Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Mar 2018
Surgery guided with intraoperative electrocorticography in patients with low-grade glioma and refractory seizures.
OBJECTIVE Using intraoperative electrocorticography (ECoG) to identify epileptogenic areas and improve postoperative seizure control in patients with low-grade gliomas (LGGs) remains inconclusive. In this study the authors retrospectively report on a surgery strategy that is based on intraoperative ECoG monitoring. METHODS A total of 108 patients with LGGs presenting at the onset of refractory seizures were included. ⋯ In these patients with epilepsy discharges located at the anterior part of the temporal lobe, satisfactory postoperative seizure control (93.3%) was achieved after resection of the tumor and the anterior part of the temporal lobe. CONCLUSIONS Intraoperative ECoG monitoring provided the exact location of epileptogenic areas and significantly improved postoperative seizure control of LGGs. In patients with temporal lobe LGGs, resection of the anterior temporal lobe with epileptic discharges was sufficient to control seizures.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Mar 2018
Impact of bifurcation angle and inflow coefficient on the rupture risk of bifurcation type basilar artery tip aneurysms.
OBJECTIVE Risk factors for aneurysm rupture have been extensively studied, with several factors showing significant correlations with rupture status. Several studies have shown that aneurysm shape and hemodynamics change after rupture. In the present study the authors investigated a static factor, the bifurcation angle, which does not change after rupture, to understand its effect on aneurysm rupture risk and hemodynamics. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS Bifurcation angle and aspect ratio are independent predictors for aneurysm rupture. Bifurcation angle, which does not change after rupture, is correlated with hemodynamic factors including inflow coefficient and WSS, as well as rupture status. Aneurysms with the hands-up bifurcation configuration are more prone to rupture than aneurysms with other bifurcation configurations.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Mar 2018
Bilateral deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus in primary Meige syndrome.
OBJECTIVE Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms of primary Meige syndrome. However, assessments of its efficacy and safety have been limited to several case reports and small studies. METHODS The authors performed a retrospective study to assess the efficacy and safety of bilateral subthalamic nucleus stimulation in 15 patients with primary Meige syndrome who responded poorly to medical treatments or botulinum toxin injections. ⋯ The authors also found that bilateral stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus immediately improved patient symptoms after stimulation and required lower stimulation parameters than those needed for pallidal deep brain stimulation for primary Meige syndrome. Four adverse events occurred in 3 patients; all of these events resolved without permanent sequelae. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide further evidence to support the long-term efficacy and safety of subthalamic nucleus stimulation as an alternative treatment for patients with medically intractable Meige syndrome.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Mar 2018
Learning brain aneurysm microsurgical skills in a human placenta model: predictive validity.
OBJECTIVE Surgery for brain aneurysms is technically demanding. In recent years, the process to learn the technical skills necessary for these challenging procedures has been affected by a decrease in the number of surgical cases available and progressive restrictions on resident training hours. To overcome these limitations, surgical simulators such as cadaver heads and human placenta models have been developed. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS The human placenta biological simulator provides excellent simulation for some critical tasks of aneurysm surgery such as splitting of the sylvian fissure, dissection of the aneurysm neck and dome, and bipolar coagulation of surrounding microvessels. When performing surgery for an unruptured MCA aneurysm, residents who had trained in the human placenta model performed better than residents trained with other simulation scenarios/models. In this age of reduced exposure to aneurysm surgery and restrictions on resident working hours, the placenta model is a valid simulation for microneurosurgery with striking similarities with real surgery.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Mar 2018
Coexistence of obstructive sleep apnea worsens the overall outcome of intracranial aneurysm: a pioneer study.
OBJECTIVE Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with the progression of abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms. However, the role of OSA in the overall outcome of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) has not yet been established. Authors of this report investigated the role of OSA in the overall outcome of IAs. ⋯ Overall outcome (mRS) of IAs is also affected by the co-occurrence of OSA. Therefore, the coexistence of OSA with IA affects the outcome of IAs. Obstructive sleep apnea is a risk factor for a poor outcome in IA patients.