World Neurosurg
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Status epilepticus (SE) is a medical emergency, as deleterious long-term effects are well known. Medically induced burst suppression is often required if first-line and second-line treatments fail. Surgical intervention can be considered in some patients after prolonged treatment failure of medically induced coma. Multiple surgical options for terminating SE have been demonstrated in the literature, with only 2 reports including hemispherectomy in adults. ⋯ Functional hemispherectomy can be considered in patients, including adults, with super-refractory SE and diffuse hemispheric onset. We report acceptable outcomes and quality of life in our 2 patients.
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Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for large vestibular schwannomas (VS) remains controversial. We studied the tumor local control and toxicity rates after hypofractionated SRS for VS > 3 cm. ⋯ Overall, 80% of large VSs were adequately controlled by CK with 97 months of median follow-up. Patients with previous surgery and NF2 also appeared to have higher rates of tumor progression, and less favorable functional outcomes.
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Controlled Clinical Trial
Carotid endarterectomy on antiplatelet agents in the era of point-of-care testing.
The safety of carotid endarterectomy in patients with a response to antiplatelet agents (aspirin and clopidogrel) confirmed by point-of-care testing is unknown. Thus, we sought to determine whether using point-of-care assessment of platelet inhibition reveals risk factors for operative complications or predicts clinical outcomes. ⋯ Clopidogrel use within 5 days of carotid endarterectomy independently predicted postoperative neck hematomas, most of which were managed conservatively. Patients with PRU <170 were more likely to have estimated blood loss ≥100 mL during surgery and surgery lasting ≥3 hours.
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To evaluate whether preoperative multirow detector computed tomography (MDCT) findings were associated with clinical outcome 24 months after dynamic stabilization for painful degenerative lumbar spine disease. ⋯ Clinical improvement after dynamic stabilization was significantly associated with 7 independent baseline imaging findings. Preoperative evaluation of these MDCT parameters may improve therapy selection for patients with degenerative lumbar spine disease.
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Case Reports
Intracranial infantile myofibromatosis mimicking malignant brain tumor: A case report and literature review.
Myofibroma is a fibrous tumor of infancy that sometimes affects a single patient in a multiple fashion (infantile myofibromatosis). Its intracranial involvement is extremely rare, and its clinical picture has been poorly characterized. Here we report an interesting case of myofibromatosis with an intracranial lesion that behaved like an aggressive tumor and yet demonstrated very benign pathology. ⋯ The discrepancy between rapid tumor growth associated with increased uptake on metabolic imaging and benign pathologic findings with a low proliferative index is noteworthy and should be recognized in the management of an intracranial lesion in a patient with infantile myofibromatosis. Given de novo formation of a lesion in this adult patient, long-term follow-up is essential in this disease.