World Neurosurg
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Tortuous or occluded vertebral arteries (VAs) can make the endovascular treatment of vertebrobasilar insufficiency impractical. Bypass surgery is an option, but a craniotomy of the posterior fossa is complicated when physiologic vessels must be abandoned. We report 3 cases of refractory vertebrobasilar insufficiency with different presentations requiring problematic approaches in which the patients were treated by different hybrid strategies. ⋯ For refractory vertebrobasilar insufficiencies, hybrid operations that combine surgical manipulation of the V1 segment and endovascular techniques can be safe and effective.
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Secondary intracranial hypotension is a clinical syndrome associated with reduction of cerebrospinal fluid volume and dural continuity violation. The main symptoms are orthostatic headache associated with nausea, vomiting, diplopia, dizziness, and tinnitus. The treatment is usually nonspecific. ⋯ Volumetric reduction of the epidural space may be considered as a valuable therapeutic option in case of intracranial hypotension that is unresponsive to medical treatments and spinal blood patch, as well as when an altered compliance of the dural sac is hypothesized.
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Active smoking is a major risk factor for intracranial aneurysm rupture (IAR); however, little is known about the effects of passive smoking on IAR. In China, female passive smoking is widespread and severe. This study aimed to assess whether passive smoking is associated with increased risk of IAR among nonsmoking women. ⋯ Although active current smoking was strongly associated with aneurysm rupture in female patients, passive smoking was not an independent risk factor for aneurysm rupture in nonsmoking women.
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To evaluate the feasibility of sodium fluorescein (Na-Fl)-guided surgery involving the use of the PENTERO 900 surgical microscope equipped with the YELLOW-560 nm filter and low-dose Na-FL (200 mg/2-4 mg/kg) in meningioma surgery. ⋯ Na-Fl guidance with the use of the YELLOW-560 filter is safe and effective during meningioma surgery.
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Neurosurgical patients are aging as the general population is becoming older. ⋯ This study identifies factors that predict perioperative complications for elderly patients undergoing elective craniotomies, particularly congestive heart failure, smoking history, chronic steroid use, anesthesia time, and estimated blood loss. Age alone should not preclude elective craniotomy.