Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Nov 2024
Multicenter StudyStratified assessment of treatment approach for craniocervical junction arteriovenous fistulas: a multicenter cohort study and literature review.
Craniocervical junction arteriovenous fistulas (CCJ-AVFs) are complex vascular shunts that present a challenge for treatment. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of microsurgery and endovascular embolization for CCJ-AVFs and to determine whether the treatment approach affected the obliteration rate and neurological improvement. ⋯ This study supports microsurgery as the best treatment modality for CCJ-AVFs, exhibiting the highest rates of complete obliteration. Conversely, embolization via the VA can result in a lower occlusion rate and less neurological improvement. In CCJ-AVFs with CA feeders, embolization via the CA can be a safe and effective alternative to microsurgery.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Nov 2024
Management of intracavitary bleeding during ultra-early minimally invasive intracerebral hemorrhage evacuation.
Surgical evacuation of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) at early time points contributes to improved functional outcomes. However, ultra-early evacuation has been associated with postoperative rebleeding, a devastating complication that contributes to worse outcomes. Minimally invasive endoscopic techniques allow for intraoperative management of active bleeding, potentially allowing for safe and effective hemostasis at ultra-early time points. The authors proposed and prospectively assigned an intraoperative grading scale that quantified the severity of bleeding encountered intraoperatively. They hypothesized that ultra-early evacuation would correlate to increased intraoperative bleeding but not postoperative rebleeding or worse long-term clinical outcomes in a cohort of patients undergoing minimally invasive endoscopic evacuation. ⋯ Ultra-early evacuation within 5 hours of ictus is associated with increased intraoperative bleeding but not postoperative rebleeding or worse clinical outcomes. These findings suggest that the benefits of ultra-early evacuation can be explored without an increased risk of postoperative rebleeding when utilizing a minimally invasive endoscopic technique with good intraoperative visualization, active irrigation for targeted tamponade, and direct cauterization of bleeding vessels.
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Wound dehiscence following craniotomy is a complication for which patients are subjected to additional procedures to achieve wound closure. During surgery for epilepsy, a craniotomy is performed at various sites to cure or palliate seizures in patients with intractable epilepsy. Collaborations between medicine and engineering have provided many surgical devices and materials for various stages of craniotomy, from skin incision to wound closure. The risk factors for wound dehiscence remain undetermined. Here, the authors attempt to identify risk factors associated with wound dehiscence after surgery for epilepsy. ⋯ Surgical devices and materials contribute to wound dehiscence after epilepsy surgery. To avoid wound dehiscence, the use of an electrocautery scalpel is not recommended when performing skin incisions, nor is dural closure using a nonabsorbable artificial dura.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Nov 2024
Risk of late radiation necrosis more than 5 years after stereotactic radiosurgery.
Radiation necrosis (RN) is a well-recognized late complication most commonly occurring within 2 years of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS); however, late RN (LRN), RN occurring or recurring > 5 years after SRS, has been poorly described. This study analyzes the incidence of and risk factors for LRN occurring > 5 years after SRS. ⋯ RN risk persists well beyond 5 years after SRS, and recognizing LRN as an entity has important implications in managing these patients. LRN risk was highest in those with a brain V12Gy > 5 cm3 and a history of early RN after SRS, warranting close follow-up in perpetuity for select patients.