Neurosurgery
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Flow-diverter stent (FDS) deployment can cause morphological and hemodynamic changes in the carotid siphon (CS), influencing the occlusion rate of aneurysms in this location. ⋯ FDS deployment induces changes in CS morphology. Specifically, increases in mean anterior angle are associated with better radiological results on 6-mo follow-up digital subtraction angiography.
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Light irradiation (635 nm) of cells containing protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) after 5- aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) pretreatment causes cell death via different pathways including apoptosis and necrosis, as previously demonstrated for malignant glioma cells. ⋯ We conclude that PDT causes cell death with higher PPIX concentrations after exposure to 5-ALA in vitro in accordance to similar studies with glioma cells. This indicates that PDT might be feasible for eliminating brain tumor cells in malignant pediatric brain tumors. Additionally, we noticed a dependency between fluorescence intensity and death rates.
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Despite increasing emphasis on quality improvement in neurosurgery, few studies have evaluated the impact of quality initiatives on health-assessment metrics including risk of mortality (ROM), severity of illness (SOI), case mix index (CMI), and mortality index. ⋯ Our study suggests that our quality initiative impacted observed mortality, improved documentation, and enhanced overall quality of care on a neurosurgical service.
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Recent glioma surgery series with intraoperative electrical stimulation (IES) language mapping have demonstrated high rates of postoperative memory impairment, raising a question regarding the efficacy of this approach to preserve memory. ⋯ Verbal memory areas identified intraoperatively with the current paradigm are critically involved in verbal memory, as memory impairment can be significantly reduced by adapting the resection to avoid those memory areas. Incorporation of verbal memory evaluation in stimulation mapping protocols might assist in reducing postoperative sequelae and preserving the patient's quality of life.
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Timing of surgery and the importance of the size of disc prolapse in cauda equina syndrome (CES) remain controversial. ⋯ No significant correlation was demonstrated between the preoperative duration of urinary dysfunction, the size of disc herniation relative to size of spinal canal, and postoperative urinary function in a large consecutive series of patients with CES.