The Outcome Predictors of Malignant Large Infarction and the Functional Outcome of Survivors Following Decompressive Craniectomy

Objective Cerebral infarction is a common cause of disability. Malignant large infarction (MLI) is a catastrophic event, and there is no effective medical treatment. This study aimed to assess the outcome predictors of MLI and to analyze the impact of decompressive craniectomy (DC) on the functional outcome of survivors. Methods This study comprised 213 MLI cases. Outcome was evaluated with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 1-year follow-up, and various parameters were tested for MLI outcome predictors. The impact of DC on functional outcome was examined after being further stratified into good survival (mRS score = 0, 1, 2, 3), poor survival (mRS score = 4, 5), and mortality (mRS score = 6) groups. Results Standard medical treatment only was used in 106 cases, and both medical treatment and DC were used in 107 cases. With multiple logistic regression analysis, age, motor response at deterioration/operation, and DC were identified as independent outcome predictors of MLI (P = 0.027, P < 0.001, P < 0.001). Compared with the sole standard medical treatment, additional DC resulted in a better outcome (odds ratio [OR] =19.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7.61–52.27; P < 0.001). Further analysis of functional outcome revealed that DC significantly increased the chance of good survival as opposed to poor survival (OR = 20.04; 95% CI, 6.05–66.32; P < 0.001) and death (OR = 43.72; 95% CI, 13.21–144.72; P < 0.001). Conclusions In this study, DC performed on a young patient with motor response of localizing pain or better was linked with a better outcome. DC not only reduced mortality and increased the number of good survivals but also, most importantly, decreased the number of poor functional outcome survivals.