World Neurosurg
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Review Historical Article
Contributions to the United States Neurosurgery Political Action Committee (NeurosurgeryPAC): A Historical Perspective.
The political action committee (PAC) of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, known as NeurosurgeryPAC, was formed in August 2005 to strengthen neurosurgical advocacy efforts. Since its establishment, NeurosurgeryPAC has made nonpartisan, direct campaign contributions to hundreds of candidates for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. ⋯ Since its creation, NeurosurgeryPAC has collected a steady stream of donations to support political candidates. These donations have helped lawmakers who are supportive of policy issues important to neurosurgery, particularly physician reimbursement, medical liability reform, and graduate medical education. However, there remains a significant opportunity to increase the neurosurgeon participation rate in this vital organization. It is truly through advocacy that we will be able to positively affect the future of neurologic surgery in the United States.
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Moyamoya syndrome, a progressive, idiopathic stenosis of the internal carotid arteries, results in increased risk for both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Revascularization procedures have been shown in small studies to be both safe and efficacious for these patients; however, randomized controlled trials are lacking. The goal of this systematic review is to organize the literature evaluating surgical intervention versus conservative medical management. ⋯ We present a large systematic review of the literature regarding outcomes of surgical and medical management for patients with moyamoya syndrome and sickle cell disease. The findings redemonstrate the efficacy and safety of surgical revascularization, and advocate for earlier discussion around surgical intervention.
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Review Case Reports
Stenting of mobile calcified emboli after failed thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke: case report and literature review.
Mobile calcified emboli are a rare cause of large vessel occlusion and acute ischemic stroke and pose unique challenges to standard mechanical thrombectomy techniques. Intracranial stenting has been reported as a rescue maneuver in cases of failed mechanical thrombectomy owing to dissection or calcified atherosclerotic plaques, but its use for calcified emboli is not well described. ⋯ Mobile calcified emboli are rare causes of acute ischemic stroke. Intracranial stenting can be used to successfully treat calcified emboli when mechanical thrombectomy has failed.
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Review Case Reports
Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Smooth Muscle Tumor of the Spine after Bone Marrow Transplant - a case report and review of literature.
Epstein-Barr virus-associated smooth muscle tumors (SMTs) are rare neoplasms that have been found to develop in immunocompromised patients. Three distinct groups of affected patients have been described: (1) human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients, (2) post-transplant patients, and (3) patients with congenital immunodeficiency. The tumors can develop anywhere in the body, with 17 reported cases occurring in the spinal canal, all in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. ⋯ Despite the growing number of case reports, this diagnosis presents a challenge, as the pathophysiology and optimal treatment regimens are not well understood. Results of a literature review of Epstein-Barr virus-associated SMT of the spine as well as a discussion of the presentation, management, and prognosis of this condition is presented here.
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Review Comparative Study
Thrombectomy-related emboli: Direct aspiration vs. stent retriever thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke; our experience and literature review.
Thrombectomy-related emboli (TRE) represent a potentially dangerous complication of thrombectomy procedures for acute ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was to compare the rate of TRE in aspiration thrombectomy (ASP) and stent retriever thrombectomy techniques. ⋯ The applied thrombectomy technique (ASP vs. SRT) is not an independent predictor of TRE rates. Operative time tends to affect the rates of uTRE and successful recanalization. The ASP technique offers higher rates of successful recanalization in less operative time.