World Neurosurg
-
Sixty-four-row multislice computed tomographic angiography (CTA) has great potential for use in vascular studies. The aim of our study was to compare 64-slice CTA with three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA) in the detection and characterization of intracranial aneurysms with special attention to smaller (<3-mm) aneurysms. ⋯ Sixty-four-slice CTA is a highly accurate imaging examination of the first-line imaging technique for detecting and characterizing intracranial aneurysms including <3-mm aneurysms.
-
Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is a less-invasive alternative to open thoracotomy. According to evidence-based medicine methodology, VATS is associated with better outcomes and the same complication rate as open thoracotomy. ⋯ The two presented cases show that VATS is not without severe complications, as evidence-based medicine methodology suggests. Surgical findings in our patients imply that if this type of complication happens, early surgical exploration could be the best option for the patients.
-
Placement of ventriculoperitoneal shunt is a well-accepted neurosurgical procedure for the management of obstructive hydrocephalus. The purpose of this study is to evaluate our long-term experience in the management of obstructive hydrocephalus in adult patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts. ⋯ The results of this retrospective study show that ventriculoperitoneal shunting is effective in the management of adult patients with obstructive hydrocephalus. The overall incidence of shunt revision was comparable with previously reported studies in the literature. However, the high proportion of patients experiencing shunt failure after shunt placement is still a concern.
-
This study sought to report on the utility and safety of the flexible-fiber CO2 laser in endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery. ⋯ We found that CO2-laser-assisted endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery for sellar tumors is a minimally invasive approach using a tool that is quick and effective at cutting and coagulation. The surgery has a low rate of complication, and no laser-related complications were encountered. The laser fiber allows the surgeon to safely cut and coagulate without the line-of-sight problems encountered with conventional CO2 lasers. Further studies are recommended to further define its role in endoscopic endonasal sellar surgery.
-
Over 75,000 patients have undergone deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedures worldwide. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important clinical and research tool in analyzing electrode location, documenting postoperative complications, and investigating novel symptoms in DBS patients. Functional MRI may shed light on the mechanism of action of DBS. MRI safety in DBS patients is therefore an important consideration. ⋯ The importance of MRI in modern medicine places pressure on industry to develop fully MRI-compatible DBS devices. Until then, the literature suggests that, when observing certain precautions, cranial MR images can be obtained with an extremely low risk in patients with implanted DBS hardware.