Objective: To assess, by Rankin scale, the functional disability of patients who had a malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) ischemic stroke, who underwent decompressive craniotomy (DC) within the first 30 days. Methods: A cross-sectional study in a University hospital. Between June 2007 and December 2014, we retrospectively analyzed the records of all patients submitted to DC due to a malignant MCA infarction. The mortality rate was defined during the hospitalization period. The modified outcome Rankin score (mRS) was measured 30 days after the procedure, for stratification of the quality of life. Results: The DC mortality rate was 30% (95% CI 14.5 to 51.9) for the 20 patients reported. The mRS 30 days postoperatively was ≥ 4 [3.3 to 6] for all patients thereafter. Conclusion: DC is to be considered a real alternative for the treatment of patients with a malignant ischemic MCA infarction.Keywords: craniotomy; cerebral infarction; intracranial hypertension. RESUMOObjetivo: Avaliar a capacidade funcional de pacientes com acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico no território da artéria cerebral média (ACM) submetidos à craniotomia descompressiva (CD) no período de 30 dias pela escala de Rankin. Métodos: Estudo transversal em um hospital universitário. Entre junho de 2007 e dezembro de 2014, analisados retrospectivamente os registros de todos os pacientes submetidos a CD devido a enfarte maligno na ACM. A taxa de mortalidade foi definida durante o período de internação. O resultado da estratificação da qualidade de vida foi através da escala Rankin modificado (mRS) mensurado em 30 dias após o procedimento. Resultados: A taxa de mortalidade CD foi de 30% (IC 95% 14,5-51,9) para os 20 pacientes relatados. A mRS 30 dias de pós-operatório foi => 4 [3,3-6] para todos os pacientes. Conclusão: CD deve ser considerada uma alternativa real para o tratamento de pacientes com enfarte isquêmico no território da ACM.Palavras-chave: craniotomia; infarto cerebral; hipertensão intracraniana.A decompressive craniotomy (DC) has been a therapeutic option for an infarction of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) region. The goal of the surgical treatment is the reduction of the intracranial hypertension. The procedure is based on a fronto-parieto-temporal craniotomy, ipsilateral to the lesion, followed by plastic reconstruction of the dura mater, allowing immediate decompression of the brain 1,2,3,4,5 .Some complications, such as infection of the surgical area, temporal muscle hematoma with cerebral compression, intracerebral hemorrhage, or worsening of the neurological condition may follow DC 2,3,4 . In order to clearly define the indication for the surgical treatment and to decrease complications derived from DC in a university hospital in southern Brazil, a specific protocol for DC in the treatment of intracranial hypertension derived from ischemia of the MCA region has been implemented since 2007, in conjunction with the neurology department. Even though studies have demonstrated the efficacy of DC in patients presenting with ma...