Unplanned Reoperation After Craniotomy for Tumor: A National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Analysis

Naoxueshu Oral Liquid Accelerates Post-Craniotomy Hematoma Absorption in Patients: An Open-Label, Multicenter, and Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether Naoxueshu Oral Liquid (NXS) could promote hematoma absorption in post-craniotomy hematoma (PCH) patients.

METHODS

This is an open-label, multicenter, and randomized controlled trial conducted at 9 hospitals in China. Patients aged 18-80 years with post-craniotomy supratentorial hematoma volume ranging from 10 to 30 mL or post-craniotomy infratentorial hematoma volume less than 10 mL, or intraventricular hemorrhage following cranial surgery were enrolled. They were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to the NXS (10 mL thrice daily for 15 days) or control groups using a randomization code table. Standard medical care was administered in both groups. The primary outcome was the percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 15. The secondary outcomes included the percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 7, the absolute reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 7 and 15, and the change in neurological function from day 1 to day 7 and 15. The safety was closely monitored throughout the study. Moreover, subgroup analysis was performed based on age, gender, history of diabetes, and etiology of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

RESULTS

A total of 120 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned between March 30, 2018 and April 15, 2020. One patient was lost to follow-up in the control group. Finally, there were 119 patients (60 in the NXS group and 59 in the control group) included in the analysis. In the full analysis set (FAS) analysis, the NXS group had a greater percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 15 than the control group [median (Q1, Q3): 85% (71%, 97%) vs. 76% (53%, 93%), P<0.05]. The secondary outcomes showed no statistical significance between two groups, either in FAS or per-protocol set (P>0.05). Furthermore, no adverse events were reported during the study. In the FAS analysis, the NXS group exhibited a higher percentage reduction in hematoma volume on day 15 in the following subgroups: male patients, patients younger than 65 years, patients without diabetes, or those with initial cranial surgery due to ICH (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The administration of NXS demonstrated the potential to promote the percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 15. This intervention was found to be safe and feasible. The response to NXS may be influenced by patient characteristics. (Registration No. ChiCTR1800017981).

Information-guided Surgery Centered on Intraoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Guarantees Surgical Safety with Low Mortality

Neurosurgery is complex surgery that requires a strategy that maximizes the removal of tumors and minimizes complications; thus, a safe environment during surgery should be guaranteed. In this study, we aimed to verify the safety of brain surgery using intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI), based on surgical experience since 2000. Thus, we retrospectively examined 2,018 surgical procedures that utilized iMRI performed in the operating room at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital between March 2000 and October 2019. As per our data, glioma constituted the majority of the cases (1,711 cases, 84.8%), followed by cavernous hemangioma (61 cases, 3.0%), metastatic brain tumor (37 cases, 1.8%), and meningioma (31 cases, 1.5%). In total, 1,704 patients who underwent glioma removal were analyzed for mortality within 30 days of surgery and for reoperation rates and the underlying causes within 24 hours and 30 days of surgery. As per our analysis, only one death out of all the glioma cases (0.06%) was reported within the 30-day period. Meanwhile, reoperation within 30 days was performed in 37 patients (2.2%) due to postoperative bleeding in 17 patients (1.0%), infection in 12 patients (0.7%), hydrocephalus in 6 patients (0.4%), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage in 1 patient, and brain edema in 1 patient (0.06%). Of these, 14 cases (0.8%) of reoperation were performed within 24 hours, that is, 13 cases (0.8%) due to postoperative bleeding and 1 case (0.06%) due to acute hydrocephalus. Mortality rate within 30 days was less than 0.1%. Thus, information-guided surgery with iMRI can improve the safety of surgical resections, including those of gliomas.

Impact of functional status on 30-day resource utilization and organ system complications following index bariatric surgery: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Bariatric surgical procedures carry an appreciable risk profile despite their elective nature. Identified risk factors for procedural complications are often limited to medical comorbidities. This study assesses the impact of functional status on resource utilization and organ system complications following bariatric surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort study analyzed patients undergoing elective, index bariatric surgery from American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program participating hospitals from 2015 to 2019 ( n =65 627). The primary independent variable was functional status. The primary outcome was unplanned resource utilization. Secondary outcomes included composite organ system complications and mortality. The impact of functional status was first investigated with univariate analyses. Survival and multivariate analyses were then performed on select complications with clinically and statistically significant incidence in the dependent cohort.

RESULTS

On univariate analysis, dependent functional status was associated with unplanned resource utilization [12.1% (27/223) vs. 4.1% (2661/65 404)]; relative risk, 2.98 (95% CI, 2.09-4.25); P < 0.001] and haematologic/infectious complications [6.7% (15/223) vs. 2.4% (1540/65 404); relative risk, 2.86 (95% CI, 1.75-4.67); P < 0.001]. Survival analysis demonstrated a significantly shorter time to both events in patients with dependent functional status ( P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, dependent functional status was an independent predictor of unplanned resource utilization[adjusted odds ratio 2.17 (95% CI, 1.27-3.50); P = 0.003; model c-statistic, 0.572]) and haematologic/infectious complications [adjusted odds ratio, 2.20 ([95% CI, 1.14-3.86); P = 0.011; model c-statistic, 0.579].

CONCLUSION

Patients with dependent functional status are at an elevated risk of unplanned resource utilization and haematologic/infectious complications following index bariatric surgery. The increased risk cannot be explained by medical comorbidities alone.

Baseline labs predict adverse postoperative outcomes following metastatic brain tumor resection: Analysis of 5943 patients from a prospective surgical registry (2015-2019)

INTRODUCTION

The present study sought to evaluate the predictive accuracy of preoperative lab values (PLV) on postoperative metastatic brain tumor resection (MBTR) outcomes using data queried from a large prospective international surgical registry, representing over 700 hospitals in 11 countries.

METHODS

Adult metastatic brain tumor patients (N = 5943) were queried from the American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database, from 2015 to 2019, using diagnostic and procedural coding. The relationship between preoperative lab values and key indicators of adverse postoperative outcomes following metastatic brain tumor resection were assessed with univariate and multivariate analyses. Adverse postoperative outcomes of interest included: 30-day mortality, Clavien-Dindo Grade IV (CDIV) complications, extended length of stay (eLOS), and discharge to non-home destination (NHD), as well as secondary outcomes: non-Clavien-Dindo Grade IV complications, unplanned reoperation, and unplanned readmission.

RESULTS

Independent PLV most strongly associated with 30-day mortality were hypernatremia, increased serum creatinine, and thrombocytopenia. Significant predictors of CDIV complications were hypoalbuminemia and thrombocytopenia. eLOS was associated with hypoalbuminemia, anemia, and hyponatremia. The strongest independent predictors of NHD were anemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and hypoalbuminemia.

