World Neurosurg
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Atherosclerotic stenosis of the extracranial internal carotid artery accounts for 15%-20% of ischemic strokes, depending on the population studied. Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is the most frequently performed operation to prevent stroke. ⋯ In this review, we will discuss our current knowledge of the role of CEA in the prevention of stroke in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with carotid stenosis and compare its use to medical therapy and carotid angioplasty and stenting.
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Although most ischemic strokes are thromboembolic in origin and their management is endovascular or medical, some are hemodynamic in origin and their management may be surgical. Extracranial-intracranial bypass with superficial temporal artery-to-middle cerebral artery (MCA) bypass, high-flow interposition grafts, and reconstructive techniques have been developed. Clinical indications and efficacy are controversial, and this review examines current practices. ⋯ Patients with athero-occlusive disease and symptoms of hemodynamic insufficiency have significant risk of stroke if left untreated or managed medically. On the other hand, surgical intervention lacks supporting evidence. Clinicians must individualize their management recommendations until additional data are published or further consensus develops.
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The Gateway balloon-Wingspan stent system is the first, and currently the only "on-label" device for the treatment of symptomatic intracranial stenosis in the United States. In initial single-arm studies, investigators have indicated that this system can be used for the treatment of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease with high levels of technical success and acceptable periprocedural complication rates, which are comparable with, or better than, those reported for other endovascular techniques. Intermediate- and long-term follow-up data for patients treated with the Wingspan device remain sparse. We critically review the existing data, which characterize the risk profile and efficacy of endovascular interventions for intracranial atherosclerotic disease, as well as the available clinical evidence that could be used to select appropriate patients for treatment.
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Multicenter Study
Deep brain stimulation and ethics: perspectives from a multisite qualitative study of Canadian neurosurgical centers.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an approved neurosurgical intervention for motor disorders such as Parkinson disease. The emergence of psychiatric uses for DBS combined with the fact that it is an invasive and expensive procedure creates important ethical and social challenges in the delivery of care that need further examination. We endeavored to examine health care provider perspectives on ethical and social challenges encountered in DBS. ⋯ This study provides insights into the complexity of ethical challenges that providers face in the use of DBS across different neurosurgical centers. We propose actions for health care providers for the long-term care and postoperative monitoring of patients with DBS. More data on patient perspectives in DBS would complement the understanding of key challenges, as well as contribute to best practices, for patient selection, management, and resource allocation.