Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jul 2022
Linear accelerator-based radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia: comparative outcomes of frame-based and mask-based techniques.
Precise and accurate targeting is critical to optimize outcomes after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for trigeminal neuralgia (TN). The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes after SRS for TN in which two different techniques were used: mask-based 4-mm cone versus frame-based 5-mm cone. ⋯ Frame-based 5-mm collimator SRS for TN resulted in a better long-term pain relief with similar toxicity profiles to that seen with mask-based 4-mm collimator SRS.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jul 2022
Applying to residency: survey of neurosurgical residency applicants on virtual recruitment during COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant disruption to residency recruitment, including a sudden, comprehensive transition to virtual interviews. The authors sought to characterize applicant experiences and perceptions concerning the change in the application, interview, and match process for neurological surgery residency during the 2020-2021 recruitment cycle. ⋯ Neurosurgery resident applicants identified standardized interview invitation release dates, centralized interview scheduling methods, caps on the number of interviews available to each candidate, and regulated opportunities for both virtual and in-person recruitment as measures that could significantly improve the applicant experience during and effectiveness of future neurosurgery residency application cycles. Applicants prioritized program culture and "fit" during recruitment, and a majority were open to incorporating virtual elements into future cycles to reduce costs while retaining in-person opportunities to gauge programs and their locations.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jul 2022
A nationwide prospective multicenter study of external ventricular drainage: accuracy, safety, and related complications.
External ventricular drainage (EVD) catheters are associated with complications such as EVD catheter infection (ECI), intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), and suboptimal placement. The aim of this study was to investigate the rates of EVD catheter complications and their associated risk factor profiles in order to optimize the safety and accuracy of catheter insertion. ⋯ EVD-associated complications are common. These results suggest that the operating room setting can help reduce the risk of infection, but not the use of preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis. Although EVD-related ICH was associated with LMWH prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis, there were no significant clinical manifestations in the majority of patients. Catheter misplacement was associated with operator level of training and midline shift. Information from this multicenter prospective cohort can be utilized to increase the safety profile of this common neurosurgical procedure.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jul 2022
Frame-based stereotactic implantation of cystoventricular shunts for treating acquired intracerebral cysts.
The treatment of symptomatic, progressive or recurrent acquired intracerebral cysts is challenging, especially when they are localized in eloquent structures. In addition to resection, endoscopic fenestration, or stereotactic puncture, the implantation of a cystoventricular shunt by stereotactic guidance (SCVS) has been reported as a minimally invasive procedure; however, only scarce data are available regarding its feasibility and efficacy. Here, the authors evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of frame-based SCVS in patients with acquired intracranial cysts. ⋯ In this study, SCVS proved to be a safe, minimally invasive, and effective treatment with reliable long-term volume reduction, resulting in clinical improvement and a minor complication rate.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jul 2022
Glibenclamide in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
Glibenclamide has been shown to improve outcomes in cerebral ischemia, traumatic brain injury, and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The authors sought to evaluate glibenclamide's impact on mortality and functional outcomes of patients with aneurysmal SAH (aSAH). ⋯ In this study, glibenclamide was not associated with better functional outcomes after aSAH. Mortality and delayed cerebral ischemia rates were also similar compared with placebo.