Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2015
The results of a third Gamma Knife procedure for recurrent trigeminal neuralgia.
Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is the least invasive treatment option for medically refractory, intractable trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and is especially valuable for treating elderly, infirm patients or those on anticoagulation therapy. The authors reviewed pain outcomes and complications in TN patients who required 3 radiosurgical procedures for recurrent or persistent pain. ⋯ A third GKRS resulted in pain reduction with a low risk of additional complications in most patients with medically refractory and recurrent, intractable TN. In patients unsuitable for other microsurgical or percutaneous strategies, especially those receiving long-term oral anticoagulation or antiplatelet agents, GKRS repeated for a third time was a satisfactory, low risk option.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2015
Neurological outcomes following intraprocedural rerupture during coil embolization of ruptured intracranial aneurysms.
Intraprocedural rerupture (IPR) of intracranial aneurysms during coil embolization is associated with significant periprocedural disability and death. However, whether this morbidity and mortality are secondary to an increased risk of vasospasm and hydrocephalus is unknown. The authors undertook this study to determine the in-hospital and long-term neurological outcomes for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) treated with coil embolization who suffer aneurysm rerupture during treatment. ⋯ Intraprocedural rerupture during coil embolization for ruptured intracranial aneurysms is associated with an increased risk of symptomatic vasospasm and need for temporary and permanent cerebrospinal fluid diversion for hydrocephalus.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2015
Neuroendoscopic biopsy of brain lesions: accuracy and complications.
The authors conducted a study to analyze the accuracy of neuroendoscopic biopsies of ventricular and periventricular lesions and record any difficulties or complications of the neuroendoscopic biopsy procedure. ⋯ Endoscopic biopsy seems to be an accurate procedure with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2015
Intraoperative stereotactic injection of Indigo Carmine dye to mark ill-defined tumor margins: a prospective phase I-II study.
A critical goal in neurosurgical oncology is maximizing the extent of tumor resection while minimizing the risk to normal white matter tracts. Frameless stereotaxy and white matter mapping are indispensable tools in this effort, but deep tumor margins may not be accurately defined because of the "brain shift" at the end of the operation. The authors investigated the safety and efficacy of a technique for marking the deep margins of intraaxial tumors with stereotactic injection of Indigo Carmine dye. ⋯ Stereotactic injection of Indigo Carmine dye can be used to demarcate multiple deep tumor margins, which can be readily identified intraoperatively by using standard white light microscopy. This technique may enhance the accuracy of frameless stereotactic navigation and increase the extent of resection of intraaxial tumors.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2015
Unplanned readmissions and survival following brain tumor surgery.
Research on readmissions has been influenced by efforts to reduce hospital cost and avoid penalties stipulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Less emphasis has been placed on understanding these readmissions and their impact on patient outcomes. This study 1) delineates reasons for readmission, 2) explores factors associated with readmissions, and 3) describes their impact on the survival of glioblastoma patients. ⋯ An overwhelming fraction of documented unplanned readmissions were considered preventable and related to surgery. Patients who were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of surgery had twice the risk of mortality compared with patients who were not readmitted.