Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2019
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyTopical vancomycin for neurosurgery wound prophylaxis: an interim report of a randomized clinical trial on drug safety in a diverse neurosurgical population.
Postoperative surgical site infections (SSIs) in neurosurgical patients carry a significant risk of increased morbidity and mortality. With SSIs accounting for approximately 20% of nosocomial infections and costing approximately $1.6 billion USD annually, there is a need for additional prophylaxis to improve current standards of care. Topical vancomycin is increasingly utilized in instrumented spinal and cardiothoracic procedures, where it has been shown to reduce the risk of SSIs. A randomized controlled trial assessing its efficacy in the general neurosurgical population is currently underway. Here, the authors report their initial impressions of topical vancomycin safety among patients enrolled during the 1st year of the trial. ⋯ The authors' data indicate that the use of topical vancomycin is safe with no significant adverse effects and minimal systemic absorption, and no development of vancomycin-resistant microorganisms.Clinical trial registration no.: NCT02284126 (clinicaltrials.gov).
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2019
Randomized Controlled TrialIMPACT probability of poor outcome and plasma cytokine concentrations are associated with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome following traumatic brain injury.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) occurs frequently after TBI and independently worsens outcome. The present study aimed to identify potential admission characteristics associated with post-TBI MODS. ⋯ Admission IMPACT probability of poor outcome and initial plasma concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were associated with MODS following TBI.
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Neuroendovascular surgery and interventional neuroradiology both describe the catheter-based (most often) endovascular diagnosis and treatment of vascular lesions affecting the brain and spinal cord. This article traces the evolution of these techniques and their current role as the dominant and frequently standard approach for many of these conditions. The article also discusses the important changes that have been brought to bear on open cerebrovascular neurosurgery by neuroendovascular surgery and their effects on resident and fellow training and describes new concepts for clinical care.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2019
Resection and permanent intracranial brachytherapy using modular, biocompatible cesium-131 implants: results in 20 recurrent, previously irradiated meningiomas.
Effective treatments for recurrent, previously irradiated intracranial meningiomas are limited, and resection alone is not usually curative. Thus, the authors studied the combination of maximum safe resection and adjuvant radiation using permanent intracranial brachytherapy (R+BT) in patients with recurrent, previously irradiated aggressive meningiomas. ⋯ R+BT utilizing Cs-131 sources in modular carriers represents a potentially safe and effective treatment option for recurrent, previously irradiated aggressive meningiomas.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2019
The effect of ICP monitoring in severe traumatic brain injury: a propensity score-weighted and adjusted regression approach.
The use of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring has been postulated to be beneficial in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), although studies investigating this hypothesis have reported conflicting results. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of inserting an ICP monitor on survival in patients with severe TBI. ⋯ The authors found that the use of an ICP monitor is significantly associated with improved survival in patients with severe head injury.