Neurosurgical review
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Neurosurgical review · Apr 2013
Association between elevated plasma norepinephrine levels and cardiac wall motion abnormality in poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage patients.
Patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are frequently complicated by acute cardiac dysfunctions, including cardiac wall motion abnormality (WMA). Massive release of catecholamine into the systemic circulation after aneurysmal rupture is believed to result in WMA, and poor-grade SAH seems to be the most important risk factor. However, plasma catecholamine levels have rarely been measured in SAH patients with WMA, and previous studies indicated that the elevated levels might not necessarily predict WMA. ⋯ Plasma norepinephrine levels were inversely correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that increased plasma norepinephrine levels were predictive of WMA, although age, female sex, and grade V SAH were not. This retrospective study highlights the role of norepinephrine in pathogenesis of SAH-induced WMA.
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Neurosurgical review · Apr 2013
The value of perfusion computed tomography in predicting clinically relevant vasospasm in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Delayed cerebral ischemia remains a severe potential complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) possibly leading to death and disability. We evaluated a semiquantitative and visual analysis of perfusion computed tomography (PCT) as a predictor of clinically relevant vasospasm (CRV) in patients with aneurysmal SAH. Thirty-eight patients with aneurysmal SAH were analyzed yielding 145 PCT scans. ⋯ TTP is a sensitive and specific perfusion parameter in predicting CI in patients with SAH. Its use in the clinical setting may optimize the early treatment of patients at risk for vasospasm before the onset of clinical deterioration, especially when applying TCD as pretest. Further investigation in a larger patient population is required.
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Neurosurgical review · Apr 2013
Endoscopic far-lateral approach to the posterolateral craniovertebral junction: an anatomical study.
Minimally invasive surgery to the posterolateral craniovertebral junction (CVJ) has not been sufficiently described. The aims of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of an endoscopic far-lateral approach to the posterolateral craniocervical junction and to better understand the related anatomy under distorted endoscopic view. Ten fresh cadavers were studied with 4-mm 0° and 30° endoscopes to develop the surgical approach and to identify surgical landmarks. ⋯ This endoscopic far-lateral approach offers excellent exposure of surgical landmarks around the posterolateral CVJ with minimal invasiveness. Endoscopic soft tissue dissection is key to creating the surgical corridor. This approach could offer an alternative to the conventional far-lateral approach in selected cases.
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Neurosurgical review · Apr 2013
Microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm: long-term outcome and prognostic factors, with emphasis on delayed cure.
The postoperative course of microvascular decompression (MVD) for hemifacial spasm (HFS) is variable, and the optimal time for assessing the results is unclear. From April 1997 to October 2007, MVD for HFS was performed in 801 patients. Patients were divided into two groups (cured or failed) according to subjective patient assessments over a 3-year period. ⋯ Intraoperative resolution of the lateral spread response (LSR) after decompression (p = 0.048) and severe indentation (p = 0.038) were significant predictors of good long-term outcome after MVD for HFS. In our series, 70 patients (8.7 %) had residual or recurrent spasms more than 1 year after surgery, of which 12 (17.1 %) improved gradually after 1 year. If the surgeon can confirm intraoperative resolution of the LSR and severe indentation, reoperation can be delayed until 3 years after MVD.
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Neurosurgical review · Apr 2013
ReviewIntracranial arterial stenoses: current viewpoints, novel approaches, and surgical perspectives.
Ten percent of all strokes occurring in the USA are caused by intracranial arterial stenosis (IAS). Symptomatic IAS carries one of the highest rates of recurrent stroke despite intensive medical therapy (25 % in high-risk groups). Clinical results for endovascular angioplasty and stenting have been disappointing. ⋯ Despite improvements in medical management for IAS, relevant aspects of its pathophysiology are not resolved by medical treatment alone, such as poor collateral circulation. Surgical indirect revascularization can improve collateral circulation and play a role in the treatment of this condition. Further formal evaluation of indirect revascularization for IAS is a logical and worthy step in the development of intracranial atherosclerosis treatment strategies.