Clinical neurology and neurosurgery
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Sep 2013
Lumbar laminectomy and fusion with routine local application of vancomycin powder: decreased infection rate in instrumented and non-instrumented cases.
Wound infections are one of the most common and potentially devastating complications of spinal surgery. Intra-wound application of vancomycin powder has been shown to lower the infection risk following posterior instrumented fusion, but little evidence supports use in other spinal operations. The goal of this study is to assess the efficacy of vancomycin powder for lumbar laminectomy and fusion, both instrumented and non-instrumented. ⋯ Local vancomycin powder appears to lower the risk of wound infection following lumbar laminectomy and fusion, both instrumented and non-instrumented. Further studies are needed to optimize dosing of vancomycin powder, assess long-term safety and efficacy, and evaluate use in other spinal operations.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Sep 2013
Homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folate levels in Iranian patients with Multiple Sclerosis: a case control study.
Recently, homocysteine (Hcy), folate, and vitamin B12 have been proposed to have several roles on MS pathogenesis. ⋯ We concluded that serum levels of vitamin B12 and folate decreased in RRMS patients, but Hcy levels increased significantly. It seems necessary to conduct prospective trials to determine whether the treatment with supplements and correct biomarker levels in the early stage of the disease can change the course of the disease. We recommend regular checking of the serum level of Hcy in patients who use disease-modifying drugs.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Sep 2013
Hypo-fractionated IMRT for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme: a 6 year single institutional experience.
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain tumour in adults. Surgery and radiotherapy constitute the cornerstones for the therapeutic management of GBM. The standard treatment today is maximal surgical resection followed by concomitant chemo-radiation therapy followed by adjuvant TMZ according to Stupp protocol. Despite the progress in neurosurgery, radiotherapy and oncology, the prognosis still results poor. In order to reduce the long time of standard treatment, maintaining or improving the clinical results, in our institute we have investigated the effects of hypo-fractionated radiation therapy for patients with GBM. ⋯ The hypo-fractionated radiation therapy can be used for patients with GBM, resulting in favourable overall survival, low rates of toxicity and satisfying QoL. Future investigations are needed to determine the optimal fractionation for GBM.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Sep 2013
Carotid pseudo-occlusion on CTA in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a concerning observation.
Differentiation between an occluded and a patent extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) is crucial in the diagnostic workup of patients with acute ischemic stroke; particularly in patients eligible for endovascular treatment. We report neurological and radiological findings of cases in which CTA in the acute phase incorrectly revealed an occlusion of the ICA. ⋯ CTA in the acute phase of ischemic stroke needs to be interpreted with severe caution, and in endovascular treatment decisions we should be aware that an extracranial ICA occlusion may be a false positive finding.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Sep 2013
Purely subcortical tumors in eloquent areas: awake surgery and cortical and subcortical electrical stimulation (CSES) ensure safe and effective surgery.
To analyze the efficacy and safety of cortical and subcortical electrical stimulation CSES and awake surgery to approach purely subcortical tumors in highly functional locations, particularly in guiding the choice of the best transcortical path. ⋯ Approaching purely subcortical tumors requires microsurgical skills, but in eloquent areas, functional topography monitoring is mandatory to allow safe surgery. CSES in an awake patient is a method that produces very good results in terms of resection and neurological outcome.