Neurosurgery
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Serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is elevated after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), causes diuresis and natriuresis (cerebral salt wasting), and may exacerbate delayed ischemic neurological deficits. We examined the temporal relationship between serum BNP elevation, hyponatremia, and the onset of delayed ischemic neurological deficits and determined whether serum BNP levels correlated with the 2-week outcome after SAH. ⋯ Increasing serum BNP levels independently were associated with hyponatremia, significantly increased the first 24 hours after onset of delayed ischemic neurological deficits, and predicted the 2-week Glasgow Coma Scale score.
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At many centers, patients undergo both computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). This practice negates most of the advantages of CTA, and it renders the risks and disadvantages of the two techniques additive. Previous reports in the literature have assessed the sensitivity and specificity of CTA compared with DSA; however, these investigations have not analyzed the clinical implications of a protocol that replaces DSA with CTA as the only diagnostic and pretreatment planning study for patients with cerebral aneurysms. ⋯ We have demonstrated promising results with a prospective protocol of CTA in place of DSA as the only diagnostic and pretreatment planning study for patients with ruptured and unruptured cerebral aneurysms. It seems safe and effective to make decisions regarding treatment on the basis of CTA, without performing DSA, in the majority of patients with ruptured and unruptured cerebral aneurysms.
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We review our 8-year experience with gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for the treatment of patients with benign cavernous sinus tumors and present a quantitative analysis of factors relevant to treatment outcomes. ⋯ GKRS is a safe and effective treatment for selected patients with benign cavernous sinus tumors and is an important adjunct for treating postoperative tumor residual and/or recurrent tumor. Continued analysis of treated patients over an extended time is needed to evaluate long-term disease control and potential late GKRS complications.
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Case Reports
Extensive spinal cord infarction after posterior fossa surgery in the sitting position: case report.
Spinal cord injury is a rare complication of neurosurgery performed with the patient in the sitting position. Previous reports showed that the level of injury is usually located at or near the C5 segmental spinal level, and the term midcervical quadriplegia has been proposed. Extensive spinal cord and lower brainstem infarction also can occur after posterior fossa surgery performed with the patient in the sitting position. ⋯ We speculate that alteration of spinal cord blood flow by stretching of the cervical spinal cord and spinal epidural venous engorgement might have caused this devastating complication.