Clinical and Perioperative Determinants of Postoperative Pneumonia After Craniotomy for Tumor Resection

Background/Objectives: Postoperative pneumonia is a common complication in surgical patients. Despite its clinical significance, there is limited evidence regarding its occurrence following intracranial tumor resection, the most common procedure in neurosurgery. The objective of this study is to determine the incidence of postoperative pneumonia, to examine its association with length of hospital stay, and to identify potential risk factors. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 1481 patients who underwent intracranial tumor resection in our department over a ten-year period, excluding the influence of anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications. Results: Of the 1481 patients included in this study, postoperative pneumonia occurred in 1.48% of cases. Smoking status (p = 0.014) and prolonged hospital stay (p = 0.011) emerged as significant risk factors in the univariate analysis for postoperative pneumonia in patients undergoing brain tumor resection. In contrast, demographic factors (age, sex, body mass index), pre-existing comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic inflammatory conditions), and laboratory parameters did not show significant associations with the development of postoperative pulmonary infection. Conclusions: This study identified pre- and postoperative risk factors associated with pneumonia following craniotomy for intracranial tumors. These findings may provide a valuable framework for pre- und postoperative risk assessment and guide strategies to mitigate the occurrence of postoperative pneumonia.