Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2017
Meta Analysis Comparative StudyMicrosurgical versus endovascular interventions for blood-blister aneurysms of the internal carotid artery: systematic review of literature and meta-analysis on safety and efficacy.
OBJECTIVE Blood-blister aneurysms (BBAs) of the internal carotid artery (ICA) have a poor natural history associated with high morbidity and mortality. Currently, both surgical and endovascular techniques are employed to treat BBAs; thus, the authors sought to perform a meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of these approaches. METHODS A literature search of PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar online databases was performed to include pertinent English-language studies from 2005 to 2015 that discussed the efficacy and safety of either surgical or endovascular therapies to treat BBAs. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS Blood-blister aneurysms are rare, challenging lesions with a poor prognosis. Although surgical management potentially offers superior aneurysm obliteration rates immediately after treatment and at the long-term follow-up, endovascular therapy may have a better safety profile and provide better functional outcomes than surgery. A registry of patients treated for BBAs may be warranted to better document the natural course of the disease as well as treatment outcomes.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2017
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyProphylactic nimodipine treatment and improvement in hearing outcome after vestibular schwannoma surgery: a combined analysis of a randomized, multicenter, Phase III trial and its pilot study.
OBJECTIVE In clinical routines, neuroprotective strategies in neurosurgical interventions are still missing. A pilot study (n = 30) and an analogously performed Phase III trial (n = 112) pointed to a beneficial effect of prophylactic nimodipine and hydroxyethyl starch (HES) in vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery. Considering the small sample size, the data from both studies were pooled. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS Prophylactic nimodipine is safe and may be recommended in VS surgery to preserve hearing. Prophylactic neuroprotective treatment in surgeries in which nerves are at risk seems to be a novel and promising concept. Clinical trial registration no.: DRKS 00000328 ( https://drks-neu.uniklinik-freiburg.de/drks_web/ ).
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2017
Clinical features and surgical outcomes of patients with skull base chordoma: a retrospective analysis of 238 patients.
OBJECTIVE Skull base chordoma is relatively rare, and a limited number of reports have been published regarding its clinical features. Moreover, the factors associated with extent of resection, as well as the value of marginal resection for long-term survival, are still in question for this disease. The objective of this study was to investigate these factors by evaluating their clinical features and surgical outcomes. ⋯ Marginal resection was more likely to be achieved for primary lesions with smaller volumes (< 40 cm3). The rate of CSF leakage declined due to improved dura mater repair with free fat grafts. Marginal resection, or gross-total resection when possible, should be performed in patients with primary chordomas to achieve better long-term survival.
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Superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) syndrome is an increasingly recognized cause of vestibular and/or auditory symptoms in both adults and children. These symptoms are believed to result from the presence of a pathological mobile "third window" into the labyrinth due to deficiency in the osseous shell, leading to inadvertent hydroacoustic transmissions through the cochlea and labyrinth. ⋯ Surgical repair can be accomplished by reconstruction or plugging of the bony defect or reinforcement of the round window through a variety of operative approaches. The authors review the etiology, pathophysiology, presentation, diagnosis, surgical options, and outcomes in the treatment of this entity, with a focus on potential pitfalls that may be encountered during clinical management.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2017
Comparative StudyComparison of endovascular and microsurgical management of 208 basilar apex aneurysms.
OBJECTIVE The deep and difficult-to-reach location of basilar apex aneurysms, along with their location near critical adjacent perforating arteries, has rendered the perception that microsurgical treatment of these aneurysms is risky. As a result, these aneurysms are considered more suitable for treatment by endovascular intervention. The authors attempt to compare the immediate and long-term outcomes of microsurgery versus endovascular therapy for this aneurysm subtype. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS Patients with basilar apex aneurysms were significantly more likely to be treated via endovascular management, but compared with those treated microsurgically, they had higher rates of recurrence and need for retreatment. The current study did not detect an overall difference in outcomes at discharge and 1 year after either treatment modality. Therefore, in a select group of patients, microsurgical treatment continues to play an important role.