World Neurosurg
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The standard of care for glioblastoma is surgical resection followed by combination temozolomide and radiation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used preoperatively for tumor resection planning. In some instances, MRI is also obtained postoperatively to assess for any complications and to determine extent of resection. There is some question whether early routine postoperative imaging of patients after tumor resection is beneficial to long-term outcomes, especially with the increased scrutiny of increasing health care costs. ⋯ Although early postoperative MRI may not significantly affect patient overall survival from a statistical standpoint or therapeutic regimens, this type of imaging may be important to hone resident and attending skill. We encourage other institutions to perform similar analyses to determine the overall survival benefit of early postoperative imaging after glioma resection for patients with glioblastoma.
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In the neurosurgery residency, inherent personality traits can play a significant role in the adaptability and success of the resident physician. ⋯ Personality typing can be used to gain valuable insight into the composition of neurosurgery residency cohorts and resolve conflicts arising from personality differences within these groups as well as within the larger hospital setting.
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Ictal asystole (IA) and ictal bradycardia (IB) are mainly seen with temporal or frontal lobe epilepsy. Many patients with these conditions undergo cardiac pacemaker therapy but not epilepsy surgery. ⋯ Both temporofrontal lobe epilepsy and PoQE caused the IA and IB. Because a cardiac pacemaker only addresses arrhythmia, not epileptic seizures, radical treatment for both epilepsy and arrhythmia may be warranted for patients with medically intractable epilepsy.
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To describe the incidence of and characterize risk factors for cerebrospinal fluid leak and symptomatic pseudomeningocele (CSFL/SP) after intradural spine surgery. ⋯ We present the largest series of intradural spine surgeries focusing specifically on the risk factors for and management of CSFL/SP. Although craniocervical junction surgery and use of external cerebrospinal fluid drain were associated with CSFL/SP, type of closure and type/number of dural substitutes were not.