CONCLUSION

Several pre-operative lab values independently predicted worse outcomes for metastatic brain tumor resection patients. Hypoalbuminemia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia had the strongest association with the study's adverse postoperative outcomes. These baseline lab values may be considered for preoperative risk stratification of metastatic brain tumor patients.

The incidence and risk factors of unplanned reoperation in endoscopic endonasal surgeries: a single center study

The incidence of unplanned reoperation after surgery during the same hospitalization is considered one of most important evaluation indicators for health care quality. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors related to unplanned reoperation after an endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA). All patients who underwent elective endoscopic endonasal surgery from January 2016 to December 2021 in the Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, were included. We identified the patients who underwent an unplanned reoperation and those who did not and divided them into two groups. The demographic data and risk factors were compared between the groups by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Of the 1783 patients undergoing EEA for various lesions of the skull base, the incidence of unplanned reoperation was 2.3%. The most common unplanned reoperations were repair of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage (39%), sellar hematoma evacuation (34.1%), hemostasis of epistaxis (14.6%) and external ventricular drainage for obstructive hydrocephalus (9.8%). The maximum diameter of tumor ≥ 3 cm (OR 2.654, CI 1.236-5.698; p = 0.012), meningioma (OR 4.198, CI 1.169-15.072; p = 0.028), craniopharyngioma (OR 5.020, CI 2.020-12.476; p = 0.001) and other sellar lesions (OR 4.336, CI 1.390-13.527; p = 0.012) and an operation time ≥ 240 min (OR 2.299, CI 1.170-4.518; p = 0.016) were the independent risk factors for unplanned reoperations in multivariate regression analysis. Of the 41 patients undergoing unplanned reoperation, 16 patients died, twenty-one patients had panhypopituitarism, 13 patients had transient and 6 had permanent diabetes insipidus, and 11 patients presented with intracranial infection and 6 of these patients were cured. By reviewing our department's data, we stated the incidence and risk factors for unplanned reoperation. It is important for the hospital administration and neurosurgeons to place more emphasis on these indicators. Furthermore, we suggest some effective quality improvement initiatives to reduce the incidence of unplanned reoperation.

Risk Factors for 30-Day Unplanned Re-Operation in Pediatric Upper Extremity Surgery: A National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP)-Pediatric Analysis

Introduction The unplanned re-operation rate has been used as one marker of procedure quality in numerous surgical sub-fields. The purpose of this study was to determine independent risk factors for unplanned re-operations within 30 days following pediatric upper extremity surgery. Methods Pediatric patients who had a primary upper extremity procedure from 2012 to 2019 were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric database. The procedures included percutaneous fixation of supracondylar humerus fractures, open treatment of humeral condylar fractures, tendon sheath incision, repair of syndactyly, and reconstruction of polydactyly. Patients were categorized by those who had unplanned return to the operating room within 30 days and patients who did not. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and medical co-morbidities were evaluated for their association with re-operation using bivariate and multivariate analysis. Results A total of 27,536 pediatric patients underwent primary upper extremity surgeries; of these, 290 (1.1%) required an unplanned re-operation. After controlling for potential confounding variables on multivariable regression analysis, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class III-V (OR 15.89; p<0.001), inpatient procedure (OR 1.29; p=0.044), emergent/urgent triage (OR 3.75; p<0.001), longer operative time (OR 1.01; p<0.001), and prolonged hospital stay (OR 1.01; p=0.010) were independent predictors for re-operation. Conclusion This study demonstrates that the national rate of 30-day unplanned re-operation in pediatric upper extremity surgeries is low overall. The greatest risk factors for unplanned re-operation were ASA class III-V, inpatient setting, emergent/urgent triage, longer operative time, and prolonged hospital stay. This knowledge can help further improve patient outcomes through risk stratification and preoperative planning.

Quality indicators for evaluating the 30-day postoperative outcome in pediatric brain tumor surgery: a 10-year single-center study and systematic review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

Surgery is the cornerstone in the management of pediatric brain tumors. To provide safe and effective health services, quantifying and evaluating quality of care are important. To do this, there is a need for universal measures in the form of indicators reflecting quality of the delivered care. The objective of this study was to analyze currently applied quality indicators in pediatric brain tumor surgery and identify factors associated with poor outcome at a tertiary neurosurgical referral center in western Norway.

METHODS

All patients younger than 18 years of age who underwent surgery for an intracranial tumor at the Department of Neurosurgery at Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway, between 2009 and 2020 were included. The primary outcomes of interest were classic quality indicators: 30-day readmission, 30-day reoperation, 30-day mortality, 30-day nosocomial infection, and 30-day surgical site infection (SSI) rates; and length of stay. The secondary aim was the identification of risk factors related to unfavorable outcome. The authors also conducted a systematic literature review. Articles concerning pediatric brain tumor surgery reporting at least two quality indicators were of interest.

RESULTS

The authors included 82 patients aged 0-17 years. The 30-day outcomes for unplanned reoperation, unplanned remission, mortality, nosocomial infection, and SSI were 9.8%, 14.6%, 0%, 6.1%, and 3.7%, respectively. Unplanned reoperation was associated with eloquent localization (p = 0.009), primary emergency surgery (p = 0.003), and CSF diversion procedures (p = 0.002). Greater tumor volume was associated with unplanned readmission (p = 0.008), nosocomial infection (p = 0.004), and CSF leakage (p = 0.005). In the systematic review, after full-text screening, 16 articles were included and provided outcome data for 1856 procedures. Overall, the 30-day mortality rate was low, varying from 0% to 9.3%. The 30-day reoperation rate varied from 1.5% to 12%. The SSI rate ranged between 0% and 3.9%, and 0% to 17.4% of patients developed CSF leakage. Four studies reported infratentorial tumor location as a risk factor for postoperative CSF leakage.

CONCLUSIONS

The 30-day outcomes in the authors' department were comparable to published outcomes. The most relevant factors related to unfavorable outcomes are tumor volume and location, both of which are not modifiable by the surgeon. This highlights the importance of risk adjustment. This evaluation of quality indicators reveals concerns related to the unclear and nonstandardized definitions of outcomes. Standardized outcome definitions and documentation in a large and multicentric database are needed in the future for further evaluation of quality indicators.

Clinically predictive baseline labs for post-operative outcomes of brain tumors using NSQIP database

PURPOSE

This study was performed to assess the effect of baseline Preoperative Laboratory Values (PLV) on post-operative Brain Tumor Resection (BTR) outcomes in a large national registry.

METHODS

We extracted data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database for BTR patients 2015-2019 (n = 3 0,951). Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed for PLV and key surgical outcomes.

