We conclude that the most important prognostic factors affecting survival of patients with anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastomas multiforme are tumor grade, age, preoperative performance status, and radiation therapy. Postoperative complications adversely affect survival. Aggressive surgical resection did not impart a significant increase in survival time. Surgical resection may improve survival, but its importance is less than that of other factors and may be demonstrable only by larger studies.

Quantitative analysis of subarachnoid clot shows that vasospasm is best predicted by initial subarachnoid clot volume and the percentage of clot cleared per day.

No abstract

Perioperative heparin may be safe to administer to patients undergoing craniotomy, but a larger study is needed to demonstrate efficacy.