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Long-term risks and survival times of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts implanted due to hydrocephalus (HC) after craniotomy for brain tumors are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to establish the overall VP shunt survival rates during a decade after shunt insertion and to determine risks of shunt failure after brain tumor surgery in the long-term period. In this population-based cohort from a well-defined geographical region, all adult patients (> 18 years) from 2004 to 2013 who underwent craniotomies for intracranial tumors leading to VP shunt dependency were included. Our brain tumor database was cross-linked to procedure codes for shunt surgery (codes AAF) to extract brain tumor patients who became VP shunt dependent after craniotomy. The VP shunt survival time, i.e. the shunt longevity, was calculated from the day of shunt insertion after brain tumor surgery until the day of its failure. A total of 4174 patients underwent craniotomies, of whom 85 became VP shunt dependent (2%) afterwards. Twenty-eight patients (33%) had one or more shunt failures during their long-term follow-up, yielding 1-, 5-, and 10-year shunt success rates of 77%, 71%, and 67%, respectively. Patient age, sex, tumor location, primary/repeat craniotomy, placement of external ventricular drainage (EVD), ventricular entry, post-craniotomy hemorrhage, post-shunting meningitis/infection, and multiple shunt revisions were not statistically significant risk factors for shunt failure. Median shunt longevity was 457.5 days and 21.5 days for those with and without pre-craniotomy HC, respectively (p

The efficacy of tumor removal via craniotomies on preoperative hydrocephalus (HC) in adult patients with intracranial tumors is largely unknown. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the effect of tumor resection in patients with preoperative HC and identify the incidence and risk factors for postoperative VP shunt dependency. All craniotomies for intracranial tumors at Oslo University Hospital in patients ≥ 18 years old during a 10-year period (2004–2013) were reviewed. Patients with radiologically confirmed HC requiring surgery and subsequent development of shunt dependency were identified by cross-linking our prospectively collected tumor database to surgical procedure codes for hydrocephalus treatment (AAF). Patients with preexisting ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts (N = 41) were excluded. From 4774 craniotomies performed on 4204 patients, a total of 373 patients (7.8%) with HC preoperatively were identified. Median age was 54.4 years (range 18.1–83.9 years). None were lost to follow-up. Of these, 10.5% (39/373) required permanent CSF shunting due to persisting postoperative HC. The risk of becoming VP shunt dependent in patients with preexisting HC was 7.0% (26/373) within 30 days and 8.9% (33/373) within 90 days. Only secondary (repeat) surgery was a significant risk factor for VP shunt dependency. In this large, contemporary, single-institution consecutive series, 10.5% of intracranial tumor patients with preoperative HC became shunt-dependent post-craniotomy, yielding a surgical cure rate for HC of 89.5%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first and largest study regarding postoperative shunt dependency after craniotomies for intracranial tumors, and can serve as benchmark for future studies.

The risk of developing a de novo shunt-dependent hydrocephalus (HC) after undergoing a craniotomy for brain tumor in adult patients is largely unknown. All craniotomies for intracranial tumors at Oslo University Hospital in adult patients ≥18 years of age during a 10-year period (2004-2013) were included. None were lost to follow-up. Patients who developed a shunt-dependent HC were identified by cross-linking our prospectively collected tumor database to patients with a NCSP surgical procedure code of hydrocephalus (AAF). Patients with pre-existing HC or ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts were excluded from the study. A total of 4401 craniotomies were performed. Of these, 46 patients (1.0%) developed de novo postoperative HC requiring a VP shunt after a median of 93 days (mean 115 days, range 6-442). Median age was 62.0 years (mean 58.9 years, range 27.3-80.9) at time of VP shunt surgery. Patients without pre-existing HC had a 0.2% (n = 8/4401) risk of becoming VP shunt dependent within 30 days and 0.5% (n = 22/4401) within 90 days. Age, sex, tumor location, primary/secondary surgery, and radiotherapy were not associated with VP shunt dependency. Choroid plexus tumors and craniopharyngiomas had increased risk of VP shunt dependency. In this large, contemporary, single-institution consecutive series, the risk of postoperative shunt-dependency after craniotomies for brain tumors without pre-existing HC was very low. This is the largest study with regards to de novo postoperative shunt-dependency after craniotomies for patients with intracranial tumors and can serve as a benchmark for future studies.