RESULTS

The most significant PLV predictors of 30-day mortality after BTR included hypernatremia (odds ratio, OR 4.184, 95% CI, 2.384-7.343, p < 0.001), high serum creatinine (OR 2.244, 95% CI 1.502-3.352, p < 0.001), thrombocytopenia (OR 1.997, 95% CI 1.438, 2.772, p < 0.001), and leukocytosis (OR 1.635, 95% CI 1.264, 2.116, p < 0.001). The most significant predictors of Clavien IV complications were increased INR (OR 2.653, 95% CI 1.444, 4.875, p < 0.01), thrombocytopenia (OR 1.514, 95% CI 1.280, 1.792, p < 0.001), hypoalbuminemia (OR 1.480, 95% CI 1.274, 1.719, p < 0.001), and leukocytosis (OR 1.467, 95% CI 1.306, 1.647, p < 0.001). The most robust predictors of eLOS were increased INR (OR 1.941, 95% CI 1.231, 3.060, p < 0.01) and hypoalbuminemia (OR 1.993, 95% CI 1.823, 2.179, p < 0.001), and those for non-routine discharge included increased INR (OR 1.897, 95% CI 1.196, 3.008, p < 0.01) and hypernatremia (OR 1.565, 95% CI 1.217, 2.012, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Several PLV independently predicted worse outcomes in BTR patients. Baseline labs should be routinely used for the pre-operative risk stratification of these patients.

Trends in CSF Leakage Associated with Duraplasty in Infratentorial Procedures over the Last 20 Years: A Systematic Review

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is a common postoperative complication of neurosurgical procedures, with iatrogenic causes accounting for 16% of CSF leakages. This complication increases healthcare costs and patient morbidity. The focus of this review is to analyze the rates of CSF leakage of some of the most commonly used xenogeneic and synthetic dural substitutes following surgeries in the infratentorial region of the brain where surgical repair can be most challenging. A systematic literature search was conducted using studies detailing duraplasty procedures performed with nonautologous grafts in the infratentorial region in PubMed. Studies were identified using the following search terms: "posterior fossa" or "infratentorial" were used in combination with "CSF leak," "CSF leakage," "cerebrospinal fluid leakage," "duraplasty" or "dura graft." The outcome of interest was a measure of the prevalence of CSF leakage rates following posterior fossa neurosurgery. Studies that contributed data to this review were published between 2006 and 2021. The dural graft materials utilized included: bovine collagen, acellular dermis, equine collagen, bovine pericardium, collagen matrix, and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). The number of subjects in studies on each of these grafts ranged from 6 to 225. CSF leak rates ranged from 0% to 25% with the predominance of studies reporting between 3% and 15%. The studies that utilize bovine collagen, equine collagen, and acellular dermis reported higher CSF leakage rates; whereas studies that utilized ePTFE, bovine pericardium, and collagen matrix reported lower CSF leakage rates. Due to the heterogeneity of methodologies used across these studies, it is difficult to draw a direct correlation between the dural patch products used and CSF leaks. Larger prospective controlled studies that evaluate various products in a head-to-head fashion, using the same methods and animal models, are needed to conclude the relative efficacy of these dural patch products.

Can Currently Suggested Quality Indicators Be Transferred to Meningioma Surgery?-A Single-Center Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

 Risk stratification based on standardized quality measures has become crucial in neurosurgery. Contemporary quality indicators have often been developed for a wide range of neurosurgical procedures collectively. The accuracy of tumor-inherent characteristics of patients diagnosed with meningioma remains questionable. The objective of this study was the analysis of currently applied quality indicators in meningioma surgery and the identification of potential new measures.

METHODS

 Data of 133 patients who were operated on due to intracranial meningiomas were subjected to a retrospective analysis. The primary outcomes of interest were classical quality indicators such as the 30-day readmission, 30-day reoperation, 30-day mortality, 30-day nosocomial infection, and the 30-day surgical site infection rate. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed. The occurrence of a new postoperative neurologic deficit was analyzed as a potential new quality indicator.

RESULTS

 The overall unplanned readmission rate was 3.8%; 13 patients were reoperated within 30 days (9.8%). The 30-day nosocomial infection and surgical site infection rates were 6.8 and 1.5%, respectively. A postoperative new neurologic deficit or neurologic deterioration as a currently assessed quality feature was observed in 12 patients (9.2%). The edema volume on preoperative scans proved to have a significant impact on the occurrence of a new postoperative neurologic deficit (p = 0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

 Classical quality indicators in neurosurgery have proved to correlate with considerable deterioration of the patient's health in meningioma surgery and thus should be taken into consideration for application in meningioma patients. The occurrence of a new postoperative neurologic deficit is common and procedure specific. Thus, this should be elucidated for application as a complementary quality indicator in meningioma surgery.

The necessity for routine intensive care unit admission following elective craniotomy for epilepsy surgery: a retrospective single-center observational study

OBJECTIVE

Traditionally, patients who underwent elective craniotomy for epilepsy surgery are monitored postoperatively in an intensive care unit (ICU) overnight in order to sufficiently respond to potential early postoperative complications. In the present study, the authors investigated the frequency of early postoperative events that entailed ICU monitoring in patients who had undergone elective craniotomy for epilepsy surgery. In a second step, they aimed at identifying pre- and intraoperative risk factors for the development of unfavorable events to distinguish those patients with the need for postoperative ICU monitoring at the earliest possible stage.

METHODS

The authors performed a retrospective observational cohort study assessing patients with medically intractable epilepsy (n = 266) who had undergone elective craniotomy for epilepsy surgery between 2012 and 2019 at a tertiary care epilepsy center, excluding those patients who had undergone invasive diagnostic approaches and functional hemispherectomy. Postoperative complications were defined as any unfavorable postoperative surgical and/or anesthesiological event that required further ICU therapy within 48 hours following surgery. A multivariate analysis was performed to reveal preoperatively identifiable risk factors for postoperative adverse events requiring an ICU setting.

RESULTS

Thirteen (4.9%) of 266 patients developed early postoperative adverse events that required further postoperative ICU care. The most prevalent event was a return to the operating room because of relevant postoperative intracranial hematoma (5 of 266 patients). Multivariate analysis revealed intraoperative blood loss ≥ 325 ml (OR 6.2, p = 0.012) and diabetes mellitus (OR 9.2, p = 0.029) as risk factors for unfavorable postoperative events requiring ICU therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study revealed routinely collectable risk factors that would allow the identification of patients with an elevated risk of postsurgical complications requiring a postoperative ICU stay following epilepsy surgery. These findings may offer guidance for a stepdown unit admission policy following epilepsy surgical interventions after an external validation of the results.

