title: Short-term neurological outcome of children after surgery for brain tumors: incidence and characteristics in a pediatric intensive care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main treatment for majority of pediatric brain tumors relies on surgery. In postoperative period, patients require monitoring in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). In this study, we analyzed the incidence of postoperative neurological complications and the outcome of neurological impairment in individual patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our retrospective single-center study concerned all patients who were admitted to the PICU of the University Hospital of Angers between 2002 and 2008, after brain tumor resection. Population, perioperative data, and outcome through the stay in PICU have been analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We reported 117 neurosurgical procedures. Majority of children (85.3%) were affected by neurological deficit before surgery: cranial nerve palsy and cerebellar syndrome were the most frequent impairment. In the first 2 days, neurological symptoms improved for 27 patients (23.7%), especially in children with preoperative cerebellar syndrome, convulsions, or endocrine disorders. Mean length of stay in PICU was correlated with the severity of neurological impairment (p = 0.006). Five children presented a transient mutism after surgery for infratentorial tumors (n = 5/54, 9.2%). Eight spontaneous cerebral spinal fluid leaks occurred precociously after surgery, and neurological infections complicated half of them. Neurological infections occurred in 12 patients (ten meningitis, one ventriculitis, and one brain abscess). One patient died after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All these complications and their risk factors have to be systematically searched for in order to decrease postoperative morbidity of brain tumors in children. They justify neurosurgeons and anesthesiologists specialized in these pathologies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, 4, rue Larrey, 49933, Angers, France. stephanie.proust@gmail.com
authors.forename: Stéphanie Proust
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Houdemont
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Carli
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delion
authors.forename: Benedicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ringuier
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chapotte
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jeudy
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mercier
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Granry
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Rialland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult