Journal of neurological surgery. Part A, Central European neurosurgery
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J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg · Mar 2015
Surgical management of eloquent supratentorial low-grade gliomas with special emphasis on intraoperative imaging.
Eloquent diffuse low-grade gliomas (LGGs) threaten patients' neurologic function and are also associated with inferior survival. Many neurosurgeons still refrain from early resection due to the fear of iatrogenic neurologic injury. However, the perceived safety of expectant management strategies may soon be overshadowed by the progressive deficits of tumor growth in eloquent regions. It is also known that radical and successful surgery prolongs progression-free survival, overall survival, and may reduce seizure burden and also potentially neurocognitive functions. Thus early successful surgery with preservation of function has a significant impact on patients' health. In modern neurosurgery, safe resection is often possible with detailed knowledge of anatomy and function together with the active use of various intraoperative surgical tools. We present illustrative cases of eloquent LGGs treated with different intraoperative tools. ⋯ Correct use of intraoperative tools together with the surgeon's knowledge of anatomy and function will provide good functional and oncologic results in eloquently located LGGs. Watchful waiting or deferral of surgery due to tumor location (i.e., claiming inoperability) is very rarely good practice.
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J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg · Mar 2015
Intraventricular hemorrhage is associated with early hydrocephalus, symptomatic vasospasm, and poor outcome in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
We hypothesized that the subset of patients with early hydrocephalus following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage may represent a subset of patients with a more vehement inflammatory reaction to blood products in the subarachnoid space. We thus examined risk factors for early hydrocephalus and examined the relationship between early hydrocephalus and symptomatic vasospasm as well as clinical outcome. ⋯ We found that intraventricular hemorrhage was strongly associated with early hydrocephalus. Further exploration of the mechanistic explanation is needed, but we suggest this may be from a combination of obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid pathways by blood products and inflammation in the choroid plexus resulting in increased cerebrospinal fluid production. Further, we suggest that both early hydrocephalus and cerebral vasospasm may be parts of the overall inflammatory cascade that occurs with intraventricular hemorrhage and ultimately results in a poorer clinical outcome.
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J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg · Mar 2015
Evaluation of sciatic nerve function after ultrasonic and electrocautery muscle dissection: an electromyographic study.
Minimally invasive surgery has been developed with various innovative surgical tools. Ultrasonic (US) blades have been introduced as an alternative to conventional electrocautery (EC) monopolar device. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of surgical devices used for muscle dissection close to peripheral nerves on motor nerve function using electromyographic (EMG) recordings. ⋯ The study showed that the EC device resulted in injury to several motor units in the sciatic nerve. The US device may be a safe tool for muscle dissection around peripheral nerves.