Complication Of Decompressive Craniectomy Research Articles

Complications of Decompressive Craniectomy: A Case-Based Review

Abstract Background Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is a frequently performed procedure to treat intracranial hypertension following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke. DC is a salvage procedure that reduces mortality at the expense of severe disability and compromises the quality of life. The procedure is not without serious complications. Methods We describe the complications following DC and its management in a case-based review in this article. Results Complications after DC are classified as early or late complications based on the time of occurrence. Early complication includes hemorrhage, external cerebral herniation, wound complications, CSF leak/fistula, and seizures/epilepsy. Contusion expansion, new contralateral epidural, and subdural hematoma in the immediate postoperative period mandate surgical intervention. It is necessary to repeat non-contrast CT head at 24 hours and 48 hours following DC. Late complication includes subdural hygroma, hydrocephalus, syndrome of the trephined, bone resorption, and falls on the unprotected cranium. An early cranioplasty is an effective strategy to mitigate most of the late complications. Conclusions DC can be associated with a number of complications. One should be aware of the possible complications, and timely intervention is required.

Outcome & Complications of Decompressive Craniectomy with Expansion Duroplasty in Severe Head Injury

Objective: A descriptive case series was conducted to find the frequency of complications and complications of decompressive craniectomy with expansion duraplasty in severe head injury.
 Material and Methods: 189 patients fulfilling the selection criteria were included. All patients had TBI which was confirmed by CT scan. Surgery was performed on the day of admission under general anesthesia and a large trauma flap. Patients were monitored daily by evaluators from the date of surgery until hospital discharge or death. Patients were followed up for 3 months and the outcome was assessed using the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS).
 Results: Mean age of the patients was 36.57 years. There were 61.4% (116) males and 38.6% (73) females. 3.7% had CSF leakage. 1.6% had meningitis. Wound infection was seen in 7.4% of patients. Forty percent had a favorable outcome and 60% had a poor outcome. Fifty patients out of 111 patients between 18 – 40 years showed good outcomes. Twenty-six out of 78 from the 41 – 60 years age group showed good outcomes. Out of 189 total, 76 patients had a good outcome. The outcome was good in 63 patients out of 148 patients with GCS 5 – 8, whereas 13 (out of 41) patients had a good outcome with GCS below 5.
 Conclusion: We discovered that the result was good in 40% of patients, with 11 percent of complications recorded. Therefore, we concluded that decompressive craniectomy with expansion duraplasty is an effective procedure for the treatment of the severe head injury.

Reconstruction of the temporal line for sinking skin flap syndrome using split rib grafts: a technical note

Sinking skin flap syndrome (SSFS), also known as syndrome of the trephined, is one of the complications of decompressive craniectomy. The definitive treatment for the condition is cranioplasty, but there are cases where that is not an option. We report a seventy-seven-year-old male patient with disturbance of consciousness after removal of infected bone flap and debridement. The skin showed marked depression and SSFS was diagnosed. The scalp had contracted due to infection and debridement so as to need skin grafting. Cranioplasty with a full-size bone flap was not an option. Reconstruction of the temporal line with autologous rib graft was performed. The patient became alert after the operation.

Massive Temporalis Muscle Swelling after Decompressive Craniectomy: Case Report

Background: Decompressive Craniectomy is a surgical procedure in neurosurgery to handle brain swelling subsequent to trauma, vascular insult, or tumor. There are different techniques and measurements of decompressive craniectomy performed worldwide. We follow the regular trauma flap involving fronto-temporo-parietal craniectomy. There have been many complications seen in these procedures, like brain herniation, malignant swelling, hydrocephalus, infection, etc. But we have encountered quite rare complications of decompressive craniectomy which had massive swelling of the temporalis muscle leading to significant mass effect and midline shift.

Surgical complications of decompressive craniectomy in patients with head injury.

Decompressive craniectomy is an important method for managing refractory intracranial hypertension. Although decompressive craniectomy is arelatively simple procedure, various complications may arise. The aim of our paper was to determine the incidence of complications of decompressive craniectomy in patients with head injury and to analyse their risk factors. We retrospectively analysed agroup of 94 patients after decompressive craniectomy for head injury between 01 Jan 2014 and 31 Dec 2018. Postoperative complications were evaluated based on clinical examination and postoperative CT scan. The impact of potential risk factors on the occurrence of complications was assessed (age, worse initial clinical condition, any haemocoagulation disorder). Twenty patients died within the first month after surgery. Control CT scan showed one complication in 78 patients (83%), while 46 patients (49%) had more than one complication. We had to reoperate 22 patients (23.4%) due to acomplication. The following complications were found: postoperative acute subgaleal/subdural haematoma (30× - 32%), subgaleal/subdural cerebrospinal fluid effusion (29× - 31%), soft tissues oedema (29× - 31%), haemorrhagic progression of brain contusion (17× - 18%), malignant brain oedema (8× - 8.5%), hydrocephalus (8× - 8.5%), temporal muscle atrophy (7× - 7.5%), peroperative massive bleeding ( 6× - 6.4%), epilepsy (4× - 4.3%), syndrome of the trephined (2× - 2.1%), skin necrosis (2× - 2.1%). Patients with ahaemocoagulation disorder had asignificantly higher incidence of complications (p=0.01). Complications of decompressive craniectomy after head injury are frequent. The potential benefit of decompressive craniectomy can be adversely affected by the occurrence of many complications.