Object The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of CSF disturbances before and after intracranial surgery for pediatric brain tumors in a large, contemporary, single-institution consecutive series. Methods All pediatric patients (those < 18 years old), from a well-defined population of 3.0 million inhabitants, who underwent craniotomies for intracranial tumors at Oslo University Hospital in Rikshospitalet between 2000 and 2010 were included. The patients were identified from the authors' prospectively collected database. A thorough review of all medical charts was performed to validate all the database data. Results Included in the study were 381 consecutive craniotomies, performed on 302 patients (50.1% male, 49.9% female). The mean age of the patients in the study was 8.63 years (range 0–17.98 years). The follow-up rate was 100%. Primary craniotomies were performed in 282 cases (74%), while 99 cases (26%) were secondary craniotomies. Tumors were located supratentorially in 249 cases (65.3%), in the posterior fossa in 105 (27.6%), and in the brainstem/diencephalon in 27 (7.1%). The surgical approach was supratentorial in 260 cases (68.2%) and infratentorial in 121 (31.8%). Preoperative hydrocephalus was found in 124 cases (32.5%), and 71 (86.6%) of 82 achieved complete cure with tumor resection only. New-onset postoperative hydrocephalus was observed in 9 (3.5%) of 257 cases. The rate of postoperative CSF leaks was 6.3%. Conclusions Preoperative hydrocephalus was found in 32.5% of pediatric patients with brain tumors treated using craniotomies. Tumor resection alone cured preoperative hydrocephalus in 86.6% of cases and the incidence of new-onset hydrocephalus after craniotomy was only 3.5%.

BACKGROUND In order to weigh the risks of surgery against the presumed advantages, it is important to have specific knowledge about complication rates. Contemporary reports on complications following craniotomy for tumor resection in pediatric patients are scarce. OBJECTIVE To study the surgical mortality and rate of hematomas, infections, meningitis, infarctions, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks, as well as neurological morbidity, after craniotomy for pediatric brain tumors in a large, contemporary, single-institution consecutive series. METHODS All pediatric patients (< 18 years) from a well-defined population of 3.0 million inhabitants who underwent craniotomies for intracranial tumors at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, during 2003 to 2009 were included. The patients were identified from our prospectively collected database, and all charts were reviewed to validate the database entries. RESULTS Included in the study were 273 craniotomies, performed on 211 patients. Mean age was 8.5 years (range, 0-18). Follow-up was 100%. One hundred ninety-nine cases (72.9%) were primary craniotomies, while 74 cases (27.1%) were secondary craniotomies. Surgical approach was supratentorial in 194 (71.1%) and infratentorial in 79 (28.9%). Surgical mortality within 30 days was 0.4% (n = 1). Complication rates were intracerebral hemorrhage 0.4%, chronic subdural hematoma 1.1%, meningitis 1.8%, cerebral infarctions 1.5%, and postoperative CSF leak 7.3%. Neurological deficit rates were no change or improvement 87.2%, minor or moderate new deficits 9.5%, and severe new neurological deficits 2.9%. CONCLUSION Overall, the complication rates are low and compare favorably with similar data from adult series. The authors' data could be used as a baseline for future studies.

In order to weigh the risks of surgery against the presumed advantages, it is important to have specific knowledge about complication rates.To study the surgical mortality and rate of reoperations for hematomas and infections after intracranial surgery for brain tumors in a large, contemporary, single-institution consecutive series.All adult patients from a well-defined population of 2.7 million inhabitants who underwent craniotomies for intracranial tumors at Oslo University Hospital from 2003 to 2008 were included (n = 2630). The patients were identified from our prospectively collected database and their charts studied retrospectively. Follow-up was 100%.The overall surgical mortality, defined as death within 30 days of surgery, was 2.3% (n = 60). The mortality rates for high- and low-grade gliomas, meningiomas, and metastases were 2.9%, 1.0%, 0.9%, and 4.5%, respectively. Age60 (odds ratio 1.84, P0.05) and biopsy compared with resection (odds ratio 4.67, P0.01) were significantly positively associated with increased surgical mortality. Hematomas accounted for 35% of the surgical mortality. Postoperative hematomas needing evacuation occurred in 2.1% (n = 54). Age60 was significantly correlated to increased risk of postoperative hematomas (odds ratio 2.43, P0.001). A total of 39 patients (1.5%) were reoperated for postoperative infection. Meningiomas had an increased risk of infections compared with high-grade gliomas (odds ratio 4.61, P0.001).The surgical mortality within 30 days of surgery was 2.3%, with age60 and biopsy vs resection being the 2 factors significantly associated with increased mortality. Postoperative hematomas caused about one third of the surgical mortality.

