Neurosurgery
-
Pipeline embolization device (PED; Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland) utilization is not limited to the treatment of giant wide-necked aneurysms. It has been expanded to handle small blisters, fusiforms, and dissecting intracranial aneurysms. ⋯ Treatment of DCC aneurysms with PED is technically challenging mainly because of the small caliber and tortuosity of the parent arteries. The results of this study further support the safety of flow diverters in the treatment of various distal aneurysms.
-
Current outcomes prediction tools are largely based on and limited by regression methods. Utilization of machine learning (ML) methods that can handle multiple diverse inputs could strengthen predictive abilities and improve patient outcomes. Inpatient length of stay (LOS) is one such outcome that serves as a surrogate for patient disease severity and resource utilization. ⋯ An ML ensemble model predicts LOS with good performance on internal and external validation, and yields clinical insights that may potentially improve patient outcomes. This systematic ML method can be applied to a broad range of clinical problems to improve patient care.
-
Although several outcome prediction scores incorporated with pretreatment variables have been developed for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients, there is not currently a prediction score that includes pretreatment imaging that can show salvageable brain tissue. ⋯ The addition of the collateral grade to outcome prediction scores resulted in better prediction of poor outcome after EVT for AIS compared to the prediction scores alone.
-
Practice Guideline
Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline on Closure of Myelomeningocele Within 48 Hours to Decrease Infection Risk.
Appropriate timing for closure of myelomeningocele (MM) varies in the literature. Older studies present 48 h as the timeframe after which infection complication rates rise. ⋯ There is insufficient evidence that operating within 48 h decreases risk of wound infection or ventriculitis in 1 Class III study. There is 1 Class III study that provides evidence of global increase in postoperative infection after 48 h, but is not specific to wound infection or ventriculitis. There is 1 Class III study that provides evidence if surgery is going to be delayed greater than 48 h, antibiotics should be given.The full guideline can be found at https://www.cns.org/guidelines/guidelines-spina-bifida-chapter-4.
-
Practice Guideline
Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines for Pediatric Myelomeningocele: Executive Summary.
The incidence of spina bifida (SB) in the developing world is higher than in the United States because of malnutrition and folic acid deficiency during pregnancy. Advances in technology have made prenatal repair of myelomeningocele (MM) possible. ⋯ Based on a comprehensive systematic review, a total of 5 clinical practice recommendations were developed, with 1 Level I, 2 Level II and 2 Level III recommendations.The full guideline can be found at https://www.cns.org/guidelines/guidelines-spina-bifida-chapter-1.