World Neurosurg
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The best management of patients with brain arteriovenous malformations (BAVM) is controversial. The radiosurgery-based arteriovenous malformation (AVM) score (RBAS) was developed to predict outcomes for patients with BAVM having stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). ⋯ SRS provided a high rate of obliteration at very low risk for patients with BVAM with a RBAS ≤1. Patient outcomes after SRS are likely equivalent to resection for younger patients with small-volume BAVM who do not require a craniotomy for clot removal.
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To focus on postoperative drawings of aneurysms, which serve as visual records and teaching tools for neurosurgeons and reinforce three-dimensional vascular configurations that are specific for different cerebral aneurysms, and examine experience with this technique, particularly in regard to the training of neurosurgical residents. ⋯ Creation and review of postoperative drawings are important adjuncts for the development of three-dimensional understanding of aneurysmal anatomy. This classic art has impact in the digital age and allows patterns of morphology, projection, and anatomy to be reinforced. Surgical atlases created from postoperative drawings function as reference and teaching tools. The creation of postoperative drawings should be a routine part of the training and methodology of vascular neurosurgeons.
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With subspecialty surgical care often unavailable to poor patients in developing countries, short-term brigades have filled a portion of the gap. We prospectively assessed the cost effectiveness of a pediatric neurosurgical brigade to Guatemala City, Guatemala. ⋯ To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating cost effectiveness of a short-term neurosurgical brigade. Although surgical intervention is acknowledged as playing a crucial role in global health, subspecialty surgical care is still broadly perceived as a luxury. Although providing care through local surgeons is undeniably more efficient than bringing in foreign medical teams, such care is not universally available. This study argues that volunteer neurosurgical teams can provide high complexity care with a competitive cost-effective profile.
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Different surgical approaches have been used over the years in order to access skull base. The endoscopic endonasal approach represents a direct and minimally invasive approach to the suprasellar, retrosellar, and retroclival space, with the advantage of avoid brain retraction and visualize safely and effectively the surgical target. The present contribution aims to provide anatomical details of the skull base as seen from below (i.e., via an endoscopic endonasal approach). ⋯ The development of endoscopic techniques has opened different perspectives over the skull base surgery. Endonasal surgery provides access to a wide range of skull base lesions via a natural surgical corridor (i.e., the nasal cavities).
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Although anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a safe and effective procedure, the complications associated with it cannot be underestimated. The aim of this study was to highlight the potential complications associated with ACDF and the strategies to avoid them. ⋯ ACDF is a relatively safe procedure with very low morbidity and almost no mortality. In this study, the common complications encountered were postoperative dysphagia, dural injury, and hoarseness.