Craniopharyngioma surgery and various perioperative factors influencing its outcome: A prospective observational study

Introduction/Purpose: The incidence of craniopharyngioma is stated around 1.3/million person- years whereas the incidence is higher in India with 10.2%. This current study is a prospective observational attempt to determine perioperative factors that affect the outcome of patients undergoing surgery for craniopharyngioma. The primary objective being duration of hospital and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay and Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) at discharge while the secondary objective being quality of life at 3-month and 6-month post-surgery. Methods: All patients aged 5 years and above belonging to either sex scheduled for elective craniopharyngioma surgery from 1^st April 2014 to 31^st March 2015 in Cardio-Neuro Centre of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, were included in the study while patient’s or guardian’s refusal or redo-surgery were excluded. The demographics, baseline characteristics (admission Glasgow coma scale, tumour size, hormonal status, location, hydrocephalus, hypothalamic involvement), intraoperative data (anaesthesia and surgery related), GOS at discharge and post-operatively quality of life assessed using the health utility indices (2/3) for a period up to 6 months after surgery were collected. Results: Twenty-two patients were included in the study. The median duration of hospital and ICU stay were 17 days (6–64) and 3.5 days (1–25), respectively. The median GOS at discharge was 5 (2–5). There was no in-hospital mortality. The quality of life at 3^rd and 6^th month did not change significantly when compared to baseline (i.e., health status of patient 1 week before admission to hospital). Conclusion: The baseline prolactin level and involvement of hypothalamus affect GOS at discharge but none of the demographic or perioperative determinants (anaesthesia or surgery) affected the quality of life appreciably over the observation span of 6 months.

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).