Increased Operative Time for Benign Cranial Nerve Tumor Resection Correlates with Increased Morbidity Postoperatively

ObjectivesOperative time, previously identified as a risk factor for postoperative morbidity, is examined in patients undergoing benign cranial nerve tumor resection. Design/Setting/ParticipantsThis retrospective cohort analysis included patients enrolled in the ACS-NSQIP registry from 2007 through 2013 with a diagnosis of a benign cranial nerve neoplasm. Main Outcome MeasuresPrimary outcomes included postoperative morbidity and mortality. Readmission and reoperation served as secondary outcomes. ResultsA total of 565 patients were identified. Mean (median) operative time was 398 (370) minutes. The 30-day complication, readmission, and return to the operating room rates were 9.9%, 9.9%, and 7.3%, respectively, on unadjusted analyses. CSF leak requiring reoperation or readmission occurred at a rate of 3.1%. On multivariable regression analysis, operations greater than 413 minutes were associated with an increased odds of overall complication (OR 4.26, 95% CI 2.08-8.72), return to the operating room (OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.23-5.67), and increased length of stay(1.6 days, 95% CI 0.94-2.23 days). Each additional minute of operative time was associated with an increased odds of overall complication (OR 1.004, 95% CI 1.002-1.006) and increased length of stay (0.006 days, 95% CI 0.004-0.008). ConclusionIncreased operative time in patients undergoing surgical resection of a benign cranial nerve neoplasm was associated with an increased rate of complications.