Thirty-Day Complications after Surgical Resection of Meningiomas in NF2 PATIENTS

Objective: Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a genetic disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. An estimated half of NF2 cases are inherited, with the other half from sporadic mutations. Meningiomas are common in most NF2 patients, and some NF2 patients have multiple meningiomas. When symptomatic or rapidly growing, they are treated surgically. While surgery is a widely accepted strategy of managing growing and symptomatic meningiomas in NF2, data illustrating associated complications is sparse in the literature. To describe complications observed 30 days after surgical resection of meningiomas in NF2 patients.

Methods: We identified meningiomas in NF2 patients who were treated surgically between 2000 and 2019. Demographic data such as age, gender, and race were collected from patient's electronic medical records along with comorbidities such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. Complications were divided into surgical complications 30 days postoperation, medical complications 30 days postoperation, and the presence of new or worsened neurological deficits at the time of discharge.

Results: A total of 42 meningiomas (in 27 patients) were included in the analysis. There were four surgical complications and eight medical complications 30 days postsurgery and five new/worsened neurological deficits at discharge. The most common surgical complication observed within 30 days of surgery was wound infection in two patients (7.4%). The most common medical complication observed within 30 days of surgery was seizures in two patients (7.4%). Other medical complications observed include postoperative pseudomeningocele with wound leakage, aseptic meningitis, mild Horner syndrome, and a UTI. Complications that required re-hospitalization within this 30-day window include one wound infection, one hematoma, one aseptic meningitis, and one case of pseudomeningocele with wound leakage. There was no mortality within 30 days of surgery ([Tables 1] and [2]).

Conclusion: In our study of postsurgical complications of meningiomas in NF2 patients, wound infection requiring surgery and seizures were the most common surgical and medical complications, respectively. A total of two surgical and two medical complications required repeat hospitalization within 30 days of surgery. There was no mortality within 30 days of surgery.

Publication History

Article published online:
15 February 2022