Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Apr 2011
Case ReportsDiagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging in perimesencephalic and nonperimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage of unknown origin.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of MR imaging in perimesencephalic (PM) and nonperimesencephalic (non-PM) subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) of unknown origin. ⋯ Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and craniocervical region did not produce additional benefit for the detection of a bleeding source and the therapy administered for PM SAH and non-PM SAH (100% negative). The costs of this examination exceeded the clinical value. Despite the results of this study, MR imaging should be discussed on a case-by-case basis because rare bleeding sources are periodically diagnosed in cases of non-PM SAH. A second-look DS angiogram is necessary because aneurysmal hemorrhage occasionally produces PM SAH as well as non-PM SAH. Further prospective studies are needed to verify the authors' results in the future.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Apr 2011
Case ReportsTheta-gamma dysrhythmia and auditory phantom perception.
Tinnitus is considered an auditory phantom percept analogous to phantom pain. Thalamocortical dysrhythmia has been proposed as a possible pathophysiological mechanism for both tinnitus and pain. Thalamocortical dysrhythmia refers to a persistent pathological resting state theta-gamma coupling that is spatially localized at an area where normally alpha oscillations predominate. ⋯ Maximal tinnitus suppression was obtained by current delivery exactly at the blood oxygen level-dependent activation hotspot, which colocalizes with increased gamma and theta activity, in contrast to the other electrode poles, which demonstrated a normal alpha peak. These spectral changes normalized when stimulation induced tinnitus suppression, both on electrode and source-localized electroencephalography recordings. These data suggest that thetagamma coupling as proposed by the thalamocortical dysrhythmia model might be causally related to a conscious auditory phantom percept.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Apr 2011
Reconstructive endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms with the Willis covered stent: medium-term clinical and angiographic follow-up.
Placement of covered stents has emerged as a promising therapeutic option for cerebrovascular diseases. However, the medium- and long-term efficacy and safety of covered stents in the treatment of these diseases remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the medium-term clinical and angiographic outcomes of covered stent placement for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. ⋯ Endovascular reconstruction with the Willis covered stent represents a safe, durable, and curative treatment option for selected intracranial aneurysms, yielding an excellent medium-term patency of the parent artery and excellent clinical outcomes.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Apr 2011
The azygos anterior cerebral artery bypass: double reimplantation technique for giant anterior communicating artery aneurysms.
The authors introduce the azygos anterior cerebral artery (ACA) bypass as an option for revascularizing distal ACA territories, as part of a strategy to trap giant anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms. In this procedure, the aneurysm is exposed with an orbitozygomatic-pterional craniotomy and distal ACA vessels are exposed with a bifrontal craniotomy. The uninvolved contralateral A(2) segment of the ACA serves as a donor vessel for a short radial artery graft. ⋯ Retrograde flow from the CmaA supplies the ipsilateral recurrent artery of Heubner, and the aneurysm lumen thromboses. The azygos bypass was successfully performed to treat a 47-year-old woman with a giant, thrombotic ACoA aneurysm supplied by the A(1) segment of the left ACA, with left PcaA and CmaA originating from the aneurysm base. The authors conclude that the azygos ACA bypass is a novel option for revascularizing PcaA and CmaA, as part of the overall treatment of giant ACoA aneurysms.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Apr 2011
The relevance of age and disease duration for intervention with subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation surgery in Parkinson disease.
The optimal age and disease duration for consideration of deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery are not well characterized in patients with Parkinson disease. The aim of this study was to assess variation in motor response to surgery among subgroups stratified by age and disease duration. ⋯ The postoperative improvement in rigidity for younger patients with shorter disease duration may indicate that performing early surgery maximizes the benefit of DBS. However, older patients with primarily dyskinesia symptoms also appear to have significant clinical improvement, and DBS can offer relief from this common consequence of long-term levodopa use.