Clinical neurology and neurosurgery
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Feb 2014
Case ReportsEndovascular treatment of dural arteriovenous fistulas using dual lumen balloon microcatheter: technical aspects and results.
We report our results of our experience using transarterial balloon-assisted embolization of aggressive DAVFs using a dual lumen balloon microcatheter. The advantages and disadvantages of this technique when compared to different Onyx embolization techniques are discussed. ⋯ Our experience in this small series of patients indicates that the use of dual lumen balloon microcatheters is safe and feasible, facilitating the use of Onyx for embolization of DAVFs.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Feb 2014
Predictive value of fractional anisotropy of the arcuate fasciculus for the functional recovery of language after brain tumor resection: a preliminary study.
The arcuate fasciculus has been recognized as an important pathway for language processing. Brain tumors located in proximity to the fasciculus frequently cause preoperative language impairment, and in some cases, no language recovery occurs after tumor resection. No predictive value has been presented for possible postoperative language recovery after tumor resection. The aim of this study is to analyze the preoperative state of the arcuate fasciculus in the patients with brain tumor from the perspective of its usefulness as a predictive factor for postoperative recovery of language functions. ⋯ There was a positive relationship between preoperative increasing values of the FA of the left arcuate fasciculus and improvement of the postoperative total WAB score (p=0.0056), and the scores of the naming (p=0.018), reading (p=0.029), and writing subcategories (p=0.012) CONCLUSION: The preoperative increasing value of the FA of the arcuate fasciculus in the dominant hemisphere could be a predictor for postoperative language recovery following tumor resection. Meticulous procedure should be performed especially in the cases with higher FA of the arcuate fasciculus harboring high possibility of language recovery.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Jan 2014
Transcranial color-coded Doppler assessment of cerebral arteriovenous malformation hemodynamics in patients treated surgically or with staged embolization.
The etiology of hemodynamic disturbances following embolization or surgical resection of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) has not been fully explained. The aim of the study was the assessment of the selected hemodynamic parameters in patients treated for cerebral AVMs using transcranial color-coded Doppler sonography (TCCS). ⋯ The decrease in Vm and the increase in the PI in the embolized feeding vessels after the first complete embolization or surgical resection is observed, whereas the PI returned to normal values before Vm does. The observed decrease in Vm and an increase in the PI in embolized AVM feeders after complete or partial embolization do not correlate with the extent of embolization. In these vessels a relative increase in blood flow velocity is maintained within the first 24h following embolization as compared to contralateral vessels. The increase in Vm is not related to disturbances in VMR. Blood redistribution to the nonembolized AVM feeders is observed after partial AVM embolization.