329 Same Day Discharge After Craniotomy for Brain Tumor Resection: Enhancing Patient Selection Through a Prognostic Scoring System

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Neurosurgery, among other surgical fields, is in the midst of a shift in patient management with enhanced recovery and same day discharge protocols slowly becoming more popular and feasible. While such protocols reduce risk of nosocomial complications and improve patient satisfaction, appropriate patient selection remains an area of debate. METHODS: Three arms of analysis were carried out. First, clinical data of SDD patients was prospectively collected between August 2021 and August 2022. In parallel, a retrospective analysis of patients who qualified for SDD but were excluded at surgeon clinical discretion over the same period was performed. Third, a comparative analysis of the pilot and follow-up studies was done from which a clinical scoring system for patient selection was derived. RESULTS: Over the length of the study, 31 of 334 patients were selected for SDD while 59 qualified by previously defined criteria but were not selected at the surgeon’s discretion. There was no difference in outcomes between the two groups nor any post-operative complications among the SDD group within 30 days of surgery. Preoperative clinical characteristics found to be significantly different between the two cohorts (Left sided lesion, extra-axial pathology, prior treatment of brain tumor, and tumor volume < 11.75 cm3) were included in a predictive scoring system for successful SDD. The system was found to significantly predict high or low likelihood for successful SDD when tested on the mixedprospective cohort. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a straightforward clinical scoring system for appropriate selection of candidates for SDD after craniotomy for brain tumor resection. The application of this clinical tool aims to aid clinicians in appropriate admission course selection and builds on the growing literature surrounding same-day and outpatient cranial neurosurgery.