World Neurosurg
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Historical Article
Neurosurgery and Music; The effect of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The nervous system works like a great orchestra. Specifically, the music of Mozart with its "Mozart effect" is appropriate to use in neurosurgery. We investigated the relationship between Mozart's music and neurosurgery. ⋯ It is clear that we have much to learn from studies about music and brain function that derive from our surgical experiences with patients. The neuronal plasticity of musicians' brains may be different from that of nonmusicians' brains. Musicians with enhanced motor skills have greater capacity for plasticity because of enriched interhemispheric connections. Listening to music and the effect of Mozart in neurosurgical practice, intensive care, or rehabilitation were documented in many studies. As authors, we mean something different: Its effectiveness should be studied. We concluded that in current neurosurgical practice, Mozart has an effect. More research and clinical studies are needed.
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The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of venous phase timing when compared with technetium-99m Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) during angiographic balloon test occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and subsequent sacrifice of the ICA. ⋯ Our study demonstrated no correlation between venous phase timing and SPECT. Future studies comparing multiple tests with patients who have had vessel occlusion are necessary to determine the best adjunctive measures to predict delayed ischemia following carotid occlusion.
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Giant hypervascular intracranial tumors represent a formidable challenge because their size limits surgical control of the blood supply and debulking poses the risk of critical blood loss. Embolization facilitates resection but carries the risk of life-threatening tumor infarction, hemorrhage, or swelling if performed preoperatively. Endovascular intraoperative embolization avoids the fatal risk and allows the surgeon to attend instantly if any complication occurs. ⋯ Intraoperative embolization facilitates the safe resection of giant hypervascular tumors and mitigates the consequences of potential tumor infarction, hemorrhage, or swelling from embolization. These cases exemplify the benefits of combining expertise in endovascular and microsurgical techniques with the capabilities of modern hybrid operating rooms allowing for their simultaneous application.
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Spetzler-Martin grade 3 (SM3) lesions entail 4 distinct subtypes described based on size, eloquence, and deep venous drainage (3A-3D). The ideal management of each is contentious, and the results of A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain AVMs (ARUBA) introduced additional controversy and attention toward management strategies of unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs). ⋯ In spite of a heterogeneous array of angioarchitectural and anatomic features, SM3 bAVMs can be treated safely and effectively with surgery and radiosurgery either without or with pretreatment embolization. Ruptured lesions are more often type 3A, with smaller nidus, deep brain location, and deep venous drainage. Focal neurological deficit predicts worse clinical outcomes. Contemporary multimodality management of SM3 bAVMs is not adequately represented in the results of ARUBA, likely due to differences in treatment strategies.
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The purpose of this study was to analyze the outcomes and complications of the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) performed on patients with Cushing disease at our Pituitary Center during the past 11 years. ⋯ The EEA for Cushing disease resulted in remission and complication rates comparable with previous analyses of EEA, as well as microsurgical series. Preoperative adrenocorticotropic hormone levels were associated with invasiveness.