World Neurosurg
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Multicenter Study
Deep brain stimulation and ethics: perspectives from a multisite qualitative study of Canadian neurosurgical centers.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an approved neurosurgical intervention for motor disorders such as Parkinson disease. The emergence of psychiatric uses for DBS combined with the fact that it is an invasive and expensive procedure creates important ethical and social challenges in the delivery of care that need further examination. We endeavored to examine health care provider perspectives on ethical and social challenges encountered in DBS. ⋯ This study provides insights into the complexity of ethical challenges that providers face in the use of DBS across different neurosurgical centers. We propose actions for health care providers for the long-term care and postoperative monitoring of patients with DBS. More data on patient perspectives in DBS would complement the understanding of key challenges, as well as contribute to best practices, for patient selection, management, and resource allocation.
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The Gateway balloon-Wingspan stent system is the first, and currently the only "on-label" device for the treatment of symptomatic intracranial stenosis in the United States. In initial single-arm studies, investigators have indicated that this system can be used for the treatment of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease with high levels of technical success and acceptable periprocedural complication rates, which are comparable with, or better than, those reported for other endovascular techniques. Intermediate- and long-term follow-up data for patients treated with the Wingspan device remain sparse. We critically review the existing data, which characterize the risk profile and efficacy of endovascular interventions for intracranial atherosclerotic disease, as well as the available clinical evidence that could be used to select appropriate patients for treatment.
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Parasagittal meningiomas are either treated with conservative surgery or aggressive surgery with extensive vascular reconstructions to achieve radicality. The optimal management is subject to controversy. A prerequisite for good management and for design of relevant studies is the knowledge of natural history after radical and subtotal surgery. ⋯ A 25-year follow-up was necessary to estimate the long-term outcomes of parasagittal meningiomas. It is necessary to consider long-term recurrences and morbidity as important factors when managing patients with parasagittal meningiomas whose life expectancies are not diminished by old age or co-morbidities. The long-term outcomes must also be considered when evaluating different treatment modes, as "cure" of parasagittal meningiomas cannot be evaluated without sufficient follow-up.
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Gross total resection (GTR) prolongs survival but is unfortunately not achievable in the majority of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Cytoreductive debulkings may relieve symptoms of mass effect, but it is unknown how long such effects sustain and to what degree the potential benefits exceed risks. We explore the impact of surgical morbidity on functional outcome and survival in unselected GBM patients. ⋯ Patients with perioperative complications and surgically acquired deficits were less likely to receive adjuvant therapy. While cytoreductive debulking may not improve survival in GBM, it may decrease the likelihood of patients receiving adjuvant therapy that does.
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Intracranial large-vessel ischemia is associated with poor clinical outcome and increased mortality. Early reperfusion of ischemic tissue remains the goal of treatment of stroke. Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) has been shown to improve clinical outcomes for patients who experience ischemic stroke, but it has been shown to be less efficacious for large-vessel occlusions. Mechanical clot extraction provides a therapeutic option for those who are ineligible for, or who do not respond to, conventional ischemic stroke treatment. ⋯ Mechanical clot extraction can be performed safely in patients with large-vessel occlusions, and successful recanalization resulted in better clinical outcomes than those without. Mechanical thrombectomy provides a therapeutic option for ischemic stroke patients who are ineligible for, or who do not respond to, IV thrombolytics. Further studies, including randomized clinical trials, are needed to validate these findings.