Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2022
Distinct approaches to language pathway tractography: comparison of anatomy-based, repetitive navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)-based, and rTMS-enhanced diffusion tensor imaging-fiber tracking.
Visualization of subcortical language pathways by means of diffusion tensor imaging-fiber tracking (DTI-FT) is evolving as an important tool for surgical planning and decision making in patients with language-suspect brain tumors. Repetitive navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) cortical language mapping noninvasively provides additional functional information. Efforts to incorporate rTMS data into DTI-FT are promising, but the lack of established protocols makes it hard to assess clinical utility. The authors performed DTI-FT of important language pathways by using five distinct approaches in an effort to evaluate the respective clinical usefulness of each approach. ⋯ The lesion-focused landmark-based approach (Ib) achieved the best ratings and enabled visualization of the principal language tracts in almost all cases. The rTMS-enhanced approach (III) was positively evaluated by the experts because it can reveal cortico-subcortical connections, but the functional relevance of these connections is still unclear. The use of regions of interest derived solely from cortical rTMS mapping (IIa and IIb) leads to cluttered images that are of limited use in clinical practice.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2022
Surgeon education through a surgical cost feedback system reduces supply cost in endoscopic skull base surgery.
A large proportion of healthcare expense is operating room (OR) costs. As a means of cost mitigation, several institutions have implemented surgeon education programs to bring awareness about supply costs. This study evaluates the impact of a surgical cost feedback system (surgical receipt) on the supply costs of endoscopic skull base surgery (ESBS) procedures. ⋯ Education of surgeons regarding surgical supply costs by a surgical receipt feedback system can reduce the supply cost per case of ESBS operations.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2022
ReviewChronic encapsulated expanding hematomas after stereotactic radiosurgery for intracranial arteriovenous malformations.
Cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare cerebral vascular lesions that are associated with high morbidity and mortality from hemorrhage; however, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a well-validated treatment modality. Few reports have delineated a subgroup of patients who develop delayed chronic encapsulated expanding hematomas (CEEHs) despite angiographic evidence of AVM obliteration following radiosurgery. In this report, the authors performed a retrospective review of more than 1000 radiosurgically treated intracranial AVM cases to delineate the incidence and management of this rare entity. ⋯ CEEH after SRS for AVM is a rare complication with an incidence rate of 0.0045 event per person-year over the authors' 30-year experience. When clinical symptoms progress and imaging reveals progressive enlargement over time, complete resection of a CEEH results in significant clinical recovery. Knowledge of this rare entity facilitates timely detection and eventual surgical intervention to achieve optimal outcomes.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2022
Adapting the 5-factor modified frailty index for prediction of postprocedural outcome in patients with unruptured aneurysms.
The 5-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5) is a practical tool that can be used to estimate frailty by measuring five accessible factors: functional status, history of diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, and hypertension. The authors aimed to validate the utility of mFI-5 for predicting endovascular and microsurgical treatment outcomes in patients with unruptured aneurysms. ⋯ mFI-5 and AmFI-5 represent potential predictors of procedure-related complications in unruptured aneurysm patients. After further validation, integration of these tools into clinical workflows may optimize patients for intervention.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2022
Endovascular catheter manometry reliability: a benchtop validation study.
Catheter manometry is used frequently in neuroendovascular surgery for assessing cerebrovascular pathology. The accuracy of pressure data with different catheter setups requires further validation. ⋯ Mean pressure measurements are accurate through microcatheters as small as 0.013-inch ID. Pulse pressure and waveform morphology may require a microcatheter ≥ 0.031-inch ID to achieve 90% accuracy, although the 0.027-inch ID microcatheter reached 85% accuracy. A 0.070-inch guide catheter with a microcatheter ≤ 0.042-inch outer diameter (e.g., Marksman 0.027-inch ID or smaller) allows accurate transduction of pulse pressure. Further validation of these benchtop findings is necessary before application in a clinical setting.