World Neurosurg
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Comparative Study
Craniectomy Versus Craniotomy for Posterior Fossa Metastases, Complication Profile.
Surgical resection of posterior fossa metastases (PFM) includes either suboccipital craniotomy or suboccipital craniectomy. The optimal surgical technique is yet to be defined. We examined the association between the chosen surgical approach and the occurrence of postoperative complications. ⋯ Suboccipital craniotomy may be associated with a lower incidence of postoperative morbidity compared with suboccipital craniectomy and should be considered as the preferred approach for the resection of PFM.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Application of the Ommaya reservoir in managing ventricular hemorrhage.
Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of the combined treatment of an Ommaya reservoir and conventional external ventricular drainage (EVD) using urokinase in the management of IVH. ⋯ The combined treatment approach of an Ommaya reservoir and EVD with intraventricular urokinase is safe and effective in patients with IVH. It increased clot clearance, shortened conventional catheter-based EVD duration, prolonged total drainage time, reduced the hydrocephalus incidence and mortality, and contributed to good clinical outcomes. The Ommaya reservoir provides a safe way to increase the injection times of urokinase, which accelerated clot resolution and did not increase the risk for ventriculitis infection.
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Multicenter Study
MRI-based assessment of gadolinium diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid test-infusion in detecting dysfunction of CED catheters.
In a phase 1 trial conducted at our institute, convection-enhanced delivery (CED) was used to administrate the Delta-24-RGD adenovirus in patients with a recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. Infusion of the virus was preceded by a gadolinium-conjugated diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (Gd-DTPA) test-infusion. In the present study, we analyzed the results of Gd-DTPA test infusion through 50 catheters. ⋯ Pre-CED treatment infusion of Gd-DTPA is an adequate and safe method to identify dysfunctional catheters. The use of an optimized drug delivery catheter is necessary to reduce leakage and improve the efficacy of intracerebral drug infusion.
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The application of stand-alone anchored spacer (SAAS) in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) has been proven to be safe and effective to treat cervical spondylosis. Skip-level ACDF with SAAS, fusing only the involved levels without anterior plates, may be the optimal treatment. The aim of the study was to compare the clinical outcomes, radiologic results of SAAS, and plate-cage construct in the treatment of 2 noncontiguous levels of cervical spondylosis. ⋯ Skip-level ACDF with SAAS is a safe and effective treatment of 2 noncontiguous levels of cervical spondylosis without obvious contraindications, which can keep the IS intact, and have a low impact on the IS.
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Surgical anterior decompression represents the treatment of choice for symptomatic irreducible ventral craniovertebral junction (CVJ) compression. With the refinement of the endoscopic techniques, the endonasal route has been proposed as alternative to the classic transoral approach to CVJ. Some reports assess the effectiveness and safety of endoscopic endonasal approaches to CVJ pathologies. ⋯ Endoscopic endonasal odontoidectomy has proven to be safe and effective in selected patients. Soft and hard palate preservation dramatically reduces the risk of postoperative velopharyngeal insufficiency. Moreover, the endonasal endoscopic approach provides a direct access to the dens. Three-dimensional high-definition endoscope, laser, and ultrasound bony curettes revealed to be useful tools for this approach that, however, remains a demanding one.