Complications of Decompressive Craniectomy.

Decompressive craniectomy (DC) has become the definitive surgical procedure to manage medically intractable rise in intracranial pressure due to stroke and traumatic brain injury. With incoming evidence from recent multi-centric randomized controlled trials to support its use, we could expect a significant rise in the number of patients who undergo this procedure. Although one would argue that the procedure reduces mortality only at the expense of increasing the proportion of the severely disabled, what is not contested is that patients face the risk of a large number of complications after the operation and that can further compromise the quality of life. Decompressive craniectomy (DC), which is designed to overcome the space constraints of the Monro Kellie doctrine, perturbs the cerebral blood, and CSF flow dynamics. Resultant complications occur days to months after the surgical procedure in a time pattern that can be anticipated with advantage in managing them. New or expanding hematomas that occur within the first few days can be life-threatening and we recommend CT scans at 24 and 48 h postoperatively to detect them. Surgeons should also be mindful of the myriad manifestations of peculiar complications like the syndrome of the trephined and neurological deterioration due to paradoxical herniation which may occur many months after the decompression. A sufficiently large frontotemporoparietal craniectomy, 15 cm in diameter, increases the effectiveness of the procedure and reduces chances of external cerebral herniation. An early cranioplasty, as soon as the brain is lax, appears to be a reasonable choice to mitigate many of the late complications. Complications, their causes, consequences, and measures to manage them are described in this chapter.

Craniotomy or Decompressive Craniectomy for Acute Subdural Hematomas: Surgical Selection and Clinical Outcome.

ObjectiveCraniotomy (CO) and decompressive craniectomy (DC) are two main surgical options for acute subdural hematomas (ASDH). However, optimal selection of surgical modality is unclear and decision may vary with surgeon's experience. To clarify this point, we analyzed preoperative findings and surgical outcome of patients with ASDH treated with CO or DC.MethodsFrom January 2010 to December 2014, data for 46 patients with ASDH who underwent CO or DC were retrospectively reviewed. The demographic, clinical, imaging and clinical outcomes were analyzed and statistically compared.ResultsTwenty (43%) patients underwent CO and 26 (57%) patients received DC. In DC group, preoperative Glascow Coma Scale was lower (p=0.034), and more patient had non-reactive pupil (p=0.004). Computed tomography findings of DC group showed more frequent subarachnoid hemorrhage (p=0.003). Six month modified Rankin Scale showed favorable outcome in 60% of CO group and 23% of DC group (p=0.004). DC was done in patient with more unfavorable preoperative features (p=0.017). Patients with few unfavorable preoperative features (<6) had good outcome with CO (p<0.001).ConclusionIn selective cases of few unfavorable clinical findings, CO may also be an effective surgical option for ASDH. Although DC remains to be standard of surgical modality for patients with poor clinical status, CO can be an alternative considering the possible complications of DC.

Contralateral haematoma secondary to decompressive craniectomy performed for severe head trauma: A descriptive study of 15 cases

Background: Contralateral haematoma is an infrequent but severe complication of decompressive craniectomy for head trauma.Method: A retrospective study was performed of patients developing this complication after decompressive craniectomy for head trauma in the institute. Demographics, mechanism of trauma, time interval between trauma and first operation, time interval between first operation and onset of contralateral haematoma and patients’ outcomes were recorded for further analysis.Results: Fifteen patients developed this complication in the study; most had epidural haematomas, which appeared within the first 12 hours after decompressive craniectomy in 13 patients, including three haematomas that developed during surgical decompression. Contralateral cranial fracture is a major risk factor for this condition. Only one patient recovered to mild disability. All remaining patients had poor outcomes, with Glasgow coma scale scores ≤3, except for one patient who was lost to follow-up. A literature review of similar studies including 36 patients revealed similar characteristics.Conclusion: Contralateral haematoma secondary to surgical decompression in head trauma can lead to a poor outcome. The prompt detection and removal of the haematoma are keys to management and routine recurrent computed tomography is recommended after the first operation.

