Clinical Comparison between Simple Craniectomy and Lesionectomy in the Patients with Acute Cerebral Infarction

Park, Sung Hoon; Kim, Joon Soo; Lee, Jae Il; Kim, Young Zoon; Cho, Yong Woon; Kim, Kyu Hong

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Life-threatening middle cerebral artery infarction may be accompanied by severe post-ischemic brain swelling due to cytotoxic vasogenic edema. The resultant progressive mass effect may prove fatal, owing to increased intracranial pressure and herniation. Recent studies have shown that early decompressive craniectomy decreases mortality, but no comparison has been performed between the outcomes achieved with simple craniectomy and those achieved with craniectomy combined with lesionectomy. This study was performed to compare the outcomes achieved after simple craniectomy and after craniectomy combined with lesionectomy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We prospectively reviewed the records of 59 patients who presented with acute middle cerebral infarction between January 2001 and October 2007. Thirty-one patients (Group A) underwent simple decompressive craniectomy, and 28 patients (Group B) underwent lesionectomy with craniectomy. In all patients, lesion volume and mid-line shift were measured radiologically. Outcomes were quantified using the Glasgow Outcome Scale. RESULT: Patient factors (age, sex), Glasgow Coma Scale, radiologic findings, and lobe involvement were the same for the two groups. However, the outcomes for the two groups were different. At 6 months after surgery, the mean Glasgow Outcome Scale for Group A was 2.71 and that for Group B was 3.39 (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Surgical treatment, especially decompressive craniectomy combined with lesionectomy, was beneficial in the setting of malignant cerebral infarction.