Early Unplanned Reoperation After Glioma Craniotomy: Incidence, Predictor and Process Improvement

Objective

To evaluate the rate of, reasons for, and predictors of unplanned reoperation after craniotomy for glioma in a single-institution consecutive series.

Methods

Patients who underwent glioma resection at our hospital from 2015 to 2021 were included (n=1563). Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the predictors of early unplanned cranial reoperation. The predictors that were screened included patient age, sex, tumor properties, blood loss, blood pressure and antiplatelets drugs usage.

Results

A total of 3.6% (56/1563) of the patients underwent an early unplanned reoperation after craniotomy for glioma. The reasons for early unplanned reoperation were brain edema (48.2%), cerebral infarction (33.9%) and hemorrhage (17.9%). The predictors of early unplanned reoperation were WHO grade III-IV, peritumoral edema ≥1 cm, subtotal resection, arterial/venous involvement and elevation in blood pressure ≥50 mmHg.

Conclusions

Glioma properties and blood pressure management are decisive predictors of early unplanned reoperation for glioma resection. The authors provide a nuanced discussion regarding early unplanned reoperations and perioperative process improvement as a quality indicator for glioma patient populations.

Applicability of contemporary quality indicators in vestibular surgery-do they accurately measure tumor inherent postoperative complications of vestibular schwannomas?

Background

Due to rising costs in health care delivery, reimbursement decisions have progressively been based on quality measures. Such quality indicators have been developed for neurosurgical procedures, collectively. We aimed to evaluate their applicability in patients that underwent surgery for vestibular schwannoma and to identify potential new disease-specific quality indicators.

Methods

One hundred and three patients operated due to vestibular schwannoma were subject to analysis. The primary outcomes of interest were 30-day and 90-day reoperation, readmission, mortality, nosocomial infection and surgical site infection (SSI) rates, postoperative cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) leak, facial, and hearing function. The secondary aim was the identification of prognostic factors for the mentioned primary outcomes.

Results

Thirty-day (90-days) outcomes in terms of reoperation were 10.7% (14.6%), readmission 9.7% (13.6%), mortality 1% (1%), nosocomial infection 5.8%, and SSI 1% (1%). A 30- versus 90-day outcome in terms of CSF leak were 6.8% vs. 10.7%, new facial nerve palsy 16.5% vs. 6.1%. Hearing impairment from serviceable to non-serviceable hearing was 6.8% at both 30- and 90-day outcome. The degree of tumor extension has a significant impact on reoperation (p < 0.001), infection (p = 0.015), postoperative hemorrhage (p < 0.001), and postoperative hearing loss (p = 0.026).

Conclusions

Our data demonstrate the importance of entity-specific quality measurements being applied even after 30 days. We identified the occurrence of a CSF leak within 90 days postoperatively, new persistent facial nerve palsy still present 90 days postoperatively, and persisting postoperative hearing impairment to non-serviceable hearing as potential new quality measurement variables for patients undergoing surgery for vestibular schwannoma.

Risk Factors and Outcomes of Redo Craniotomy: A Tertiary Care Center Analysis

Background and aim

Reoperation rate is defined as the percentage of patients returning to the operating room (OR) within 30 days of an initial craniotomy and undergoing a repeat (redo) craniotomy procedure. It is a key factor of quality-of-care assessments and has implications for outcomes, especially in oncological cases. Redo craniotomies are associated with improvement in neurological status and decreased mortality rate compared to non-surgical interventions but are associated with higher costs and risk of complications. It is important to gauge the indications and frequency of redo craniotomies as an index of quality of healthcare to improve patient outcomes. This study aimed to identify the indications, frequency, and outcomes of reoperation following an initial craniotomy in neurosurgical patients at a tertiary care hospital.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care center in Pakistan and included all patients who underwent unplanned reoperation within 30 days of initial craniotomy from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2017. Demographics, indications for index surgery as well as reoperation, and outcomes in the form of complications, neurological status, and mortality were collected from medical charts and analyzed.

Results

The study comprised 111 patients who underwent reoperations. Median age of the patients was 36 years (interquartile range {IQR}: 33 years). From a total of more than 1900 annual cases, the frequency of unplanned reoperations was 3.5%. The most common indication of unplanned reoperation based on MRI/CT was hemorrhage (40%, subdural hemorrhage was most common), followed by hydrocephalus (22%), cerebral edema (13%), and residual tumor (13%). The most common clinical reason for unplanned reoperation was a drop in Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) (59%), whereas anisocoria was seen in 10.8% of patients. The highest mortality rate was observed in patients who were reoperated from post-operative day two to post-operative day seven (56%). Hypertension (p=0.014) and thrombocytopenia (p<0.001) showed significant associations with developing intracranial hemorrhage. Seventy-eight percent of patients showed significant improvement in their Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) whereas 22% showed deterioration in their KPS.

Conclusion

The delivery of consistent quality healthcare relies on early detection and intervention in at-risk patients. Our center’s reoperation rate is consistent with the average range among other centers globally. Hypertension, anticoagulation, and antiplatelet therapy were common risk factors for redo craniotomies within 30 days. Patients with these conditions need special care to prevent returns to the operating room. Patients also need to be monitored for hemorrhage in the short term (one to two days) and hydrocephalus in the long term (two to 30 days) to intervene early if needed.

Costs and Its Determinants in Pituitary Tumour Surgery

PURPOSE

Value-based healthcare (VBHC) provides a framework to improve care by improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. To support value-based decision making in clinical practice we evaluated healthcare costs and cost drivers in perioperative care for pituitary tumour patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively assessed financial and clinical data for surgical treatment up to the first year after surgery of pituitary tumour patients treated between 2015 and 2018 in a Dutch tertiary referral centre. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to identify determinants of higher costs.

RESULTS

271 patients who underwent surgery were included. Mean total costs (SD) were €16339 (13573) per patient, with the following cost determinants: surgery time (€62 per minute; 95% CI: 50, 74), length of stay (€1331 per day; 95% CI 1139, 1523), admission to higher care unit (€12154 in total; 95% CI 6413, 17895), emergency surgery (€10363 higher than elective surgery; 95% CI: 1422, 19305) and postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak (€14232; 95% CI 9667, 18797). Intradural (€7128; 95% CI 10421, 23836) and combined transsphenoidal/transcranial surgery (B: 38494; 95% CI 29191, 47797) were associated with higher costs than standard. Further, higher costs were found in these baseline conditions: Rathke's cleft cyst (€9201 higher than non-functioning adenoma; 95% CI 1173, 17230), giant adenoma (€19106 higher than microadenoma; 95% CI 12336, 25877), third ventricle invasion (€14613; 95% CI 7613, 21613) and dependent functional status (€12231; 95% CI 3985, 20477). In patients with uncomplicated course, costs were €8879 (3210) and with complications €17551 (14250).

