Researchers investigated reoperations within 48 hours after pediatric neurosurgery procedures, in a study published in Journal of Neurosurgery.
The study involved 7,942 surgeries performed at one institution between May 1, 2009, and Dec. 30, 2014. Researchers analyzed whether the reoperations within 48 hours were planned or unplanned.
Here are six observations:
1. Researchers discovered 221 reoperations within 48 hours of the index surgery. This correlated to a 2.78 percent overall incidence of the surgeries.
2. Of the 221 reoperations, 159 represented unplanned reoperations.
3. Of the unplanned reoperations, 121 occurred following surgeries with shunt manipulations.
4. Researchers found index surgeries starting after 3 p.m. and emergency department admissions associated with a two- to three-fold increase of reoperation chance.
5. About one-fourth of the reoperations were planned.
6. Researchers suggested further analysis will shed light on which reoperations were preventable.