World Neurosurg
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Chiari malformation results from a bony structural anomaly of the skull base. The structural defect causes downward displacement of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum. The herniated tonsils block the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid, which causes a wide spectrum of clinical symptoms. ⋯ In cases of progressive symptoms of Chiari malformation, surgical decompression is important and should be considered after shunt insertion to the hindbrain.
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Pituitary apoplexy may occur when a large tumor compresses or outgrows its nutrient supply, resulting in ischemic necrosis and hemorrhage. Although once deemed a neurosurgical emergency, increasing evidence suggests that conservative management of pituitary apoplexy leads to favorable neuro-ophthalmologic and endocrinologic outcomes as well. Spontaneous remission after pituitary apoplexy has been described in functioning pituitary adenomas, but it is a rare occurrence in nonfunctioning tumors. ⋯ A subset of patients with pituitary apoplexy without altered consciousness and nonprogressive or mild ophthalmologic deficits may be managed conservatively; however, lifelong periodic assessment, preferably by a specialized multidisciplinary pituitary team, is essential until clinical outcomes become clear.
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Increased intra-abdominal pressure with prone positioning for spinal surgery is associated with intraoperative hemodynamic alterations and the potential for postoperative complications. This study investigated the incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing spine surgery on a Jackson spinal table or a Wilson frame. ⋯ This analysis showed that postoperative AKI in patients undergoing spine surgery in the prone position was not different with the Wilson frame than in the Jackson spinal table despite higher surgical severity, longer operative times, and more blood loss in the latter group. In spine surgery, the appropriate selection of prone positioning apparatus can potentially be an important consideration in reducing the risk of AKI.
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To establish microscope-based augmented reality (AR) support for degenerative spine surgery. ⋯ Reliable microscope-based AR support is possible because of automatic registration based on intraoperative imaging. Application of AR in degenerative spine surgery has a big potential; it might be especially helpful in complex anatomical situations and resident education.
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Ventriculoperitoneal shunt is the most common cerebrospinal fluid diversion procedure to treat hydrocephalus. With the change of physiologic cerebrospinal fluid absorption site from arachnoid granulations to the peritoneum, beta 2 transferrin enters the systemic circulation. Therefore, the detection of beta 2 transferrin in the blood can possibly be used as a noninvasive method to assess the functional status of the shunt. The objective of this study was to study the presence of beta 2 transferrin in patients with functional shunts and in shunts suspected of being malfunctional. ⋯ Blood beta 2 transferrin can be used as a noninvasive test to assess the functional status of a shunt.