Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40235469›Full record

ArticleBrain & spine2025

Early post-operative recovery of consciousness following decompressive craniectomy as a predictor of long-term functional outcome.

Jari C Göttgens, Taco Goedemans, Dagmar Verbaan, Bert A Coert, Bertjan J Kerklaan, Jonathan M Coutinho, Janneke Horn, William P Vandertop, Pepijn van den Munckhof

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Brain & spine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Jari C GöttgensDepartment of Neurosurgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Taco GoedemansDepartment of Neurosurgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Dagmar VerbaanDepartment of Neurosurgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Bert A CoertDepartment of Neurosurgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Bertjan J KerklaanDepartment of Neurology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Location West, Jan Tooropstraat 164, 1061 AE, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Jonathan M CoutinhoDepartment of Neurology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Janneke HornDepartment of Intensive Care, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
William P VandertopDepartment of Neurosurgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Pepijn van den MunckhofDepartment of Neurosurgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Decompressive craniectomy (DC) can be lifesaving, but many survivors do not regain independence in daily life. Recovery of consciousness in the first post-operative days is regarded as a prognostic factor, however, literature on the relation between early recovery of consciousness and long-term independence is scarce. Research question: To analyse the relation between recovery of consciousness in the first 14 days post-DC and long-term functional outcome. Material and methods: Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) motor (M) scores during the first 14 post-DC days of 188 consecutive adult patients undergoing DC for various pathologies were retrospectively extracted from hospital records, together with one-year Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores. Recovery of consciousness was defined as GCS M6. Outcome was categorised into death (GOS 1), unfavourable survival (GOS 2-3), and favourable survival (GOS 4-5). Results: Overall, 32 % survived favourably, 21 % unfavourably, and 47 % died. One hundred and eight patients (57 %) regained consciousness during the first two post-operative weeks. At one year, 53 % of M6 patients were functionally independent, versus only 4 % of patients who did not regain consciousness during that time-frame (p < 0.001). Chances of functionally independent survival in M6 patients were significantly higher in patients ≤50 years old than in patients >50 years old (71 % versus 27 %, p < 0.001). Discussion and conclusion: Long-term functional outcome of DC patients differed considerably when assorted for early recovery of consciousness, especially when categorised for age. These results may serve to better inform family members and patients during post-DC counselling.

Indexed as

ConsciousnessDecompressive craniectomyGlasgow coma scaleGlasgow outcome scaleOutcome

Identifiers

PMID40235469
PMCPMC11999621

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.