Complications of surgery for sporadic vestibular schwannoma.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to investigate the postoperative complications of vestibular schwannoma excision and determine their significant clinical predictors.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional.

SETTING: California Hospital Inpatient Discharge Datasets 1997-2011.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data for vestibular schwannoma excisions performed in California were extracted using the ICD-9-CM code "04.01 excision of acoustic neuroma." Demographics, principal payer, state of residence, comorbidities, as well as hospital case volume were examined as possible predictors. Postoperative complications and patient disposition were examined as outcome variables. Comorbidities and complications were identified using ICD-9-CM diagnoses and procedures codes.

RESULTS: Overall, 6553 cases were examined. Comorbidities were present in 2539 (38.7%) patients. Postoperative complications occurred in 1846 (28.2%) patients; 1714 (26.2%) neurological and 337 (5.1%) medical complications. Patients' admission ended with death or further care (ie, skilled nursing facilities) in 260 (4.0%) cases. Mortality rate was 0.2%. No significant changes were observed over time. Multivariate analysis revealed that the odds of neurological complications were greater in the 2007-2011 period (OR = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.12-2.04), in patients with comorbidities (OR = 1.48; 95% CI, 1.16-1.88), and in hospitals with low case volume (OR = 1.69; 95% CI. 1.31-2.18). The odds of medical complications were also greater in the 2007-2011 period (OR = 1.69; 95%, CI 1.02-2.80). Female gender, non-Caucasian ethnicity, presence of comorbidities, and low hospital case volume were associated with greater odds of patients requiring further care.

CONCLUSION: Comorbidities and low hospital case volume were major risk factors for complications. No significant changes in rates of complications from vestibular schwannoma surgery were observed over the 15-year period.