Risk Factors of Postoperative Hematomas after Surgery for Intracranial Meningiomas

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Meningioma is a benign tumor which has a high occurrence rate of postoperative hematomas. The purpose of this study is to analyze risk factors for postoperative hemorrhages after meningioma surgery. METHODS: One hundred and fifty three patients with intracranial meningiomas, operated at the Department of Neurosurgery, National Medical Center, between January 1995 and December 2003 were included in this retrospective study. Risk factors considered to be related with postoperative hematomas were age, sex, preoperative pharmacological anticoagulants for medical co-morbidity, tumor location, histological type of the meningioma, infiltration of dural sinus and arachnoid, removal range of tumors, and the perioperative coagulation status including prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, and platelet count. RESULTS: Patients' aged more than 70 years with a platelet count of less than 150 x 10(9) l(-1) after surgery had statistically significant relations to the occurrence rate of postoperative hematomas. The other factors had no statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Various and intensive preoperative examinations for coagulation factors of patients, especially of older age, and proper transfusion before meningioma surgery are necessary for preventing postoperative hematoma.