Articles: cations.
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The gap between the tremendous burden of neurological disease requiring surgical management and the limited capacity for neurosurgical care has fueled the growth of the global neurosurgical movement. It is estimated that an additional 23 300 neurosurgeons are needed to meet the burden posed by essential cases across the globe. Initiatives to increase neurosurgical capacity through systems strengthening and workforce development are key elements in correcting this deficit. ⋯ This effort will ensure that graduates possess the fundamental skillsets and experience necessary to participate in and lead capacity-building efforts in the developing countries. This additional public health training can also help neurosurgical residents to achieve the core competencies outlined by accreditation boards, such as the Accreditation Committee on Graduate Medical Education in the United States. In this narrative review, we describe the global burden of neurosurgical disease, establish the need and role for the global neurosurgeon, and discuss pathways for implementing targeted global public health education in the field of neurosurgery.
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The use of flow diverters for treating intracranial aneurysms has been widely used in the past decade; however, data comparing pipeline embolization device (PED; Medtronic Inc) and flow-redirection endoluminal device (FRED; MicroVention) in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms remain scarce. ⋯ Compared with PED, FRED offers modest 6-month occlusion rates, which may be due to aneurysmal and baseline patient characteristics differences between both cohorts. Although not significant, FRED was associated with a higher complication rate mostly because of in-stent stenosis. Additional studies with longer follow-up durations should be conducted to further evaluate FRED thrombogenicity.
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Multicenter Study
Chronic Encapsulated Expanding Hematomas After Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations: An International Multicenter Case Series.
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) offers a minimally invasive treatment modality for appropriately selected intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Recent reports have described the development of rare, delayed chronic encapsulated expanding hematomas (CEEHs) at the site of an angiographically confirmed obliterated AVM. ⋯ CEEH is a rare, late complication of AVM SRS with an incidence of 0.28% and a median latency of 106 months. In the presence of a delayed and symptomatic expanding hematoma in the bed of an angiographically obliterated AVM, surgical resection resulted in clinical improvement in most patients. Conservative management is possible in asymptomatic patients with stable, small-sized hematomas in deeply seated locations.
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Afghanistan has suffered through conflicts that have detrimentally impacted its health care systems. The countries' neurosurgeons have worked through wars and political upheavals to build solid practices and handle large caseloads with minimal supplies and almost no modern tools. Understanding the current state of neurosurgery in Afghanistan and the challenges faced by Afghan physicians and patients is critical to improving the country's healthcare capacity. ⋯ Afghanistan is facing existential humanitarian threats. Developing the country's neurosurgical capacity and general health care capabilities is crucial. Emphasis on training physicians and establishing communication routes, and aid deliverance with the country and its leaders is key to overcoming the many crises it faces.
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As broader geographic sharing is implemented in lung transplant allocation through the Composite Allocation Score (CAS) system, models predicting waitlist and posttransplant (PT) survival will become more important in determining access to organs. ⋯ Use of alternative modeling strategies and contemporary cohorts did not improve performance of models determining access to lung transplant.