Thirty-Day Outcomes After Craniotomy for Primary Malignant Brain Tumors: A National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Analysis.

Abstract

Despite improved perioperative management, the rate of postoperative morbidity and mortality after brain tumor resection remains considerably high. To assess the rates, causes, timing, and predictors of major complication, extended length of stay (>10 d), reoperation, readmission, and death within 30 d after craniotomy for primary malignant brain tumors. Patients were extracted from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program registry (2005-2015) and analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. A total of 7376 patients were identified, of which 948 (12.9%) experienced a major complication. The most common major complications were reoperation (5.1%), venous thromboembolism (3.5%), and death (2.6%). Furthermore, 15.6% stayed longer than 10 d, and 11.5% were readmitted within 30 d after surgery. The most common reasons for reoperation and readmission were intracranial hemorrhage (18.5%) and wound-related complications (11.9%), respectively. Multivariable analysis identified older age, higher body mass index, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, dependent functional status, elevated preoperative white blood cell count (white blood cell count [WBC], >12 000 cells/mm3), and longer operative time as predictors of major complication (all P<.001). Higher ASA classification, dependent functional status, elevated WBC, and ventilator dependence were predictors of extended length of stay (all P<.001). Higher ASA classification and elevated WBC were predictors of reoperation (both P<.001). Higher ASA classification and dependent functional status were predictors of readmission (both P<.001). Older age, higher ASA classification, and dependent functional status were predictors of death (all P<.001). This study provides a descriptive analysis and identifies predictors for short-term complications, including death, after craniotomy for primary malignant brain tumors.