World Neurosurg
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Surgical results regarding MRI-negative epilepsy were presented and related clinical and histopathological parameters were discussed. ⋯ Our results suggest it is worth pursuing resective surgery in adults as well as in children with drug-resistant epilepsy with normal MRI.
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The anterior transpetrosal approach (ATPA), during which the trigeminal nerve (TN) is manipulated, has a risk of eliciting the trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR). The aim of this study was to assess the risk of TCR during ATPA. ⋯ This study suggests that TCR is related to Meckel cave tumor size and tumor adhesion to TN in ATPA. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing TCR during ATPA.
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Mini-craniotomy for chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is associated with lower rates of recurrence. However, the procedure is performed mostly with the patient under general anesthesia (GA) and therefore frequently requires an intensive care unit (ICU) facility, especially in the elderly population. Because of the unavailability of ICU beds, and to avoid GA, we started to perform this procedure with the patient under local anesthesia (LA). ⋯ Mini-craniotomy for CSDH under LA is an equally effective procedure compared with mini-craniotomy under GA. In addition, it minimizes the risks of GA in the elderly population and obviates the need of a postoperative ICU bed. It also reduces operative time and hospital stay as compared with GA.
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Approximately 100,000 brain metastases are diagnosed annually in the United States. Our laboratory has pioneered a novel technique, second window indocyanine green (SWIG), which allows for real-time intraoperative visualization of brain metastasis through normal brain parenchyma and intact dura. ⋯ SWIG relies on the passive accumulation of dye in abnormal tumor tissue via the enhanced permeability and retention effect. It provides strong NIR optical contrast, which can be used to localize tumors before dural opening. The use of SWIG for margin assessment remains limited by its lack of specificity (high false-positive rate); however, ongoing improvements in imaging parameters show great potential to reduce false-positive results.
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Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) is a common procedure in daily neurosurgical practice. According to some reports, the rate of intracerebral hemorrhage secondary to VPS in patients with no bleeding tendency can be 43.1%; however, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) secondary to VPS is rare with only sporadic cases reported in adults. To further elucidate the characteristics, mechanism, management, and prognosis of SICH secondary to VPS, we performed a retrospective study in our institution and a systematic review of the literature. ⋯ SICH is a rare complication after VPS in adults without bleeding tendency. The mechanism is obscure, management is challenging, and prognosis is dismal. Future prospective study is anticipated.