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of CSF disturbances before and after intracranial surgery for pediatric brain tumors in a large, contemporary, single-institution consecutive series.All pediatric patients (those18 years old), from a well-defined population of 3.0 million inhabitants, who underwent craniotomies for intracranial tumors at Oslo University Hospital in Rikshospitalet between 2000 and 2010 were included. The patients were identified from the authors' prospectively collected database. A thorough review of all medical charts was performed to validate all the database data.Included in the study were 381 consecutive craniotomies, performed on 302 patients (50.1% male, 49.9% female). The mean age of the patients in the study was 8.63 years (range 0-17.98 years). The follow-up rate was 100%. Primary craniotomies were performed in 282 cases (74%), while 99 cases (26%) were secondary craniotomies. Tumors were located supratentorially in 249 cases (65.3%), in the posterior fossa in 105 (27.6%), and in the brainstem/diencephalon in 27 (7.1%). The surgical approach was supratentorial in 260 cases (68.2%) and infratentorial in 121 (31.8%). Preoperative hydrocephalus was found in 124 cases (32.5%), and 71 (86.6%) of 82 achieved complete cure with tumor resection only. New-onset postoperative hydrocephalus was observed in 9 (3.5%) of 257 cases. The rate of postoperative CSF leaks was 6.3%.Preoperative hydrocephalus was found in 32.5% of pediatric patients with brain tumors treated using craniotomies. Tumor resection alone cured preoperative hydrocephalus in 86.6% of cases and the incidence of new-onset hydrocephalus after craniotomy was only 3.5%.

Radical surgery within safe limits is the cornerstone of brain tumor treatment, not only to provide symptom relief, improved quality of life, smaller tumor burden for other treatment modalities and improved survival, but also to establish an exact tissue diagnosis. However, craniotomies are not without inherent risks, be it surgical mortality, postoperative hematomas or infections. With respect to intracranial hematomas, the consequences are often devastating, with reported mortality rates of 30 % and a significant neurological morbidity rate. In a recent large series, the surgical mortality, defined as death within 30 days of surgery, was 2.3 % (n = 60) and the cause of death was postoperative hematomas in 21 cases (35.0 %). Independent risk factors were age > 60 (OR 2.43 95 % CI (1.35, 4.39), p < 0.001), whereas neither sex, resection versus biopsy, primary versus secondary craniotomy, nor tumor type were significantly associated with risk of developing postoperative hematoma.

The prevalence rate for all primary brain and central nervous system tumors is estimated to be 130.8 per 100,000 inhabitants (CTBRUS (2008) Statistical report: primary brain tumors in the United States, 2000–2004. http://www.cbtrus.org/reports//2007-2008/2007report.pdf). The cornerstone of brain tumor treatment is surgery, where the objective is radical surgery within safe limits and to establish an exact tissue diagnosis. However, craniotomies are not without inherent risks, be it surgical mortality, postoperative hematomas or infections. Infections after neurosurgical procedures often present as meningitis, subdural empyema, or cerebral abscess. Although meningitis can often be treated with intravenous antibiotics, cases that involve a bone flap infection, subdural empyema, or cerebral abscess usually require a repeated operation. In a recent large series, 1.5 % of the patients were reoperated for postoperative infection. Of these infections, 59.0 % were extradural. Independent risk factors were male sex and meningioma histopathology. The vast majority of reoperations occurred within 3 months of tumor surgery. The consequences of postoperative infections were generally minor, as 85 % had a good outcome with no or only a mild disability, but within the group of patients reoperated for infection, the mortality rate was 5 %.