Surgical Outcome and Complications of Intraventricular Tumors

ABSTRACT

The authors retrospectively analysed the surgical results and complications of 41 cases of intraventricular tumors, who were operated on between 1986 and 1995 in our hospital. There were 21 cases located in the fourth ventricle tumors, 16 in the lateral and 4 in the third ventricle. Various surgical approaches were used according to location of tumors; suboccipital approach in 21 patients, transcortical transventricular in 11, interhemispheric transcallosal in 8 and subfrontal approach in one. Surgical outcome showed good recovery in 21 cases(51.2%), moderate disability in 10(24.4%), severe disability in 6(14.6%), vegetative state in 1(2.4%) and death in 3(7.3%). Surgical complications included subdural hygroma, intracranial hemorrhage, seizure, infection, and hydrocephalus. Poor result was observed in cases with acute onset, pre or post-operative hydrocephalus, incomplete removal of tumor, postoperative hemorrhage and postoperative seizure. To improve surgical outcome and to avoid complications, it is desirable to identify high risk patients as early as possible prior to surgery.