World Neurosurg
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The absence of evidence-based guidelines for platelet transfusion surrounding invasive neurosurgical procedures leads to uncertainty in management. Multiple studies have illuminated this lack of high quality data, and subsequent reliance on expert opinion. The generally accepted threshold for platelet transfusion has hovered around 100,000/μL. ⋯ The available evidence is sparse and of low quality, but suggests that a platelet count <100,000/μL is associated with increased risk of hemorrhagic complications. In addition, the acuity of thrombocytopenia, magnitude of decrease in platelet count, and responsiveness to platelet transfusions impact the risk of neurosurgical intervention, and should be taken into account when evaluating a patient's surgical candidacy. Higher quality, prospective studies on the subject are unlikely, given a general lack of clinical equipoise on the subject, and the ethical concerns such a study would present.
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To assess the use of functional scores in the evaluation of patients with dural arteriovenous fistula and Foix-Alajouanine syndrome. ⋯ We believe that patients with dAVF and Foix-Alajouanine syndrome present with worse function (higher functional scores) as a result of an acute myelopathic episode, and that if diagnosed and treated appropriately, will experience some level of symptom improvement that is evidenced by reduced post-intervention functional scores.
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Observational Study
Safety and Efficacy of a 600mg Loading dose of Clopidogrel 24 hours before Pipeline Embolization Device treatment.
Clopidogrel/aspirin antiplatelet therapy routinely is administered 7-10 days before pipeline aneurysm treatment. Our study assessed the safety and efficacy of a 600-mg loading dose of clopidogrel 24 hours before Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) treatment. ⋯ In a cohort receiving PED, a 600-mg loading dose of clopidogrel should be safe and efficacious in those off the standard protocol or showing <30% platelet inhibition before treatment.
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Intracranial lymphoplasmacyte-rich meningioma (LPRM) is rarely reported because of its extremely low incidence, and current understanding of this disease is poor. We analyzed the incidence and clinical, radiologic, pathologic, and prognostic features of intracranial LPRMs. ⋯ Intracranial LPRM is a rare subtype of meningioma with no gender difference and low recurrence. Long-term survival is expected, although tumors located in the skull base and bone destruction are independent risk factors of poor long-term outcomes. Microsurgical treatment of skull base LPRM remains a formidable challenge because of poorly defined borders and critical neurovascular structure encasement. Radical tumor resection, which induces severe neurologic deficits, is unnecessary.
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Spinal extradural arachnoid cysts (SEACs) are relatively rare and usually asymptomatic. They preferentially are situated in the thoracic extradural space and almost always dorsal. SEACs may present with back pain and/or cord compression symptoms. Needle aspiration, needle fenestration, or open surgical resection/fenestration have been reported as treatment modalities. ⋯ Thoracic SEACs can present with radiating pain due to a transdural herniation of a thoracic nerve root into the cyst, potentially due to a mechanism of intermittent pressure gradients between the intradural and extradural spaces. MRI can prove beneficial in visualizing the nerve prolapsing into the cyst. Open resection of the cyst wall, reduction of the nerve root herniation, and subsequent direct closure of the dural tear led to complete recovery.