World Neurosurg
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Quadrigeminal cistern arachnoid cysts (ACs) are usually asymptomatic, may be accidental findings during radiological evaluation, and are rare (5%-10% of all intracranial ACs). We report a case of type I quadrigeminal cistern AC managed via navigation-guided cystoventriculostomy followed by endoscopic third ventriculostomy (Video 1). A 0° rod-lens endoscope was used. ⋯ Pineal region ACs and associated hydrocephalus can be successfully treated with simple, minimally invasive endoscopic procedures. Navigation assistance may not be necessary in all cases, but it allows for safe, rapid location of the fenestration site. A minimally invasive route and attention to smaller nuances of anatomy are key to safe management of these benign conditions.
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Review
Advancing the Surgical Treatment of Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Study Design and Research Directions.
In this narrative review, we discuss aspects of study design for research in the surgical treatment of patients with spontaneous acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We emphasize the importance of carefully defining the primary end point relevant to the intervention under investigation, whether this is technical (i.e., residual hematoma volume) or clinical (i.e., mortality or functional outcome), and the timing of its assessment. Compared with patients with acute ischemic stroke, patients with spontaneous acute ICH may take longer to fully recover. ⋯ The definition of minimally invasive surgery, and its use and timing in relation to ICH, requires urgent assessment. Future studies could be better designed and executed as part of a large (inter)national ICH trials consortium, consisting of dedicated interdisciplinary teams of neurologists, neurosurgeons, intensivists, and epidemiologists. We advocate studies to be pragmatic and adhere to the IDEAL recommendations and CONSORT guidelines.
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Clinical trials are performed to determine the safety, efficacy, or effectiveness of a medical or surgical intervention. A clinical trial is, by definition, prospective in nature with a uniform treatment of a defined patient cohort. The outcomes assessment should also be uniform. ⋯ However, in the present report, we have focused exclusively on prospective clinical trials. An urgent need exists to understand how clinical trials have been performed in the past and how they can be improved to advance our neurosurgical practice. In the present review, we have discussed the barriers, successes, and failures regarding prospective clinical trials in neurosurgery with an outlook to the future.