Predicting Readmission and Reoperation for Benign Cranial Nerve Neoplasms: A Nationwide Analysis

Readmission and reoperation are risks in the resection of benign cranial nerve tumors (BCNTs). This report analyzes the impact of patient-level and surgical factors on these adverse outcomes.

This retrospective cohort review comprised patients with a diagnosis of BCNT enrolled in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program registry from 2011 to 2015. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the impact of select medical and operative factors on the primary outcomes of readmission and reoperation within 30 days, adjusted for relevant covariates.

We identified 996 patients who underwent resection of a BCNT. The most frequent major complications were readmission (11%), reoperation (8%), surgical site infections (2.6%), and venous thromboembolism (1.5%). The most frequent indications for readmission were management of infection (2.5%), cerebrospinal fluid leak (2.3%), and hydrocephalus (0.5%). Repair of cranial and meningeal defects (3.0%), correction of lagophthalmos (1.2%), and repair of middle ear defects (1.0%) were the most common indications for reoperation. Logistic regression revealed that extremes of age were associated with readmission, whereas preoperative steroid usage, long operative time, and postoperative length of stay >3 days were associated with reoperation (P < 0.05). Obesity trended toward an association with readmission and reoperation.

Extremes of age were associated with readmission; preoperative steroid use, long operative time, and postoperative length of stay >3 days were associated with reoperation. Surgeons should consider these factors when assessing risk of postoperative complications for BCNTs.