[Pediatric intensive care after brain tumor surgery]. / Postoperatorio de tumores cerebrales en la unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos.

INTRODUCTION: Primary brain tumors are the most common solid tumors in children. Surgery is the basis of treatment for these patients, who require postoperative admission to the ICU-P. The aim of this study was to at the epidemiology of brain tumors of patients admitted to our ICU-P and to analyze the progress of these children in the postoperative period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective-prospective study of children admitted to our unit after brain tumor surgery between January 1998 and January 2007. We collected information such as, personal details, clinical characteristics, type of intervention and postoperative period. RESULTS: We reviewed 161 postoperative periods, corresponding to 134 patients (54.5% male). The mean age was 7 years and 8 months +/- 5 months. The most common location was the posterior fossa (44.8%). The most common histological type was low grade/intermediate astrocytoma (44.7%). The most frequent complication was diabetes insipidus (9.9%). Resection was complete in 58.4% patients. The median stay in the ICU-P was 2 days (0-61 days). 3 patients died after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiology of the group of patients admitted to our ICU-P is similar to the general population. The most common complication is diabetes insipidus.

Postoperatorio de tumores cerebrales en la unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos / Pediatric intensive care after brain tumor surgery

Introducción: Los tumores primarios cerebrales son la neoplasia sólida más frecuente en la infancia. La base fundamental del tratamiento de estos pacientes es la cirugía, cuyo postoperatorio requiere ingreso en la unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos (UCIP). Los objetivos de nuestro trabajo son: conocer la epidemiología de los tumores que ingresan en nuestra unidad y analizar el postoperatorio de estos niños. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio prospectivo y retrospectivo de todos los niños intervenidos de tumor cerebral desde enero de 1998 hasta enero de 2007 en nuestro hospital. Se recogen datos referentes a filiación, características clínicas, tipo de intervención y postoperatorio. Resultados: Se revisan 161 postoperatorios, correspondientes a 134 pacientes (el 54,5%, varones). La media ± desviación estándar de edad es 7 años y 8 meses ± 5 meses. La localización más frecuente es la fosa posterior (44,8%). El tipo histológico principal es el astrocitoma de grado bajo/intermedio (44,7%). La complicación más frecuente es la diabetes insípida (9,9%). La resección es total en el 58,4% de los pacientes. La mediana de estancia en UCIP es de 2 días (0-61 días). Fallecieron 3 pacientes tras la intervención. Conclusiones: La epidemiología del grupo de pacientes que llega a UCIP es similar a la población general. La complicación más frecuente es la diabetes insípida (AU)

Introduction: Primary brain tumors are the most common solid tumors in children. Surgery is the basis of treatment for these patients, who require postoperative admission to the ICU-P. The aim of this study was to at the epidemiology of brain tumors of patients admitted to our ICU-P and to analyze the progress of these children in the postoperative period. Patients and methods: Retrospective-prospective study of children admitted to our unit after brain tumor surgery between January 1998 and January 2007. We collected information such as, personal details, clinical characteristics, type of intervention and postoperative period. Results: We reviewed 161 postoperative periods, corresponding to 134 patients (54.5% male). The mean age was 7 years and 8 months±5 months. The most common location was the posterior fossa (44.8%). The most common histological type was low grade/intermediate astrocytoma (44.7%). The most frequent complication was diabetes insipidus (9.9%). Resection was complete in 58.4% patients. The median stay in the ICU-P was 2 days (0–61 days). 3 patients died after surgery .Conclusions: The epidemiology of the group of patients admitted to our ICU-P is similar to the general population. The most common complication is diabetes insipidus (AU)