Efficiency of decompressive craniectomy as a line of management of severe cerebral venous thrombosis

Abstract

Objective: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare pathology with life threatening consequences, most of these fatal complications are due to raised intracranial pressure due to venous infarction and cerebral swelling, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of decompressive craniectomy for favorable outcome.Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical, radiological and surgical data of patients who underwent decompressive craniectomy for CVT in a tertiary referral hospital between the years 2016 through 2020.Results: The study included 7 patients, female predominance was noted (5/7), mean age was 18.14 years. Mean Glasgow coma score (GCS) at surgery was 8.26, good clinical outcome was achieved for the majority of cases 71.4%, and one case of mortality 14.28%.Conclusions: Decompressive craniectomy is a life saving procedure for patients with severe brain swelling as a sequela of CVT, majority of patients (71.4%) showed favorable functional outcome by 6 months postoperatively.