World Neurosurg
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Review
Current purpose and practice of hypertonic saline in neurosurgery: a review of the literature.
To review and summarize controversies and current concepts regarding the use of hypertonic saline during the perioperative period in neurosurgery. ⋯ We suggest that hypertonic saline will emerge as an alternative to mannitol, especially for a long-term use or multiple doses are needed and lead to a great opportunity for collaborative research.
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Spinal imaging plays a critical role in the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). In recent years there has been increasing interest in the development of advanced imaging techniques to provide pertinent microstructural and metabolic information that is not provided by conventional modalities. ⋯ Advanced imaging of the spinal cord has tremendous potential to provide patient-specific physiological information about the status of cord integrity and health. Advanced spinal cord imaging is still at early stages of development and clinical implementation but is likely to play an increasingly important role in the management of spinal cord health in the foreseeable future.
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As interest and enthusiasm for the use of the endoscope in transsphenoidal anterior skull base and pituitary surgery increases, neurosurgeons are increasingly adopting endoscopic technology and associated novel concepts. Often this involves a transition from the standard operating microscope as the main means of visualization to the operating endoscope (2D or 3D) during surgery. ⋯ The endoscopic approach and its allied technology are here to stay. They are useful and occasionally preferable methods for treating a variety of suitable lesions involving the anterior skull base. The importance of incorporating the basic principles of skull base surgery is emphasized.
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We aim to evaluate the complications of spinal cord stimulation (SCS). ⋯ In spite of the existence of several complications, SCS may be seen as a safe technique. Furthermore, the incidence of life-threatening complications is low. The physician must be alert to recognize them during the follow-up. Complications may be avoided or at least diminished by performing a proper and strict aseptic surgical technique as well as carrying out an accurate patient selection before the implantation, according to the recommendations published in the literature.
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To describe the decision-making and the surgical strategy in the resection of anterior skullbase meningiomas. ⋯ For most skull base meningiomas, I usually prefer the endoscope-assisted microsurgical transcranial approach which combines the advantages of the operating microscope with the advantages of the endoscope. The endonasal approach is beneficial for small tumors located below or behind the chiasm.