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

BACKGROUND: Despite improved perioperative management, the rate of postoperative morbidity and mortality after brain tumor resection remains considerably high. OBJECTIVE: 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. METHODS: Patients were extracted from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program registry (2005-2015) and analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 7376 patientswere identified, ofwhich 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/mm(3)), 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 elevatedWBCwere 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). CONCLUSION: This studyprovides a descriptive analysis and identifiespredictors for shortterm complications, including death, after craniotomy for primary malignant brain tumors.n