CONCLUSIONS

Length of hospital stay, and complications are the main drivers of costs in perioperative pituitary tumour healthcare as were some baseline features, e.g. larger tumors, cysts and dependent functional status. Costs analysis may correspond with healthcare resource utilization and guide further individualized care path development and capacity planning.

Feasibility of low-dose dexmedetomidine for prevention of postoperative delirium after intracranial operations: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Background

Clinical trials have shown that dexmedetomidine might decrease the occurrence of postoperative delirium after major surgery, but neurosurgical patients were excluded from these studies. We aimed to determine the feasibility of conducting a full-scale randomized controlled trial of the effect of prophylactic low-dose dexmedetomidine on postoperative delirium in patients after elective intracranial operation for brain tumors.

Methods

In this single-center, parallel-arm pilot randomized controlled trial, adult patients who underwent an elective intracranial operation for brain tumors were recruited. Dexmedetomidine (0.1 μg/kg/hour) or placebo was continuously infused from intensive care unit (ICU) admission on the day of surgery until 08:00 AM on postoperative day one. Adverse events during the study-drug administration were recorded. The primary feasibility endpoint was the occurrence of study-drug interruption. Delirium was assessed twice daily with the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU during the first five postoperative days. The assessable rate of delirium evaluation was documented.

Results

Sixty participants were randomly assigned to receive either dexmedetomidine (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30). The study-drug was stopped in two patients (6.7%) in the placebo group due to desaturation after new-onset unconsciousness and an unplanned reoperation for hematoma evacuation and in one patient (3.3%) in the dexmedetomidine group due to unplanned discharge from the ICU. The absolute difference (95% confidence interval) of study-drug interruption between the two groups was 3.3% (− 18.6 to 12.0%), with a noninferiority P value of 0.009. During the study-drug infusion, no bradycardia occurred, and hypotension occurred in one patient (3.3%) in the dexmedetomidine group. Dexmedetomidine tended to decrease the incidence of tachycardia (10.0% vs. 23.3%) and hypertension (3.3% vs. 23.3%). Respiratory depression, desaturation, and unconsciousness occurred in the same patient with study-drug interruption in the placebo group (3.3%). Delirium was evaluated 600 times, of which 590 (98.3%) attempts were assessable except in one patient in the placebo group who remained in a coma after an unplanned reoperation.

Conclusions

The low rate of study-drug interruption and high assessable rate of delirium evaluation supported a fully powered trial to determine the effectiveness of low-dose dexmedetomidine on postoperative delirium in patients after intracranial operation for brain tumors.

Trial registration

The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04494828) on 31/07/2020.

Classical and disease-specific quality indicators in glioma surgery—Development of a quality checklist to improve treatment quality in glioma patients

Background

There is a pressing demand for more accurate, disease-specific quality measures in the field of neurosurgery. Aiming at most adequately measuring and reflecting the quality of glioma therapy, we developed a novel quality indicator bundle in form of a checklist for all patients that are treated operatively for glioma.

Methods

On the basis of possible glioma-specific quality indicators retrieved from the literature and quality guidelines, a multidisciplinary team developed a checklist containing 13 patient-need-specific outcome measures. Subsequently, the checklist was prospectively applied to a total of 78 patients compared with a control group consisting of 322 patients. A score was generated based on the maximum of quality measures achieved.

Results

Significant improvements in quality after prospectively introducing the checklist were achieved for supplemental physical and occupational therapy during inpatient stay (89.4% vs 100%, P = .002), consultation of a social worker during inpatient stay (64% vs 92.3%, P &lt; .001), psycho-oncological screening (14.3% vs 70.5%, P &lt; .001), psycho-oncological consultation (31.1% vs 82.1%, P &lt; .001), and consultation of the palliative care team (20% vs 40%, P = .031). Overall, after introduction of the checklist one-third (n = 23) of patients reached best-practice measures in all categories, and over half of the patients (n = 44) achieved above 90% with respect to the outcome measures.

Conclusions

Aiming at ensuring comprehensive, consistent, and timely care of glioma patients, the implementation of the checklist for routine use in glioma surgery represents an efficient, easily reproducible, and powerful tool for significant improvements.

Operative duration and early outcomes in patients having a supratentorial craniotomy for brain tumor: A propensity matched analysis

It is unclear how variations in operative duration affect outcomes after craniotomy for supratentorial brain tumor. We characterized three populations of patients with typical, shorter, and longer durations of craniotomy for supratentorial brain tumor using prospectively collected clinical data from 16,335 patients in the 2012-2018 ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. We compared baseline characteristics including demographics, comorbidities, tumor type, and operative features. We used propensity score matching to attain covariate balance and logistic regression to assess odds of unfavorable outcomes. Patients with the shortest operation durations tended to be older, with fewer males, higher ASA class, more metastatic brain tumors, more medical comorbidities, and less use of intraoperative microscope or ultrasound. Patients with the longest operative durations tended to be younger, with more males, fewer non-white minorities, more obesity, lower ASA classes, more intrinsic brain tumors, fewer medical comorbidities, fewer emergency operations, and increased use of intraoperative microscope. For patients with the shortest operations, after matching, we observed significantly decreased odds of prolonged length-of-stay (LOS), major complication, any complication, reoperation, and discharge to a facility; however, there was a significantly increased risk of 30-day mortality. For patients with the longest operations, after matching, we observed significantly increased odds of prolonged LOS; minor, major, and any complication; discharge to facility; and 30-day reoperation. After matching to balance baseline characteristics, operative duration has implications for outcomes following craniotomy for supratentorial brain tumor.

The incidence of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage after elective cranial surgery: a systematic review

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is a major complication after elective neurosurgical procedures. The aim of this systematic literature review is to summarize the incidence rates of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage for neurosurgical procedures, classified by surgical approach. The Pubmed, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched for studies reporting the outcome of patients undergoing elective neurosurgical procedures. The number of patients, surgical approach, and indication for surgery were recorded for each study. Outcomes related to CSF leakage such as clinical manifestation and treatment were reported as well. One hundred and thirteen studies were included, reporting 94,695 cases. Overall, CSF leaks were present in 3.8% of cases. Skull base surgery had the highest rate of CSF leakage with 6.2%. CSF leakage occurred in 5.9% of anterior skull base procedures, 6.4% of middle fossa, and 5.2% of transpetrosal surgeries. 5.8% of reported infratentorial procedures were complicated by CSF leakage versus 2.9% of supratentorial surgeries. CSF leakage remains a common serious adverse event after cranial surgery. There exists a need for standardized procedures to reduce the incidence of postoperative CSF leakage, as this serious adverse event may lead to increased health care costs.

