title: [Analysis of the stay and morbidity and mortality rates in a unit for neurocritical patients following surgery for a brain tumour].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between the pre- and post-operative variables with stays in hospital lasting more than one day and the morbidity and mortality rates of patients undergoing surgery for a brain tumour during their stay in a neurocritical intensive care unit (NCU).
  
  
  METHODS
  The retrospective study, over a period of three years (2010-2012), involving a cohort of 317 patients who consecutively underwent surgical interventions due to brain tumours performed by different neurosurgeons and were hospitalised in the NCU.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 21.5% (n = 68) of the patients were hospitalised for more than one day (group L), and 78.5% (n = 249) stayed for one day or less (group S). The univariable association of the pre- and post-operative risks with the length of stay was evaluated. There were no significant differences between groups L and S in terms of the demographic data, the physical status according to the classification of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), the pathological features or the radiological tumour severity index. Tracheal intubation was required in 42.6% (n = 29) of the patients in group L at some time during the post-operative period. Of the patients in group L, 19.1% (n = 13) had systemic and regional complications simultaneously.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An important fraction of patients remain in an NCU for more than one day. The need for both tracheal intubation and respiratory assistance, together with the appearance of systemic and regional complications, can require stays in an NCU for more than one day.
authors: Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Espana.
authors: Jacobo
authors: J
authors: Benatar-Haserfaty
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Ly-Liu
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: González-Moreno
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Tiscar-García
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003422:Critical Care; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology