Preoperative antibiotics and steroids in vestibular schwannoma excision.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the benefits of preoperative admission for intravenous steroids and antibiotics for patients undergoing vestibular schwannoma excision.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

One hundred twenty patients with pathologically confirmed vestibular schwannoma followed for at least 1 year after surgery were included. Sixty patients were assigned to the preoperative admission group and 60 patients to the same-day-admission surgery group. The preoperative admission group was given intravenous dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg) and intravenous cefazolin (1 g) beginning 12 hours before surgery. The same-day-surgery group received the same dosage of medication beginning at induction of anesthesia.

OUTCOMES: Facial nerve function, meningitis, and wound infection rates, duration of hospital stay, and readmission rates were examined.

RESULTS

There was no statistical difference in facial nerve function between the groups when controlling for tumor size. Likewise, there was no difference in meningitis or wound infection rates in the groups. As expected, hospital stay was significantly reduced but readmission rates were not affected.

CONCLUSIONS

There are no apparent facial nerve function or infection control benefits to 1-day preoperative admission for intravenous steroids and antibiotics for patients undergoing vestibular schwannoma excision.