Early unplanned readmission of neurosurgical patients after treatment of intracranial lesions: a comparison between surgical and non-surgical intervention group

Background

Recent health care policy making has highlighted the necessity for understanding factors that influence readmission. To elucidate the rate, reason, and predictors of readmissions in neurosurgical patients, we analyzed unscheduled readmissions to our neurosurgical department after treatment for cranial or cerebral lesions.

Methods

From 2015 to 2017, all adult patients who had been discharged from our Department of Neurosurgery and were readmitted within 30 days were included into the study cohort. The patients were divided into a surgical and a non-surgical group. The main outcome measure was unplanned inpatient admission within 30 days of discharge.

Results

During the observation period, 183 (7.4%) of 2486 patients had to be readmitted unexpectedly within 30 days after discharge. The main readmission causes were surgical site infection (34.4 %) and seizure (16.4%) in the surgical group, compared to natural progression of the original diagnosis (38.2%) in the non-surgical group. Most important predictors for an unplanned readmission were younger age, presence of malignoma (OR: 2.44), and presence of cardiovascular side diagnoses in the surgical group. In the non-surgical group, predictors were length of stay (OR: 1.07) and the need for intensive care (OR: 5.79).

Conclusions

We demonstrated that reasons for readmission vary between operated and non-operated patients and are preventable in large numbers. In addition, we identified treatment-related partly modifiable factors as predictors of unplanned readmission in the non-surgical group, while unmodifiable patient-related factors predominated in the surgical group. Further patient-related risk adjustment models are needed to establish an individualized preventive strategy in order to reduce unplanned readmissions.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00701-020-04521-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Safety of immediate use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs after pediatric craniotomy for tumor

OBJECTIVE

Postoperative pain can limit the recovery of children undergoing craniotomy for tumor resection, and pain management is highly variable between institutions and practitioners. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effective in treating postoperative pain following craniotomy, but their use has been limited by concerns about postoperative hemorrhage. The risk of postoperative hemorrhage is not insignificant in patients undergoing craniotomy for tumor resection. No study has specifically addressed the safety of NSAIDs in the immediate postoperative setting following craniotomy for tumor resection in pediatric patients.

METHODS

The authors performed a retrospective cohort study in patients younger than 18 years of age who underwent craniotomy for tumor resection at a single tertiary referral center between 2009 and 2019. The study outcomes were 1) postoperative hemorrhage requiring return to the operating room for decompression, evacuation, or CSF diversion for hemorrhage-associated hydrocephalus; and 2) more-than-minimal hemorrhage on routine postoperative imaging. Patients receiving any NSAID in the hospital formulary on the same day as surgery (postoperative day zero [POD0]) were designated as such.

RESULTS

Two hundred seventy-six children underwent 308 craniotomies for tumor resection over the study period. One hundred fifty-four patients (50.0%) received at least one dose of an NSAID on POD0. Six patients (1.9%) required a return to the operating room for a hemorrhagic complication, including 3 who received an NSAID on POD0 (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.20-5.03). Seventeen patients (6.3% of patients imaged) had more-than-minimal hemorrhage on routine postoperative imaging, 9 of whom received an NSAID on POD0 (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.40-2.89).

CONCLUSIONS

Use of NSAIDs on POD0 was not associated with either an increased risk of hemorrhage requiring a return to the operating room or asymptomatic hemorrhage on routine postoperative imaging. The overall incidence of clinically significant postoperative intracranial hemorrhage is low. These data support the use of NSAIDs as a safe measure for pain control in the postoperative setting for children undergoing craniotomy for tumor resection.

Development and validation of prediction scores for nosocomial infections, reoperations, and adverse events in the daily clinical setting of neurosurgical patients with cerebral and spinal tumors

OBJECTIVE

Various quality indicators are currently under investigation, aiming at measuring the quality of care in neurosurgery; however, the discipline currently lacks practical scoring systems for accurately assessing risk. The aim of this study was to develop three accurate, easy-to-use risk scoring systems for nosocomial infections, reoperations, and adverse events for patients with cerebral and spinal tumors.

METHODS

The authors developed a semiautomatic registry with administrative and clinical data and included all patients with spinal or cerebral tumors treated between September 2017 and May 2019. Patients were further divided into development and validation cohorts. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to develop risk scores by assigning points based on β coefficients, and internal validation of the scores was performed.

RESULTS

In total, 1000 patients were included. An unplanned 30-day reoperation was observed in 6.8% of patients. Nosocomial infections were documented in 7.4% of cases and any adverse event in 14.5%. The risk scores comprise variables such as emergency admission, nursing care level, ECOG performance status, and inflammatory markers on admission. Three scoring systems, NoInfECT for predicting the incidence of nosocomial infections (low risk, 1.8%; intermediate risk, 8.1%; and high risk, 26.0% [p < 0.001]), LEUCut for 30-day unplanned reoperations (low risk, 2.2%; intermediate risk, 6.8%; and high risk, 13.5% [p < 0.001]), and LINC for any adverse events (low risk, 7.6%; intermediate risk, 15.7%; and high risk, 49.5% [p < 0.001]), showed satisfactory discrimination between the different outcome groups in receiver operating characteristic curve analysis (AUC ≥ 0.7).

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed risk scores allow efficient prediction of the likelihood of adverse events, to compare quality of care between different providers, and further provide guidance to surgeons on how to allocate preoperative care.

Understanding Risk Factors Associated With Unplanned Reoperation in Major Head and Neck Surgery

Importance

Understanding the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative risk factors of reoperation is the optimal way to approach decreasing its incidence.

Objective

To identify risk factors of unplanned reoperation following major operations of the head and neck.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective cohort study queried the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database and identified 2475 cases of major operations of the head and neck performed between 2005 and 2014. Specific operations analyzed were glossectomy, mandibulectomy, laryngectomy, and pharyngectomy. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with or without unplanned reoperation. Data were analyzed between September and November 2017.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was incidence of unplanned reoperation in patients with major operations in the head and neck region. An additional aim was to assess the risk factors associated with an increased likelihood of reoperation.

