World Neurosurg
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Case Reports
Detection of a Rare Complication of Endovascular Treatment for Brain AVM by Echocardiography.
A brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a congenital malformation of the vascular system, in which an abnormal short circuit (vascular malformation) connects cerebral arteries and veins. When the brain AVMs are diagnosed, the majority of them must be closed with surgical or endovascular treatment, because only a small portion of the brain AVMs remain asymptomatic during the patient's life. ⋯ Previously known complications of Onyx usage are bleeding and neurologic deficits. We report a young man with a rare complication of Onyx injection, clinically silent distal embolization to the heart chamber and pulmonary circulation, discovered incidentally with echocardiography.
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Multicenter Study
Safety and Efficacy of Non-Compliant Balloon Angioplasty for the Treatment of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage-Induced Vasospasm: A Multicenter Study.
Cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage is the most important cause of neurologic decline after successful treatment of the ruptured aneurysm. We report safety and efficacy of noncompliant balloon angioplasty for treatment of cerebral vasospasm. ⋯ Our data suggest that noncompliant balloon angioplasty for treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage-induced cerebral vasospasm is safe and effective. No predictors of angioplasty success were identified. The rate of delayed cerebral ischemia in territories supplied by vessels that underwent angioplasty was highest in the ACA territory and lowest in the posterior circulation.
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Stimulus-evoked electromyography (EMG) has been developed to increase the safety of transpedicular placement of screws. There is more consensus about this monitoring method in open surgery. Alarm thresholds for minimally invasive surgery are based on referential value for open surgery. Nevertheless, there are no uniform alarm criteria on this modality for minimally invasive surgery. Using an analysis of alarm threshold, methodology and clinical effectiveness on stimulus-evoked EMG monitoring for minimally invasive transpedicular implantation of screws in the lumbosacral spine, this study aims to reflect and recommend for optimizing accuracy. ⋯ In minimally invasive surgery, continuous stimulation of instrumentation devices is recommended. A minimum 5-mA threshold should be used for stimulation of the pedicle access needle. Use of higher-stimulation thresholds during tapping and incorporation of an adapted continuous suction system may optimize the accuracy of stimulus-evoked EMG.
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Patients with intracranial meningiomas can experience neurocognitive dysfunctions in specific cognitive domains depending on tumor location and size. The literature regarding cognitive function surrounding the resection of frontal meningiomas is sparse. ⋯ Patients with frontal meningiomas display preoperative and postoperative deficits in perceptual speed, executive function, short-term memory, and verbal fluency. The risk for cognitive deterioration owing to surgical resection is low. Within the first two months after surgery, executive function and short-term memory appear to recover.
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Review
Radiation-induced sarcomas of the central nervous system: an exhaustive review of the literature.
Radiation-induced sarcomas (RISs) of the central nervous system are an uncommon late risk of irradiation. We conducted a systematic review of individual patient data to characterize RISs. ⋯ The risk of secondary sarcomas in patients treated with cranial radiotherapy warrants longer follow-up periods beyond the standard time frame typically designated for determining the risk of primary tumor relapse. Moreover, chemotherapy should be considered a potential treatment option for RISs.