Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jul 2019
Association between low levels of serum miR-638 and atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability in patients with high-grade carotid stenosis.
Carotid artery atherosclerosis is a major cause of ischemic stroke. However, reliable criteria to identify patients with high-risk carotid plaques beyond the severity of stenosis are still lacking. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are being postulated as biomarkers for a variety of vascular immune-inflammatory diseases. The authors investigated whether cell-free circulating miR-638, highly expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells and implicated in proliferative vascular diseases, is associated with vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques in high-risk patients with advanced carotid artery stenosis undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). ⋯ According to this preliminary proof-of-concept study, serum miR-638 might constitute a promising noninvasive biomarker associated with plaque vulnerability and ischemic stroke, particularly in individuals with elevated cardiovascular risk.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jul 2019
Comparison of 3D intraoperative digital subtraction angiography and intraoperative indocyanine green video angiography during intracranial aneurysm surgery.
During the last decade, improvements in real-time, high-resolution imaging of surgically exposed cerebral vasculature have been realized with the successful introduction of intraoperative indocyanine green video angiography (ICGVA) and technical advances in intraoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA). With the availability of 3D intraoperative DSA (3D-iDSA) in hybrid operating rooms, the present study offers a contemporary comparison for rates of accuracy and discordance. ⋯ A combination of vascular monitoring techniques most often achieved correct intraoperative interpretation of complete IA occlusion and parent artery integrity. Compared with 3D-iDSA imaging, ICGVA demonstrated high accuracy. Despite the relatively low discordance rate, iDSA was confirmed to be the gold standard. Improved imaging quality, including 3D-iDSA, supports its routine use in IA surgery, obviating the need for postoperative DSA.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jul 2019
Endonasal endoscopic resection of olfactory neuroblastoma: an 11-year experience.
Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is a rare malignant neoplasm of the sinonasal cavity. Surgery has been and remains a mainstay of treatment for patients with this tumor. Open craniofacial resections have been the treatment of choice for many decades. More recently, experience has been growing with endoscopic approaches in the management of patients with ONB. The object of this study is to report the authors' experience over the past 11 years with ONB patients treated with purely endonasal endoscopic techniques. ⋯ The current results provide additional evidence for the continued use of endoscopic procedures in the management of this malignancy.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jul 2019
Long-term and delayed functional recovery in patients with severe cerebrovascular and traumatic brain injury requiring tracheostomy.
Data on long-term functional recovery (LFR) following severe brain injury are essential for counseling of surrogates and for appropriate timing of outcome assessment in clinical trials. Delayed functional recovery (DFR) beyond 3-6 months is well documented following severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI), but there are limited data on DFR following severe cerebrovascular brain injury. The objective of this study was to assess LFR and DFR in patients with sTBI and severe stroke dependent on tracheostomy and tube feeding at the time of discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ Among patients with severe brain injury requiring tracheostomy and tube feeding at ICU discharge, 46% regained the ability to walk and 37% performed B-ADLs 2-3 years after injury. DFR beyond 1-3 and 6-12 months was seen in over 30% of survivors, with no significant difference between sTBI and severe stroke.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jul 2019
Daniel Ruge: the first neurosurgeon to serve as physician to the president.
The role of chief White House physician has traditionally been held by an individual with a background in a broad medical field, such as emergency medicine, family medicine, or internal medicine. Dr. Daniel Ruge, who served as the director of the Spinal Cord Injury Service for the Veterans Administration and was appointed during President Ronald Reagan's first term, was the first neurosurgeon to become the chief White House physician. ⋯ Dr. Ruge's actions after the assassination attempt on President Reagan resulted in the rapid, smooth recovery of the then-president. Daniel Ruge's background, his high-profile roles and heavy responsibilities, and his critical decision-making are characteristics that make his role in the history of medicine and of neurosurgery unique.