests (HVLT-R), Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), Animal Naming, and Trail making tests).

  3. EQ-5D-5L (Including EQ-VAS) Visual Analogue Scale

    Time frame: 180-day change from Baseline

    The EQ VAS is a 20 cm vertical visual analogue scale that records the patient's self-rated health today. It ranges from 0 (Worst health you can imagine) to 100 (Best health you can imagine).

  4. EQ-5D-5L Index

    Time frame: 180 day change from Baseline

    The EQ-5D-5L (EuroQol - 5 Dimension - 5 Level) is a standardized, patient-reported instrument used globally to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL). It assesses health across 5 dimensions-mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression-with 5 levels of severity. The index score ranges from -0.59 to 1.0, where 1.0 represents 'full health' and 0.0 represents death. A higher score indicates a better health-related quality of life. Change is calculated as (180-Day score minus Baseline score)

  5. Hospital Days

    Time frame: Through 180 days

    The number of days (mean) in hospital from baseline through 180 days.

  6. NIHSS

    Time frame: 90-day Change from Baseline

    The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a standardized tool used to objectively quantify the neurological impairment caused by a stroke. It consists of 15 items assessing areas such as level of consciousness, vision, motor function, sensation, and language.

    Score Range: Total scores range from 0 to 42. Interpretation: A score of 0 indicates normal function (no symptoms), while higher scores indicate more severe neurological deficit.

    This outcome measures the mean change in the total NIHSS score from baseline (at enrollment) to the 90-day follow-up

  7. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Days

    Time frame: 180 days

    The total number of ICU days from baseline through 180 days.

  8. Imaging Core Lab Assessments (cSDH Thickness and Midline Shift)

    Time frame: 180 days Change from Baseline

    Core Lab Analysis of CT/MRI Images. The thickness of the cSDH was documented separately for the left and right sides.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Balt USA

Industry

Registry information

Acronym: STEM

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Jun 1, 2020
Registry last updated
Jun 4, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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