Neurosurgery
-
The 10th cranial nerve (CN X) is at risk during surgery in the lower cerebellopontine angle (CPA). ⋯ Endotracheal surface electrodes allow identification of vocal cord motor rootlets in the CPA. Worsening of CMAP parameters might indicate functional impairment. These aspects support the use of endotracheal surface electrodes in selected patients in whom the vagus nerve might be at risk during CPA surgery.
-
Review Meta Analysis
Image Guidance in Ventricular Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt Catheter Placement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Ventricular shunt placement for treating hydrocephalus is one of the most common neurosurgical procedures. The rate of shunt failure, however, has not appreciably changed with time. ⋯ Although image guidance offers a promising solution to lower the risk of inaccurate catheter placement, which could lead to lower premature failure of ventricular shunts, our review demonstrated that there is not yet a clear benefit of these technologies. Current literature is limited to case series and cohort studies, and significant between-study heterogeneity in methodology and reporting currently limits a higher order analysis.
-
The optimal refinement in nerve repair techniques has reached a plateau, making it imperative to continually explore newer avenues for improving the clinical outcome of peripheral nerve regeneration. The aim of this short review is to discuss the role and mechanism of brain plasticity in nerve regeneration, as well as to explore the possible application of this knowledge for improving the clinical outcome following nerve repair.