Impact of timing of cranioplasty on hydrocephalus after decompressive hemicraniectomy in malignant middle cerebral artery infarction

Over last years the treatment of patients with space occupying middle cerebral artery infarctions has fundamentally changed. More and more early surgical decompressive hemicraniectomies are performed to prevent increased intracranial pressure due to developing cerebral edema. This change of paradigm was necessary due to the poor outcome of conservative treatment in these patients with mortality rates of up to 78%. Several large prospective randomized trials have clearly demonstrated a significant reduction of mortality and improvement of patient outcome after hemicraniectomy [1 –4].

Source: Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery - December 8, 2016 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Tobias Finger, Vincent Prinz, Evelyn Schreck, Alexandra Pinczolits, Simon Bayerl, Thomas Liman, Johannes Woitzik, Peter Vajkoczy Source Type: research