World Neurosurg
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Case Reports
Hybrid operation of a ruptured aneurysm associated with a developmental venous anomaly.
As a normal variation of the cerebral venous angioarchitecture, developmental venous anomalies (DVAs) represent a rare cause of intraparenchymal hemorrhage. Different from mixed vascular lesions, such as capillary malformations, arteriovenous malformations, arteriovenous fistulas, and thrombosis, here we describe the first case of a ruptured hemodynamic aneurysm associated with a DVA and introduce the first use of hybrid operation for the treatment of a hemorrhagic DVA. ⋯ Associated aneurysm may be a cause of intraparenchymal hemorrhage in DVAs and routine imaging monitoring is needed. Hybrid operation is a possible treatment for such complicated mixed lesions in DVA, which proved to be safe and effective in this patient.
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In the diagnosis of venous stenosis associated with idiopathic intracranial hypertension, previous studies have identified significant differences when venous pressures are measured under conscious sedation versus general anesthesia. No previous reports have investigated the effect that respiratory parameters may have on cerebral venous sinus pressure and the associated trans-stenosis pressure gradient. ⋯ This series demonstrates that EtCO2 changes have an immediate and pronounced effect on venous sinus pressure measurements with waveform changes that may correlate to increased intracranial pressure. These findings underscore the need to perform measurements of venous sinus pressure gradients under normal awake conditions.
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Pseudoarthrosis after spinal fusion is an important cause of pain, neurologic decline, and reoperation. ⋯ These findings strongly associate several diagnoses with the development of pseudoarthrosis. However, further prospective studies are warranted to establish causation.
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Surgical site infections (SSIs) carry significant patient morbidity and mortality and are a major source of readmissions after craniotomy. Because of their deleterious effects on health care outcomes and costs, identifying modifiable risk factors holds tremendous value. However, because SSIs after craniotomy are rare and most existing data comprise single-institution studies with small sample sizes, many are likely underpowered to discern for such factors. The objective of this study was to use a large hetereogenous patient sample to determine SSI incidence after nonemergent craniotomy and identify factors associated with readmission and subsequent need for wound washout. ⋯ SSI incidence in neurosurgery is low and most readmissions occur within 30 days. Several factors predicted SSI after craniotomy, including operations for tumor, younger age, hospitalization length, diabetes, discharge to institutional care, larger hospital bed size, Medicaid insurance, and presence of an EVD. Diabetes and EVD placement may represent modifiable factors that could be explored in subsequent prospective studies for their associations with cranial SSIs.