Neurologia medico-chirurgica
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Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · May 2016
ReviewShunt Devices for the Treatment of Adult Hydrocephalus: Recent Progress and Characteristics.
Various types of shunt valves have been developed during the past 50 years, most of which can be classified into the following categories: (1) fixed differential pressure valves; (2) fixed differential pressure (DP) valves with an antisiphon mechanism; (3) programmable DP valves; (4) programmable DP valves with an antisiphon mechanism; and (5) programmable antisiphon valves. When considering the myriad of possible postoperative condition changes, such as the onset of accidental non-related diseases or trauma in adults, and changes in normal physiological development or anticipation of future shunt removal in children, it has become standard to use the programmable valve as a first choice for cerebrospinal fluid shunting. However, it is still unclear what type of shunt valve is suitable for each individual case. ⋯ The programmable DP valve with an antisiphon mechanism is thought to be beneficial for tall, slender patients, who have a tendency for easily developing complications of overdrainage, however, this type of valve must be used cautiously in obese patients because of the increased risk of underdrainage. Although the current evidence is still insufficient, the programmable antisiphon valve, which costs the same as the programmable DP valve, is also thought to be the first line shunt valve. The quick reference table is applicable for most shunt valves, and for patients with either the ventriculoperitoneal or the lumboperitoneal shunt.
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Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2015
ReviewSurgical management of spinal intramedullary tumors: radical and safe strategy for benign tumors.
Surgery for spinal intramedullary tumors remains one of the major challenges for neurosurgeons, due to their relative infrequency, unknown natural history, and surgical difficulty. We are sure that safe and precise resection of spinal intramedullary tumors, particularly encapsulated benign tumors, can result in acceptable or satisfactory postoperative outcomes. General surgical concepts and strategies, technical consideration, and functional outcomes after surgery are discussed with illustrative cases of spinal intramedullary benign tumors such as ependymoma, cavernous malformation, and hemangioblastoma. ⋯ Functional deterioration after surgery, including neuropathic pain even long after surgery, significantly affects patient quality of life. Better balance between tumor control and functional preservation can be achieved not only by the surgical technique or expertise, but also by intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring, vascular image guidance, and postoperative supportive care. Quality of life after surgery should inarguably be given top priority.
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For over two decades, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has shown significant efficacy in treatment for refractory cases of dyskinesia, specifically in cases of Parkinson's disease and dystonia. DBS offers potential alleviation from symptoms through a well-tolerated procedure that allows personalized modulation of targeted neuroanatomical regions and related circuitries. ⋯ The expansion of our collective knowledge of pathologic brain circuitries, as well as advances in imaging capabilities, electrophysiology techniques, and material sciences have contributed to the expanding application of DBS. This review will examine the potential efficacy of DBS for neurologic and psychiatric disorders currently under clinical investigation and will summarize findings from recent animal models.
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Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2014
ReviewUpdate on intensive neuromonitoring for patients with traumatic brain injury: a review of the literature and the current situation.
Intracranial pressure (ICP) measurements are fundamental in the present protocols for intensive care of patients during the acute stage of severe traumatic brain injury. However, the latest report of a large scale randomized clinical trial indicated no association of ICP monitoring with any significant improvement in neurological outcome in severely head injured patients. Aggressive treatment of patients with therapeutic hypothermia during the acute stage of traumatic brain injury also failed to show any significant beneficial effects on clinical outcome. ⋯ However, combined application of different types of neuromonitoring, including ICP measurement, may have potential benefits for understanding the pathophysiology of damaged brains. The combination of monitoring techniques is expected to increase the precision of the data and aid in prevention of secondary brain damage, as well as assist in determining appropriate time periods for therapeutic interventions. In this study, we have characterized the techniques used to monitor patients during the acute severe traumatic brain injury stage, in order to establish the beneficial effects on outcome observed in clinical studies conducted in the past and to follow up any valuable clues that point to additional strategies for aggressive management of these patients.
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Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2014
Review Case ReportsPneumocephalus and pneumorrhachis after spinal surgery: case report and review of the literature.
Trauma is a common cause of pneumocephalus, or air in the cranial cavity, and of pneumorrhachis, or the presence of intraspinal air. After spinal surgery, occurrence of pneumocephalus, especially with pneumorrhachis, is extremely rare. We report the case of a patient who developed pneumocephalus and pneumorrhachis after lumbar disc surgery and pedicle screw fixation. ⋯ On postoperative day 1, the patient complained of headache, nausea, and dizziness. Brain and lumbar computed tomography scans revealed pneumocephalus and pneumorrhachis. With conservative treatment, the patient's complaints resolved within 10 days.