Neurosurgery
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Protection techniques using stents or microcatheters allow treatment of aneurysms with complex configurations by coil embolization. However, the application of these techniques is occasionally limited in wide-neck middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms with acute angularity of the efferent branch vessel. ⋯ This microcatheter looping technique facilitates safe entry into the distal branch during coil embolization of wide-neck MCA aneurysms incorporating the origins of acutely angulated branches.
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The Stenting and Aggressive Medical Management for Preventing Recurrent Stroke in Intracranial Stenosis (SAMMPRIS) study stopped recruiting patients because of higher-than-expected perioperative morbidity of primary stenting in patients with symptomatic intracranial stenosis. An alternative treatment, submaximal angioplasty without stenting, performed concurrently with SAMMPRIS, may offer revascularization benefits with a lower incidence of stenting-related risks. ⋯ In this series, periprocedural safety of submaximal angioplasty in the setting of acute, symptomatic atherosclerotic intracranial stenosis was demonstrated. Although direct comparison is impossible because many patients were ineligible for stenting procedures, the complication profile compares favorably with rates of identically defined event-free survival for patients randomized to the medical (88%) and surgical (77%) arms of SAMMPRIS despite the absence of aggressive medical management.
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Extensive data exist regarding the success rates and long-term outcomes of transsphenoidal adenomectomy (TSA) of growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary tumors; however, few data exist regarding the extent of adenomectomy. ⋯ ACTH, corticotropinCPFT, combined pituitary function testCV, coefficient of variationGH, growth hormoneOGTT, oral glucose tolerance testPRL, prolactinTSA, transsphenoidal adenomectomyTSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone.
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Glioma surgery in eloquent areas remains a challenge because of the risk of postoperative motor deficits. ⋯ DTI tractography is effective but not completely reliable in delineating the descending motor pathways. Integration of DTI and DsCS favors patient-specific surgery for cerebral glioma in eloquent areas.
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Although rare, recalcitrant cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak after skull base tumor resection or major head trauma is a difficult therapeutic challenge, often complicated by lack of local vascularized tissue in a scarred, radiated field. Craniotomy with a free tissue transfer has been described for CSF leak repair from these complicated skull base defects. ⋯ RFFF, radial forearm free flap.