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Abstract
Objective. Decompressive craniectomy reduces fatality in patients with space-occupying infarctions. However, mortality remains high. We aimed to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality and outcomes in a cohort of patients with large hemispheric stroke receiving decompressive craniectomy. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed all patients diagnosed with complete middle cerebral artery infarction and receiving decompressive craniectomy. Hospital characteristics were compared among different groups (survivors versus non-survivors, good outcome versus poor outcome). A total of 71 consecutive patients were enrolled. Results. From 2004 January to 2010 April, 71 patients were enrolled whose mean age was 65.11 ± 13.13 years and 33 (46.5%) of these were men. The in-hospital mortality was 28.2% overall. Of the patients who survived and were discharged, 37 (77.1%) had poor outcome (mRS 4–6) and 11 (22.9%) had good outcome (mRS 0–3). Pre-operation brain computed tomography (CT) hypodensity volume (p = 0.001) was significantly associated with mortality. In binary logistic regression model, pre-operation brain CT hypodensity volume (OR = 1.015; 95% CI, 1.001 to 1.030) and age (OR = 1.112; 95% CI, 1.017 to 1.215) were both significantly associated with outcomes. Conclusions. In patients with large hemispheric stroke receiving decompressive craniectomy, pre-operation brain CT hypodensity volume was significantly associated with in-hospital mortality whereas age was not. Pre-operation brain CT hypodensity volume and age were predictors of outcomes in those who survived the acute phase.
Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.