Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jun 2020
Case ReportsPhosphene perceptions and safety of chronic visual cortex stimulation in a blind subject.
Stimulation of primary visual cortices has the potential to restore some degree of vision to blind individuals. Developing safe and reliable visual cortical prostheses requires assessment of the long-term stability, feasibility, and safety of generating stimulation-evoked perceptions. A NeuroPace responsive neurostimulation system was implanted in a blind individual with an 8-year history of bare light perception, and stimulation-evoked phosphenes were evaluated over 19 months (41 test sessions). ⋯ Although no serious adverse events were observed, the subject experienced mild headaches and dizziness in three instances, symptoms that did not persist for more than a few hours and for which no clinical intervention was required. Using an off-the-shelf neurostimulator, the authors were able to reliably generate phosphenes in different areas of the visual field over 19 months with no serious adverse events, providing preliminary proof of feasibility and safety to proceed with visual epicortical prosthetic clinical trials. Moreover, they systematically explored the relationship between stimulation parameters and phosphene thresholds and discovered the direct relation of perception thresholds based on primary visual cortex (V1) neuronal population excitation thresholds.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jun 2020
Analysis of the utility of early MRI/MRA in 400 patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.
MRI and MRA studies are routinely obtained to identify the etiology of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The diagnostic yield of MRI/MRA in the setting of an acute ICH, however, remains unclear. The authors' goal was to determine the utility of early MRI/MRA in detecting underlying structural lesions in ICH and to identify patients in whom additional imaging during hospitalization could safely be foregone. ⋯ The yield of MRI/MRA in ICH is highly variable, depending on patient age and hemorrhage location. The findings of this study do not support obtaining early MRI/MRA studies in patients ≥ 65 years with basal ganglia/thalamic ICH or in any ICH patients ≥ 85 years. In all other situations, early MRI/MRA remains valuable in ruling out underlying lesions.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jun 2020
Artifact removal from neurophysiological signals: impact on intracranial and arterial pressure monitoring in traumatic brain injury.
Monitoring intracranial and arterial blood pressure (ICP and ABP, respectively) provides crucial information regarding the neurological status of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, these signals are often heavily affected by artifacts, which may significantly reduce the reliability of the clinical determinations derived from the signals. The goal of this work was to eliminate signal artifacts from continuous ICP and ABP monitoring via deep learning techniques and to assess the changes in the prognostic capacities of clinical parameters after artifact elimination. ⋯ The SCAE-CNN model can be reliably used to eliminate artifacts, which significantly improves the reliability and efficacy of ICP- and ABP-derived clinical parameters for prognostic determinations after TBI.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jun 2020
Petroclival meningiomas: long-term outcomes of multimodal treatments and management strategies based on 30 years of experience at a single institution.
A thorough investigation of the long-term outcomes and chronological changes of multimodal treatments for petroclival meningiomas is required to establish optimal management strategies. The authors retrospectively reviewed the long-term clinical outcomes of patients with petroclival meningioma according to various treatments, including various surgical approaches, and they suggest treatment strategies based on 30 years of experience at a single institution. ⋯ The authors' preferred multimodal treatment strategy, that of planned incomplete resection and subsequent adjuvant radiosurgery, is a feasible option for the management of patients with large petroclival meningiomas, considering both local tumor control and postoperative quality of life.
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As it does periodically, the United States healthcare system is, yet again, undergoing a period of change on multiple fronts, including internal initiatives in education, quality, and the workforce, as well as external pressure responding to changes in reimbursement and oversight. In such times, looking back at the foundations of our specialty is helpful, allowing often-beleaguered neurosurgeons to reflect upon what it means to be a neurosurgeon, and how they can be assured that our specialty will continue to flourish in the future. ⋯ Herein is a perspective that brings the inception and future of this concept to light. A specialty that is to live and flourish should stand on and recognize its roots.