Complications of Decompressive Craniectomy

Persistent elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP), if untreated, may lead to brain ischemia or lack of brain oxygen and even brain death.1-6,10 When standard treatments for elevated ICP are exhausted without any signs of improvement, decompressive craniectomy can be an effective alternative solution.7,19 Decompressive craniectomies (DC) have been used as a method of controlling intracranial pressure in patients with cerebral edema secondary to cerebral ischemia, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and traumatic brain injury (TBI), among others. 8-10 Several studies over the years have demonstrated the efficacy of this procedure.7-9,11,35,36 However, consensus is still lacking in the utility of DC as an effective first tier treatment for intractable intracranial pressure due to the rudimentary neurological outcome assessments, and the many complications associated with this procedure.11,12,59 There are a limited number of studies that have looked at complications secondary to the procedure itself.13-18 The majority of these studies only investigated the impact of this procedure in patients with traumatic brain injury. The purpose of this study is to investigate the rates of various complications associated with the decompressive craniectomy procedure in patients that did not suffer from traumatic brain injury, and to determine whether the same associations between preoperative parameters and development of complications can be made.

Normal pressure subdural hygroma with mass effect as a complication of decompressive craniectomy

Background:Subdural posttraumatic collections are called usually Traumatic Subdural Hygroma (TSH). TSH is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the subdural space after head injury. These collections have also been called Traumatic Subdural Effusion (TSE) or External Hydrocephalous (EHP) according to liquid composition, or image features. There is no agreement about the pathogenesis of these entities, how to define them or if they are even different phenomena at all.Case Description:We present a case of a complex posttraumatic subdural collection, the role of cranioplasty as definite solution and review the literature related to this complication.Conclusion:Patients who undergo decompressive craniectomy (DC) have a risk of suffering a subdural collection of 21-50%. Few of these collections will become symptomatic and will need evacuation. When this happens, cranioplasty might be the definitive solution.

Complications of Decompressive Craniectomy

Persistent elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP), if untreated, may lead to brain ischemia or lack of brain oxygen and even brain death.1-6,10 When standard treatments for elevated ICP are exhausted without any signs of improvement, decompressive craniectomy can be an effective alternative solution.7,19 Decompressive craniectomies (DC) have been used as a method of controlling intracranial pressure in patients with cerebral edema secondary to cerebral ischemia, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and traumatic brain injury (TBI), among others. 8-10 Several studies over the years have demonstrated the efficacy of this procedure.7-9,11,35,36 However, consensus is still lacking in the utility of DC as an effective first tier treatment for intractable intracranial pressure due to the rudimentary neurological outcome assessments, and the many complications associated with this procedure.11,12,59 There are a limited number of studies that have looked at complications secondary to the procedure itself.13-18 The majority of these studies only investigated the impact of this procedure in patients with traumatic brain injury. The purpose of this study is to investigate the rates of various complications associated with the decompressive craniectomy procedure in patients that did not suffer from traumatic brain injury, and to determine whether the same associations between preoperative parameters and development of complications can be made.

Surgical complications of decompressive craniectomy for head trauma

Surgical complications of decompressive craniectomy for head trauma

Decompressive craniectomy for the management of patients with refractory hypertension: should it be reconsidered?

The management of refractory post-traumatic cerebral oedema remains a frustrating endeavor for the neurosurgeon and the intensivist. Mortality and morbidity rates remain high, despite refinements in medical and pharmacological means of controlling intracranial hypertension. In this retrospective study we have evaluated the efficacy of decompressive craniectomy as a last resort therapy, from the data of nine patients with severe brain injury and delayed cerebral oedema (diffuse injury type III), treated between January 1997 and September 1999. The following parameters were considered: age, Glascow Coma Scale, injury severity, intracranial pressure, CT findings, pupil reaction/posturing. Follow-up period was over at least 2 years and outcome measured on the GOS. Patients have been operated on post-trauma median day 3, mean age 26+/-9, GCS 7+/-3.7, mean APACHE II 16+/-6.4, mean ISS 27.8+/-16.1, mean preoperative ICP 37.7+/-10.0, mean postoperative ICP 18.1+/-16.01. Seven patients have been operated by a frontotemporoparietal approach (six of them bilateral, one unilateral) and two patients have been operated on by a bilateral subtemporal approach. Mortality rates 22%, severe disability 11%, good recovery 66%. Patients with STBI, developing delayed intracranial hypertension caused by diffuse cerebral oedema, definitely benefit from craniectomy when current medical treatment has failed. The encouraging results of outcome in this and more recent studies, indicate the need for a multi-institutional randomized prospective study evaluating early indicators of raised ICP, timing, efficacy of treatment, operative technique and complications of decompressive craniectomy.