National prevalence and impact of perioperative vagus nerve injury in vestibular schwannoma.
OBJECTIVE
Lower cranial nerve injury may be an under-reported complication of vestibular schwannoma surgery. This study aims to characterize the prevalence of complications associated with vagus nerve injury following vestibular schwannoma surgery and the impact of these complications on patient care.


METHODS
Retrospective cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Discharge data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for 17,281 patients with vestibular schwannoma who underwent surgery in 2003-2008 were analyzed using cross-tabulations and multivariate regression modeling.


RESULTS
Dysphagia was reported in 443 cases (2.6%) and unilateral vocal fold paralysis in 115 cases (0.7%). The mean length of hospitalization was 5.3 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.9-5.7) and was prolonged in patients with dysphagia (mean, 11.7 days; 95% CI, 8.9-14.4) and in those with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (mean, 12.1 days; 95% CI, 7.3-16.9). Compared to patients without dysphagia, a diagnosis of dysphagia was associated with advanced comorbidity status (37.0% vs. 18.8%), central nervous system complications (39.3% vs. 15.3%), aspiration pneumonia (7.1% vs. 0.4%), and greater likelihood of requiring medical care at another facility or at home after discharge (48.5% vs. 6.6%, P < .001). Tracheostomy (3.4% vs. 0.8%) and gastrostomy tube placement (20.9% vs. 0.5%) were significantly more likely in patients with dysphagia (P < .0001). After adjusting for other variables, dysphagia, aspiration pneumonia, and tracheostomy were significantly associated with increased length of hospitalization and hospital-related costs.


CONCLUSIONS
Although infrequently reported in this national inpatient sample, vagus nerve injury-related symptoms are associated with significantly increased length of hospitalization and costs of care.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Bryan K
BK
Ward
Howard W
HW
Francis
Simon R
SR
Best
Heather M
HM
Starmer
Lee M
LM
Akst
Christine G
CG
Gourin
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000601:surgery*; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D061223:Vagus Nerve Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult