Decompressive surgery in cerebral venous thrombosis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract Objective The efficacy of decompressive surgery (DS) in cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) patients has been reported in several case reports and case series. We aimed at determining the association of DS compared with medical management and timing of surgery with functional outcome and mortality. We also aimed at determining the prevalence of DS in CVT patients. Methods The literature search was conducted till 7 November 2022 in PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases. Risk of bias was examined using Joanna Briggs Institute scale for case series and case reports. Association of DS compared with medical management and timing of surgery with functional outcome and mortality was determined using odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Pooled prevalence of DS in CVT patients with 95%CI was calculated. Heterogeneity was explored using outlier, meta‐regression, sensitivity and subgroup analyses. Results Fifty‐one studies consisting of 483 CVT cases with DS were included. The OR of poor outcome with surgery was 0.03; (95%CI: 0.00–0.22) and of mortality with surgery was 0.25; (95%CI: 0.02–2.60) versus that with medical management. Surgery done ≤48 h of admission was significantly associated with less mortality (OR: 0.26; 95%CI: 0.10–0.69). Pooled prevalence of DS in CVT was 12% (95%CI: 8%–17%; I 2 = 91%). Revised pooled prevalence after removing outliers was 10% (95%CI: 7%–13%; I 2 = 73%). Conclusions Surgery ≤48 h of admission might decrease mortality in CVT patients and may result in improved functional outcome. Further prospective studies with appropriate control arms are required to confirm its efficacy over medical management.