World Neurosurg
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Case Reports
Percutaneous balloon rhizotomy for trigeminal neuralgia using three-dimensional fluoroscopy.
Percutaneous balloon rhizotomy is one of the standard techniques for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. However, there have been well-reported complications from cannulating the foramen ovale (FO). We describe a novel technique for cannulating the FO using 3-dimensional (3D) rotational fluoroscopy. ⋯ Three-dimensional rotational fluoroscopy allows real-time visual guidance to cannulate the FO and determine the optimal position of the inflated balloon. We believe that this is an important adjunct for treating trigeminal neuralgia via percutaneous techniques.
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Comparative Study
Direct percutaneous puncture approach versus surgical cutdown technique for intracranial neuroendovascular procedures: technical aspects.
To present the authors' experience with a direct transcervical or transbrachial puncture approach in neuroendovascular procedures in which cranial access via the commonly used percutaneous transfemoral route was impossible because of tortuous upstream angioarchitecture. ⋯ Transcervical or transbrachial direct puncture accomplished with PP or by SCD is an effective and safe access route in patients in whom neuroendovascular interventions cannot be done transfemorally. In cases where extensive perioperative anticoagulation is mandatory, bleeding at the puncture site may be a serious problem and can be controlled more effectively through an open surgical approach than by percutaneous maneuvers.
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Symptomatic chronic subdural hematoma (scSDH) is one of the most frequent diseases in neurosurgical practice, and its incidence is increasing. However, treatment modalities are still controversial. ⋯ Our study shows for the first time a direct comparison of two mainly used surgical techniques in the treatment of scSDH. Both methods proved to be highly effective, and general patient data, complications, outcome and mortality of both groups are equal or superior compared with previously published series. Because there is a clear tendency to less mortality and fewer serious complications, treatment with double burr-hole trepanation, irrigation, and placement of subperiosteal drainage is our treatment of choice in patients with predictable high risk of complications.
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Catheter-related infection remains a cause of morbidity in the use of external ventricular drains (EVDs). The aim of this retrospective single-center study was to assess the rate and factors related to ventriculostomy infections in the setting of the published literature. ⋯ Catheter-related infection remains an important complication of EVD placement. Of factors evaluated, length of time of catheter placement has the most notable relationship to infection incidence, suggesting that early drain removal should be a goal whenever medically appropriate.