Neurosurgery
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Penetrating ballistic cranial trauma (PBCT) carries significant mortality when compared with blunt trauma. The development of coagulopathy in PBCT is a strong predictor of mortality. The goal of the study was to describe the incidence and risk factors of coagulopathy in PBCT and to report the value of tranexamic acid administration in PBCT. ⋯ Coagulopathy is prevalent in approximately 50% of patients with PBCT and is persistent despite treatment in a substantial subset of patients. The addition of thromboelastography with its increased coagulopathy sensitivity can potentially guide treatment more efficiently than traditional coagulopathy laboratory tests and fibrinogen alone. Patients with a significant base deficit on arterial blood gas are at higher risk for coagulopathy.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Clinical and Imaging Characteristics, Care Pathways, and Outcomes of Traumatic Epidural Hematomas: A Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury Study.
Guideline recommendations for surgical management of traumatic epidural hematomas (EDHs) do not directly address EDHs that co-occur with other intracranial hematomas; the relative rates of isolated vs nonisolated EDHs and guideline adherence are unknown. We describe characteristics of a contemporary cohort of patients with EDHs and identify factors influencing acute surgery. ⋯ Isolated EDHs are relatively infrequent, and two-thirds of patients harbor concomitant ASDHs and/or intraparenchymal hemorrhages. EDHs ≥30 cm 3 are generally evacuated early, adhering to Brain Trauma Foundation guidelines. For heterogeneous intracranial pathology, surgical decision-making is related to clinical status and overall lesion burden. Further research should examine the optimal surgical management of EDH with concomitant lesions in traumatic brain injury, to inform updated guidelines.
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Caudal agenesis (CA) is a congenital disease characterized by lower vertebral bone defects. Previous classifications for CA were based on the levels of bony defects or the conus medullaris. We created a new pathoembryogenic classification that takes into account the level of conus, considering both its shape and filum. We evaluated its accuracy in reflecting the neurological status and the need for untethering. ⋯ The correlation between bony classification and spinal cord abnormalities was exaggerated. Our new pathoembryogenic classification was valuable in prognosticating neurological status and identifying the patient group more likely to require untethering among patients with CA.
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Patients who undergo craniotomy are at risk of developing seizures during the postoperative period. Preoperative serum potassium as an important potential risk factor has not been investigated yet. ⋯ We found that high preoperative serum potassium level was associated with the high risk of postoperative seizures in patients undergoing craniotomy. We demonstrated that preoperative serum potassium level was the independent risk factor of postoperative seizures.