National Trends and Factors Predicting Outcomes Following Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Brain Lesions: Nationwide Inpatient Sample Analysis

Background: Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a stereotactic-guided technique, which is increasingly being performed for brain lesions. The aim of our study was to report the national trends and factors predicting the clinical outcomes following LITT using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Methods: We extracted data from 2011–2016 using ICD-9/10 codes. Patients with a primary procedure of LITT were included. Patient demographics, complications, length of hospital stay, discharge disposition, and index-hospitalization charges were analyzed. Results: A cohort of 1768 patients was identified from the database. Mean length of hospital stay was 3.2 days, 82% of patients were discharged to home, and in-hospitalization cost was $124,225. Complications and mortality were noted in 12.9% and 2.5% of patients following LITT, respectively. Non-Caucasian patients (estimate ratio [ER] 4.26), those with other insurance (compared with commercial, ER: 5.35), 3 and 4+ comorbidity indexes, patients with higher quartile median household income (second, third, and fourth quartile compared with first quartile), and those who underwent nonelective procedures were likely to have higher complications and less likely to be discharged home. Patients with 4+ comorbidity indexes were likely to have longer length of hospital stay (ER 1.39) and higher complications (ER: 7.95) and were less likely to be discharged home (ER: 0.17) and have higher in-hospitalization cost (ER: 1.21). Conclusions: LITT is increasingly being performed with low complication rates. Non-Caucasian race, higher comorbidity index, noncommercial insurance, and nonelective procedures were predictors of higher complications and being less likely to be discharged home. In-hospitalization charges were higher in patients with higher comorbidity index and those with noncommercial insurance.