Outcomes of infratentorial cranial surgery for tumor resection in older patients: An analysis of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program

BACKGROUND: Poorer outcomes for infratentorial tumor resection have been reported. There is a lack of large multicenter analyses describing infratentorial surgery outcomes in older patients. We characterized outcomes in patients aged ≥65 years undergoing infratentorial cranial surgery. METHODS: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database was queried from 2012 to 2018 for patients ≥18 years undergoing elective infratentorial cranial surgery for tumor resection. Patients were grouped into 65–74 years, ≥75 years, and 18–64 years cohorts. Multivariable regressions compared outcome measures. RESULTS: Of 2212 patients, 28.3% were ≥65 years, of whom 24.8% were ≥75 years. Both older subpopulations had worse American Society of Anesthesiologists classification compared to controls (P < 0.01) and more comorbidities. Patients 65–74 and ≥75 years had higher rates of major complication (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.13–2.79 and aOR = 3.44, 95% CI = 1.96–6.02, respectively), prolonged length of stay (LOS) (aOR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.15–3.12 and aOR = 3.00, 95% CI = 1.65–5.44, respectively), and were more likely to be discharged to a location other than home (aOR = 2.43, 95% CI =1.73–3.4 and aOR = 3.41, 95% CI = 2.18–5.33, respectively) relative to controls. Patients ≥75 had higher rates of readmission (aOR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.13–3.08) and mortality (aOR = 3.28, 95% CI = 1.21–8.89) at 30 days. CONCLUSION: Patients ≥65 years experienced more complications, prolonged LOS, and were less often discharged home than adults <65 years. Patients ≥75 years had higher rates of 30-day readmission and mortality. There is a need for careful preoperative optimization in older patients undergoing infratentorial tumor cranial surgery.