Results

In total, 1941 patients were included in this study (1298 [66.9%] males), with most patients (961 [49.5%]) between 61 and 80 years of age. The overall unplanned reoperation rate within 30 days after the principal operative procedure was 14.2% (275 patients). The operative procedure with the highest reoperation rate was pharyngectomy (8 of 46 [17.4%]), followed by glossectomy (95 of 632 [15.0%]), laryngectomy (53 of 399 [13.3%]), and mandibulectomy (25 of 240 [10.4%]). Among the unplanned reoperation patients, 516 patients (76.8%) underwent reoperation during their initial hospital admission and 156 patients (23.2%) after readmission. The mean (SD) number of days from the principal operative procedure to unplanned reoperation was 8.5 (3.6) days for initial-admission reoperations and 16.0 (4.8) days for readmission reoperations. The most common unplanned reoperation procedures overall included repair, surgical exploration, and revision procedures on arteries and veins (47 of 2475 [1.9%]), incision procedures on the soft tissue of the neck and thorax (37 of 1941 [1.9%]), and incision and drainage procedures on the skin, subcutaneous, and accessory structures (21 of 1941 [1.1%]). Multivariate analysis results indicated that the independent risk factors for unplanned reoperation following a major cancer operation of the head or neck included black race (odds ratio [OR], 1.72; 95% CI, 1.09-2.74), disseminated cancer (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.14-3.00), greater total operation time (OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.49-2.82), superficial (OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.55-4.24) or deep (OR, 4.83; 95% CI, 2.60-8.95) surgical site infection, wound dehiscence (OR, 8.36; 95% CI, 5.10-13.69), and ventilator dependence up to 48 hours after surgery (OR, 2.95; 95% CI, 1.79-4.87).

Conclusions and Relevance

The identification of a significant association of black race, disseminated cancer, total operation time, surgical site infection in either the superficial or deep spaces, wound dehiscence, or ventilator dependence for more than 48 hours after surgery with increased risk of reoperation in major head and neck surgery may guide the modification and adaptation of these risk factors to decrease the burden that unplanned reoperation places on patients, surgeons, and the health care system.

Quality of British and American Nationwide Quality of Care and Patient Safety Benchmarking Programs: Case Neurosurgery

BACKGROUND

Multiple nationwide outcome registries are utilized for quality benchmarking between institutions and individual surgeons.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether nationwide quality of care programs in the United Kingdom and United States can measure differences in neurosurgical quality.

METHODS

This prospective observational study comprised 418 consecutive adult patients undergoing elective craniotomy at Helsinki University Hospital between December 7, 2011 and December 31, 2012.We recorded outcome event rates and categorized them according to British Neurosurgical National Audit Programme (NNAP), American National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP), and American National Neurosurgery Quality and Outcomes Database (N2QOD) to assess the applicability of these programs for quality benchmarking and estimated sample sizes required for reliable quality comparisons.

RESULTS

The rate of in-hospital major and minor morbidity was 18.7% and 38.0%, respectively, and 30-d mortality rate was 2.4%. The NSQIP criteria identified 96.2% of major but only 38.4% of minor complications. N2QOD performed better, but almost one-fourth (23.2%) of all patients with adverse outcomes, mostly minor, went unnoticed. For NNAP, a sample size of over 4200 patients per surgeon is required to detect a 50.0% increase in mortality rates between surgeons. The sample size required for reliable comparisons between the rates of complications exceeds 600 patients per center per year.

CONCLUSION

The implemented benchmarking programs in the United Kingdom and United States fail to identify a considerable number of complications in a high-volume center. Health care policy makers should be cautious as outcome comparisons between most centers and individual surgeons are questionable if based on the programs.

Big Data Defined: A Practical Review for Neurosurgeons

BACKGROUND

Modern science and healthcare generate vast amounts of data, and, coupled with the increasingly inexpensive and accessible computing, a tremendous opportunity exists to use these data to improve care. A better understanding of data science and its relationship to neurosurgical practice will be increasingly important as we transition into this modern "big data" era.

METHODS

A review of the literature was performed for key articles referencing big data for neurosurgical care or related topics.

RESULTS

In the present report, we first defined the nature and scope of data science from a technical perspective. We then discussed its relationship to the modern neurosurgical practice, highlighting key references, which might form a useful introductory reading list.

CONCLUSIONS

Numerous challenges exist going forward; however, organized neurosurgery has an important role in fostering and facilitating these efforts to merge data science with neurosurgical practice.

Reporting Methodology of Neurosurgical Studies Utilizing the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database: A Systematic Review and Critical Appraisal

BACKGROUND

Use of large databases such as the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) has become increasingly common in neurosurgical research.

OBJECTIVE

To perform a critical appraisal and evaluation of the methodological reporting for studies in neurosurgical literature that utilize the ACS-NSQIP database.

METHODS

We queried Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed databases for all neurosurgical studies utilizing the ACS-NSQIP. We assessed each study according to number of criteria fulfilled with respect to Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement, REporting of studies Conducted using Observational Routinely-collected Health Data (RECORD) Statement, and Journal of American Medical Association–Surgical Section (JAMA-Surgery) Checklist. A separate analysis was conducted among papers published in core and noncore journals in neurosurgery according to Bradford's law.

RESULTS

A total of 117 studies were included. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) scores for number of fulfilled criteria for STROBE Statement, RECORD Statement, and JAMA-Surgery Checklist were 20 (IQR:19-21), 9 (IQR:8-9), and 6 (IQR:5-6), respectively. For STROBE Statement, RECORD Statement, and JAMA-Surgery Checklist, item 9 (potential sources of bias), item 13 (supplemental information), and item 9 (missing data/sensitivity analysis) had the highest number of studies with no fulfillment among all studies (56, 68, 50%), respectively. When comparing core journals vs noncore journals, no significant difference was found (STROBE, P = .94; RECORD, P = .24; JAMA-Surgery checklist, P = .60).

CONCLUSION

While we observed an overall satisfactory reporting of methodology, most studies lacked mention of potential sources of bias, data cleaning methods, supplemental information, and external validity. Given the pervasive role of national databases and registries for research and health care policy, the surgical community needs to ensure the credibility and quality of such studies that ultimately aim to improve the value of surgical care delivery to patients.

Returns to Operating Room After Neurosurgical Procedures in a Tertiary Care Academic Medical Center: Implications for Health Care Policy and Quality Improvement

BACKGROUND

Return to the operating room (ROR) has been put forth by the National Quality Forum and the American College of Surgeons as a surgical quality indicator. However, current quality metrics fail to consider the nature and etiology of the ROR.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a comprehensive description of all reoperations after neurosurgical procedures and assess the validity of ROR as a quality measure in neurosurgery.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed all neurosurgical procedures performed in a high-volume, tertiary care academic medical center between June 1, 2014 and December 31, 2016. Based on a system constructed and validated at our institution, we classified RORs into (a) unplanned related, (b) planned return due to complications, (c) planned-staged return, or (d) unrelated return.

