Aim: To evaluate the association between the pre- and post-operative variables with stays in hospital lasting more than one day and the morbidity and mortality rates of patients undergoing surgery for a brain tumour during their stay in a neurocritical intensive care unit (NCU).
Patients and methods: The retrospective study, over a period of three years (2010-2012), involving a cohort of 317 patients who consecutively underwent surgical interventions due to brain tumours performed by different neurosurgeons and were hospitalised in the NCU.
Results: A total of 21.5% (n = 68) of the patients were hospitalised for more than one day (group L), and 78.5% (n = 249) stayed for one day or less (group S). The univariable association of the pre- and post-operative risks with the length of stay was evaluated. There were no significant differences between groups L and S in terms of the demographic data, the physical status according to the classification of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), the pathological features or the radiological tumour severity index. Tracheal intubation was required in 42.6% (n = 29) of the patients in group L at some time during the post-operative period. Of the patients in group L, 19.1% (n = 13) had systemic and regional complications simultaneously.
Conclusions: An important fraction of patients remain in an NCU for more than one day. The need for both tracheal intubation and respiratory assistance, together with the appearance of systemic and regional complications, can require stays in an NCU for more than one day.
Title: Analisis de la estancia y la morbimortalidad en una unidad de neurocriticos tras la cirugia tumoral cerebral.
Objetivo. Evaluar la asociacion entre las variables pre y postoperatorias con estancias superiores al dia de ingreso y la morbimortalidad del paciente operado de tumor cerebral durante su estancia en una unidad de cuidados intensivos neurocriticos (UNC). Pacientes y metodos. El estudio retrospectivo incluyo una cohorte de 317 pacientes operados consecutivamente de tumor cerebral por diferentes neurocirujanos e ingresados en la UNC durante un periodo de tres años (2010-2012). Resultados. El 21,5% (n = 68) de los pacientes tuvo estancias superiores a un dia (grupo L), y el 78,5% (n = 249), igual o menores a un dia (grupo C). Se evaluo la asociacion univariable de los factores de riesgo pre y perioperatorios con la estancia. No hubo diferencias significativas en los datos demograficos, el estado fisico segun la clasificacion de la American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), las caracteristicas anatomopatologicas ni el indice de gravedad tumoral radiologica entre los grupos L y C. Se necesito intubacion traqueal en el 42,6% (n = 29) de los pacientes del grupo L en algun momento del postoperatorio. El 19,1% (n = 13) de los pacientes del grupo L tuvo complicaciones sistemicas y regionales simultaneamente. Conclusiones. Existe una fraccion importante de pacientes que tiene una estancia superior a un dia en una UNC. Tanto la necesidad de intubacion traqueal como la asistencia respiratoria y la aparicion de complicaciones sistemicas y regionales pueden determinar estancias superiores a un dia en una UNC.