Neurosurgical outcomes of pediatric cerebral venous sinus thrombosis following acute mastoiditis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE Neurosurgical outcomes are not well defined in the management of pediatric patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) following acute mastoiditis. Specific notable sequelae are otogenic (otitic) hydrocephalus and CVST management. Correspondingly, the aim of this study was to integrate the currently published metadata to summarize these outcomes. METHODS Electronic searches were performed using the Ovid Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases from inception to November 2022 following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Cohort-level data were then abstracted for analysis for appropriate pediatric patients. Outcomes were pooled by random-effects meta-analyses of proportions where possible. RESULTS Twenty-three study cohorts describing 312 pediatric patients with otogenic CVST were included. At a cohort level, the median patient age was 6 years among 181 boys (58%) and 131 girls (42%). Modeling indicated papilledema at presentation in 46% of cases (95% CI 30%–62%). Regarding management, antibiotics were applied universally in all cases, mastoidectomy or other otologic surgery was performed in 91% (95% CI 82%–98%), and prophylactic anticoagulation was administered in 86% (95% CI 75%–95%). There was only 1 case (0.3%) of postprocedural intracranial hemorrhage, and there were no deaths reported among all studies. Although diagnostic lumbar puncture was performed in 14% (95% CI 3%–28%) at presentation, clinical otogenic hydrocephalus was ultimately suspected in 31% (95% CI 14%–49%), and acetazolamide was given in 65% (95% CI 35%–91%) overall. There were 10 cases (3%) that proceeded to permanent CSF diversion in the form of ventricular shunting. At a median follow-up of 8 months among all studies, the venous sinus was completely recanalized in 67% (95% CI 53%–79%). CONCLUSIONS Most CVSTs following acute mastoiditis will recanalize with the standard use of antibiotics, otologic surgery, and anticoagulation, with minimal symptomatic hemorrhage risk. However, an appreciable proportion of these patients will develop symptomatic otogenic hydrocephalus, and it is imperative that the appropriate surveillance and workup is performed to fully optimize patient outcomes long-term. The possible need for permanent CSF diversion should be recognized.