Objective: Consensus about the sequence of cranioplasty and ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement to reduce postoperative complications has not been established. This meta-analysis investigated and collated further evidence to determine whether staged cranioplasty with ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement would significantly reduce the risk of postoperative surgical-site infection (SSI) and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.
Methods: Two independent reviewers identified articles and extracted the data of patients who underwent cranioplasty and ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement from PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. A random effects model was used to compare the complication rates using odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A meta-regression analysis for traumatic brain injury (TBI) was additionally performed.
Results: Data from 7 studies with 391 patients were consecutively included. The meta-analysis revealed that staged surgery was significantly associated with lower rates of SSI after decompressive craniectomy (staged group vs. simultaneous group: 6.2% vs. 23.7%, OR: 2.72, 95% CI: 1.46-5.06, I2=2.4%, p=0.407). Pooled analysis did not indicate a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups for symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (staged group vs. simultaneous group: 10.4% vs. 23.0%, OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 0.74-3.73, I2=0.0%, p=0.407). The meta-regression analysis did not indicate any modifying effect of TBI on postoperative SSI development (p=0.987).
Conclusion: This meta-analysis indicated that staged surgery is significantly associated with a lower rate of postoperative SSI as compared with simultaneous surgery, but there is no difference in symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Additionally, there is no modifying effect of TBI on SSI.
Keywords: Craniectomy; Cranioplasty; Infection; Intracranial hemorrhage; Ventriculoperitoneal shunt.
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