Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia
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Recently, several randomized controlled trials (RCT) investigating the effectiveness of decompressive craniectomy in the context of neurocritical illnesses have been completed. Thus, a meta-analysis to update the current evidence regarding the effects of decompressive craniectomy is necessary. We searched PUBMED, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. ⋯ Decompressive craniectomy significantly reduced the risk of death for patients suffering malignant MCAI (risk ratio [RR] 0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.36-0.59, P<0.00001) in comparison with no reduction in the risk of death for patients with severe TBI (RR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.48-1.42, P=0.49). However, there was no significant difference in the composite risk of death or dependence at the final follow-up between the decompressive craniectomy group and the conservative treatment group for either malignant MCAI or severe TBI. The present meta-analysis indicates that decompressive craniectomy can significantly reduce the risk of death for patients with malignant MCAI, although no evidence demonstrates that decompressive craniectomy is associated with a reduced risk of death or dependence for TBI patients.