BACKGROUND:

Our aim was to identify the preoperative factors associated with a greater risk of poor inpatient outcomes in those undergoing resection of hypothalamic hamartomas.

METHODS:

We performed a multi-institutional retrospective cohort analysis via the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (1998 - 2007). Patients of any age who underwent resection of hypothalamic hamartomas were identified by ICD-9 coding. The primary outcomes included inpatient complications, length of stay (LOS), and total charges. Multivariate regression models were constructed to analyze the outcomes.

RESULTS:

Two hundred and eighty-two patients were identified with a mean age of 27.7 years, with most being male (53.2%), Caucasian (78.9%), privately insured (69.3%), and treated electively (74.7%) at academic centers (91.7%). A majority (82.2%) had Elixhauser comorbidity scores of < 1, indicating few comorbidities. No inpatient deaths were reported. Mean LOS was 7.39 days and the mean total hospital charges were $53,935. Overall, 19.5% developed an inpatient complication, primarily stroke (16.7%). Female gender, ethnic / racial minorities, higher comorbidity scores, private insurance, and non-academic hospitals were associated with greater LOS and total charges. Private insurance (Odds Ratio, OR: 1.59, P = 0.045) and academic hospitals (OR: 1.43, P = 0.008) were associated with significantly higher odds of any complication. Minority race / ethnicity was associated with a minimal increase in the odds of postoperative stroke (OR: 1.02, P < 0.001) relative to Caucasians.

CONCLUSIONS:

Through an analysis of a 10-year multi-institutional database, we have described the surgical outcomes of patients undergoing resection of hypothalamic hamartomas. Results demonstrate significant inpatient morbidity, particularly postoperative stroke. Patient- and institution-level factors should be considered in determining the perioperative risk for such patients.