World Neurosurg
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Clinical Trial
Diffusion Tensor Imaging Correlates with Short-Term Myelopathy Outcome in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.
To determine if spinal cord diffusion tensor imaging indexes correlate with short-term clinical outcome in patients undergoing elective cervical spine surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). ⋯ Preoperative FA at the level of maximum cord compression significantly correlates with the 3-month change in mJOA scale score among patients with CSM. FA was also significantly associated with preoperative mJOA scale score and is a potential biomarker for spinal cord dysfunction in CSM.
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Review Case Reports
Value of targeted epidural blood patch and management of subdural hematoma in spontaneous intracranial hypotension.
Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a more common than previously noted condition (1-2.5 per 50,000 persons) typically caused by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. Initial treatment involves conservative therapies, but the mainstay of treatment for patients who fail conservative management is the epidural blood patch (EBP). Subdural hematoma (SDH) is a common complication occurring with SIH, but its management remains controversial. ⋯ Although blind lumbar EBP is often successful, targeted EBP has a lower rate of patients requiring a second EBP or other further treatment. On the other hand, targeted EBP has a larger risk profile. Depending on the clinic situation, treatment of the SDH via surgical evacuation may be necessary.
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Review Case Reports
Transient diabetes insipidus after discontinuation of vasopressin in neurological ICU patients: Case series and literature review.
Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is a common second-line or third-line vasopressor used in critically ill neurosurgical patients. Neurosurgical indications include hyperdynamic therapy for vasospasm, maintenance of cerebral perfusion pressure in patients with intracranial hypertension, and prevention of hypotension in patients with sepsis. ⋯ Recognition of this phenomenon has caused us to change our clinical management of neurosurgical patients receiving AVP. We hypothesize that tDI is caused by downregulation of the V2 receptor mass in the renal distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct cells. When AVP is discontinued, patients develop nephrogenic tDI secondary to decreased V2 receptor binding, which explains why desmopressin is effective in correcting tDI. Future research includes a large prospective study to determine risk factors for tDI, its incidence, and its pathophysiology.
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Review Case Reports
Basilar perforator aneurysms: Presentation of 4 cases and review of the literature.
Basilar perforator aneurysms (BPAs) are rare lesions that present a therapeutic challenge. We present 4 cases of ruptured BPAs treated either conservatively or by flow diverter deployment and review the literature. ⋯ Ruptured BPAs are rare lesions that may heal spontaneously or be associated with spontaneous ischemic brainstem stroke or rerupture. These lesions can be managed conservatively initially with flow diverter deployment the most suitable therapeutic alternative in selected cases. Larger studies are needed to fully understand the natural history and refine the therapeutic strategy for these lesions.
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Review Biography Historical Article
History of the Neurosurgery Department of Pontificia Universidad Católica, Santiago, Chile.
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile's medical school was founded in 1929. An interest in neurosurgical development arose in the minds of the Dean, Dr. Cristobal Espíldora, and the Chief of Surgery, Dr. ⋯ Since then, intensive efforts have been made to develop neurosurgery and its science. As a result, it is now a center capable of achieving high-quality standards in vascular, oncologic, and endoscopic neurosurgery; stereotactic and radiosurgery; complex spine surgery; pediatric neurosurgery; and epilepsy surgery. This article tells the story of a university hospital neurosurgery service in a country at the southern end of the world and how it became one of the most important neurosurgical centers in Chile and South America.