World Neurosurg
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Postoperative infection is a potentially dramatic consequence in endoscopic endonasal surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of our intraoperative antibiotic prophylaxis by analyzing the risk factors of postoperative meningitis in our series. ⋯ All surgical maneuvers to prevent, detect, and quickly repair intra- and postoperative CSF leak are crucial to avoid postoperative meningitis. The proposed prophylaxis protocol is comparable in safety to those recommended in literature as assessed by the low rate of meningitis.
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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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To retrospectively evaluate the midterm therapeutic effect of enlarged encephalo-duro-myo-synangiosis (EDMS) for moyamoya disease (MMD) in young children. ⋯ Enlarged EDMS is safe and effective for MMD in young children. Extensive and multilayered revascularization could significantly preserve neurologic function. The long-term effect on posterior circulation disease development needs further investigation.
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In multilevel degenerative conditions posterior approaches are often preferred, but anterior approaches provide comparable clinical results and better alignment. Anterior plating entails higher rates of soft tissue injuries and dysphagia, particularly in multilevel cases. This study evaluates efficacy and safety of zero-profile devices in 3- and 4-level anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion, analyzing patients' clinical and radiologic long-term outcomes. ⋯ Anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion with a zero-profile device is effective and safe for 3- and 4-level cervical spondylotic myeloradiculopathy. It allows to restore cervical lordosis and achieve long-term satisfactory clinical outcome.
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Obesity is an important consideration in neurosurgical practice. Of Australian adults, 28.3% are obese and it is estimated that more than two thirds of Australia's population will be overweight or obese by 2025. This review of the effects of obesity on neurosurgical procedures shows that, in patients undergoing spinal surgery, an increased body mass index is a significant risk factor for surgical site infection, venous thromboembolism, major medical complications, prolonged length of surgery, and increased financial cost. ⋯ In cranial surgery, the impact of obesity on outcome and complication rates is generally lower. Specific exceptions are higher rates of distal catheter migration after shunt surgery and cerebrospinal fluid leak after posterior fossa surgery. Minimally invasive approaches show promise in mitigating some of the adverse effects of obesity in patients undergoing spine surgery but further studies are needed to develop strategies to reduce obesity-related surgical complications.