RESULTS

A total of 9200 unique neurosurgical cases were identified, of which 788 had an ROR within 45 d (8.6%). Median time to ROR (interquartile range) was 9 d (4-15). Specifically, 4.2% were planned-staged returns, 3.4% were unplanned related, 0.3% were unrelated, and 0.6% were planned because of previous complications. Cranial procedures had the highest unplanned ROR rate (4.2%), followed by spinal (2.8%) and peripheral nerve (0.4%). The most common reason for an unplanned ROR was wound complication/surgical site infection (34.3%), followed by hematoma evacuation (13.9%) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak (11.3%).

CONCLUSION

Unplanned RORs were relatively rare and most commonly associated with wound complication, postoperative hematoma, and CSF leak. To better reflect surgical quality, ROR metrics should indicate whether the return was planned or unrelated.

Predictors of Unplanned Returns to the Operating Room within 30 Days in Neurosurgery: Insights from a National Surgical Registry

BACKGROUND

In the modern, increasingly pay-for-performance era, unplanned return to the operating room (ROR) is gaining attention as a surgical quality metric. However, large-scale data on the appropriateness and usefulness of this measure in neurosurgery are scarce.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a comprehensive description of all RORs after neurosurgical procedures in a national surgical registry and identify factors associated with ROR.

METHODS

We queried the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program multicenter database for patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures during 2012-2016. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with 30-day unplanned ROR after the 3 most common inpatient cranial and spinal operations: craniotomy for intra-axial neoplasm, convexity/falx meningioma, or skull base tumors; anterior cervical discectomy and fusion; and posterior lumbar decompression and posterior lumbar fusion.

RESULTS

A total of 193,459 cases were identified, of which 7067 (3.7%) had at least 1 unplanned ROR within 30 days after the index procedure (inpatient, 4.3%; outpatient, 1.5%). Overall, the most common reasons were wound complication/surgical site infection (0.7%), hematoma evacuation (0.6%), and repeat surgery (0.5%). On multivariable analysis, the relative amount of variation in reoperation risk was found to be 1%-24% for demographics, 1%-19% for comorbidities, 1%-6% for preoperative laboratory values, and 4%-58% for operative characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings may inform stakeholders on the optimal parameters that need to be taken into account when crafting, endorsing, and implementing quality metrics for neurosurgery that aim to assess surgical performance and reward or penalize hospitals and providers.

Adverse events in brain tumor surgery: incidence, type, and impact on current quality metrics

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to determine pre-operative factors associated with adverse events occurring within 30 days after neurosurgical tumor treatment in a German center, adjusting for their incidence in order to prospectively compare different centers.

METHODS

Adult patients that were hospitalized due to a benign or malignant brain were retrospectively assessed for quality indicators and adverse events. Analyses were performed in order to determine risk factors for adverse events and reasons for readmission and reoperation.

RESULTS

A total of 2511 cases were enrolled. The 30 days unplanned readmission rate to the same hospital was 5.7%. The main reason for readmission was tumor progression. Every 10th patient had an unplanned reoperation. The incidence of surgical revisions due to infections was 2.3%. Taking together all monitored adverse events, male patients had a higher risk for any of these complications (OR 1.236, 95%CI 1.025-1.490, p = 0.027). Age, sex, and histological diagnosis were predictors of experiencing any complication. Adjusted by incidence, the increased risk ratios greater than 10.0% were found for male sex, age, metastatic tumor, and hemiplegia for various quality indicators.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that most predictors of outcome rates are based on preoperative underlying medical conditions and are not modifiable by the surgeon. Comparing our results to the literature, we conclude that differences in readmission and reoperation rates are strongly influenced by standards in decision making and that comparison of outcome rates between different health-care providers on an international basis is challenging. Each health-care system has to develop own metrics for risk adjustment that require regular reassessment.

Analysis of Unplanned Return to the Operating Room Within 30 Days of Initial Neurosurgery: A 3-Year Experience at a Single Center

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to evaluate the reasons and prognosis of unplanned return to the operating room (URTOR) and to help improve neurosurgical service quality.

METHODS

Medical records of URTOR within 30 days of initial surgery were reviewed at a single neurosurgical center for a period of 3 years. Out of 4516 neurosurgeries, 62 URTOR cases were included to analyze patients' age, sex, initial surgery code, seniority of the performed surgeon, interval between the reopening procedures and initial procedures, reason for reopening, prognosis, and complications.

RESULTS

The 62 patients underwent 70 URTORs. Out of 1445 primary operations performed by junior surgeons, 40 experienced URTOR, whereas 22 of 3071 craniotomies initially performed by senior surgeons resulted in URTOR. Five patients died in this series. Out of the 54 patients who experienced 1-time URTOR, 3 died, whereas 2 of the 8 patients who experienced 2-time URTOR died. Of 22 URTOR surgeries performed by senior surgeons, 10 took place within 24 hours, compared with 26 out of 48 performed by the junior surgeon.

CONCLUSIONS

The main reasons for URTOR after neurosurgery were rebleeding and swelling of the brain. The number of URTORs and time from primary craniotomy to URTOR are not associated with morbidity or mortality. However, the seniority of the surgeon affects the rate of URTOR: surgeons with rich experience in surgery may reduce the chance of a second craniotomy and increase the chance of a good prognosis.

Incidence, Causes and Risk Factors for 30-Day Unplanned Reoperation After Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer: Experience of a High-Volume Center

Background

To investigate the incidence, causes and risk factors for unplanned reoperation because of early complications within 30 days of radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Methods

The study cohort comprised 1,948 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer between November 2010 and April 2017. The incidence, causes and outcomes of unplanned reoperation were examined and the risk factors were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

In total, 24 patients (1.2%) underwent unplanned reoperations because of early complications after radical gastrectomy. The main causes more frequently requiring reoperation were adhesive intestinal obstruction (eight cases, 33.3%), intra-abdominal bleeding (five cases, 20.8%), wound dehiscence (five cases, 20.8%), anastomotic leakage and intra-abdominal infection (five cases, 20.8%), and iatrogenic common bile duct injury (one case). Multivariate analysis identified that only combined multi-organ resection (odds ratio (OR) = 4.060, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.645 - 10.023, P = 0.002) was an independent risk factor. Two patients (8.3%) who underwent reoperation died from disseminated intravascular coagulation or sepsis, respectively, which was significantly higher than the remaining 1,924 patients who did not require reoperation (six cases, 0.3%, P < 0.001). Moreover, patients who underwent reoperation experienced higher morbidity rates (37.5% vs. 6.8%, P < 0.001), requiring intensive care (20.8% vs. 2.4%, P < 0.001) and longer postoperative hospital stays (33.6 days vs. 11.0 days, P < 0.001) compared with patients required no reoperation.

Conclusions

Combined multi-organ resection was an independent risk factor for unplanned reoperation following radical gastrectomy. Avoiding multi-organ resection as possible will decrease the likelihood of patients requiring reoperation.