This study is to identify the risk factors for postoperative delirium (PODE) in patients undergoing microvascular decompression (MVD) for the treatment of primary cranial nerve disorders. We retrospectively reviewed the data of 912 patients (354 men, 558 women) with primary cranial nerve disorders (trigeminal neuralgia, 602 patients; hemifacial spasm, 296 patients; glossopharyngeal neuralgia, 14 patients) who underwent MVD in the Neurosurgery Department of Lanzhou University Second Hospital between July 2007 and June 2018. Potential risk factors for PODE were identified using univariate and multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis.Of the 912 patients, 221 (24.2%) patients developed PODE. Patients with PODE were significantly older and significantly more likely to be male than patients without PODE. A history of hypertension, preoperative carbamazepine therapy, and postoperative sleep disturbance and tension pneumocephalus were independently associated with PODE. Variables such as body-mass index, smoking and drinking habits, cardiac disease, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease, mean operative time, affected vessel, mean blood loss, postoperative intensive care unit stay, postoperative fever (>38°C), and routine laboratory results were not associated with PODE in our patients.PODE is a common complication after MVD, and is associated with multiple risk factors, including old age, male sex, hypertension, preoperative carbamazepine use, postoperative sleep disturbance, and tension pneumocephalus.

Rationale:Combined hyperactive dysfunction syndrome (HDS) refers to a special type of HDS characterized by a combination of trigeminal neuralgia (TN), hemi facial spasm (HFS), and/or gloss pharyngeal neuralgia (GPN). Rostra ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) plays a crucial role in central cardiovascular regulation, and neurovascular compression of the RVLM has been identified as a contributor to essential hypertension.Patient concerns:A 65-year-old female with a facial tic and pain located in the root of the tongue and throat on the same side; the systolic and diastolic blood pressure was approximately 170 and 100 mmHg.Diagnosis:The patient was diagnosed with combined HDS (HFS-GPN) and essential hypertension. Brain magnetic resonance 3-dimensional time-of-flight imaging and digital subtraction angiography revealed vertebrobasilar artery compressed the left RVLM and contacted with the root entry zones of multiple cranial nerves.Interventions:The patient was treated with microvascular decompression surgeryOutcomes:The symptoms were completely relieved, and blood pressure was well-controlled.Lessons:The pathological association of hypertension and HDS should be highlighted, and microvascular decompression is an effective approach for relieving the hypertension.