World Neurosurg
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Neurosurgical simulation training is becoming increasingly popular. Attitudes toward simulation among residents can contribute to the effectiveness of simulation training, but such attitudes remain poorly explored in neurosurgery with no psychometrically proven measure in the literature. The aim of the present study was to evaluate prospectively a newly developed tool for this purpose: the Neurosurgical Evaluation of Attitudes towards simulation Training (NEAT). ⋯ NEAT is the first psychometrically evaluated tool for evaluating attitudes toward simulation in neurosurgery. Further implementation of NEAT is required in wider neurosurgical populations to establish whether specific population groups differ. Use of NEAT in studies of neurosurgical simulation could offer an additional outcome measure to performance metrics, permitting evaluation of the impact of neurosurgical simulation on attitudes toward simulation both between participants and within the same participants over time.
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Neurophobia is a well-described phenomenon among medical students in many countries. Little is reported concerning the perceptions of neurosciences among medical students in China. ⋯ The low, but not the lowest ranking of self-perceived knowledge in neurology by medical students in Wuhan, China, differs from findings reported in other countries. In this exploratory study the investigators hypothesize that the well-described phenomenon of neurophobia may exhibit a less pronounced influence in Wuhan, China.
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It is well known that brainstem dysfunction may be caused by vascular compression of the medulla oblongata (MO). However, only a limited number of reports have found microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery to be an effective treatment for symptomatic patients with MO dysfunction, such as essential hypertension, pyramidal tract signs, dysphagia, and respiratory failure. ⋯ Although the pathogenic mechanisms of symptomatic vertebral artery compression of MO remain unclear, we should recognize that MVD surgery is effective for selected patients with brainstem dysfunction. The transcondylar fossa approach and the stitched sling retraction technique are appropriate in MVD surgery to relieve vertebral artery compression of MO.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of microscopic and endoscopic approaches to the cerebellopontine angle.
To examine the efficacy of the endoscope as an adjunct to the operating microscope in defining the surgical anatomy of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). ⋯ The combination of endoscopic and microsurgical techniques aids in achieving optimal exposure in CPA surgery.
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Case Reports
An updated assessment of the risk of radiation-induced neoplasia after radiosurgery of arteriovenous malformations.
Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is a minimally invasive technique employed in the treatment of intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Patients experience a low incidence of complications following treatment. As long-term follow-up data became available, some late adverse effects have been reported. However, the exact incidence of radiosurgically induced neoplasia is not known. ⋯ Although radiosurgery is generally considered a safe modality in the treatment of AVMs, radiation-induced neoplasia is a rare but serious adverse event. The possibility of GKRS-induced tumors underscores the necessity of long-term follow-up in AVM patients receiving radiosurgery.