World Neurosurg
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To evaluate the effects of vestibular schwannoma (VS) consistency on internal auditory canal (IAC) widening, magnetic resonance imaging appearance, presenting symptoms, and facial nerve outcome. ⋯ The consistency of VS has an impact on the immediate postoperative outcome. Widening on bony computed tomography scan, but not T2 intensity on magnetic resonance imaging, predicts whether the tumor is soft or firm.
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Indocyanine green videoangiography (ICG-VA) is a valuable tool to assess vessel and aneurysm patency during neurovascular surgical procedures. However, ICG-VA highlights vascular structures, which appear white over a black background. Anatomic relationships are sometimes difficult to understand at first glance. Dual-image videoangiography (DIVA) enables simultaneous visualization of light and near-infrared fluorescence images of ICG-VA. ⋯ DIVA has the potential to become a widely used intraoperative tool to check patency of intracranial vessels. It should be considered as an adjunct to standard ICG-VA for better understanding of vascular anatomy in relation to surrounding structures and can have an impact on decision making during surgery.
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After a 4-year planning period, a joint Ethiopian/Norwegian training program in neurosurgery was started in June 2006. The collaborating partners were Addis Ababa University; Department of Surgery, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital; University of Bergen; Haukeland University Hospital; and Myungsung Christian Medical Center, a Korean missionary hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ⋯ This article gives an account of the strategies underlying the program planning, the history of the program, and on the experience gained by it. Finally, ethical problems and challenges encountered in the program are discussed.
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To conduct a comparative analysis of 2 groups of patients with skull base chordomas extending onto the craniovertebral junction, who underwent surgical treatment using extracranial approaches with and without craniocervical fusion. ⋯ Use of the proposed surgical technique in clinical practice may help increase the radicality of tumor excisions, decrease the number of postoperative complications, accelerate the rehabilitation process, and increase the quality of life in patients with skull base tumors extending to the craniovertebral junction.
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Thromboembolic occlusion of distal branches in anterior and posterior circulation may produce severe clinical deficits. A Direct Aspiration at first Pass Technique (ADAPT) is a simple, fast method for achieving good angiographic and clinical outcomes using large-bore catheters in large vessel occlusions. We present our results using ADAPT with distal cerebral artery occlusions. ⋯ Acute distal anterior circulation thromboembolic occlusions may be treated safely with intraarterial thrombectomy. Prior studies have demonstrated the success of ADAPT in proximal large vessel occlusions. This series suggests that ADAPT is an effective, safe method for performing thrombectomy in distal branches of anterior and posterior circulation.