World Neurosurg
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An 11-year-old girl had undergone posterior spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis. The surgery was complicated by intraoperative bleeding, and hemostasis was achieved by topically applying gelatin sponges. ⋯ Autopsy shortly after revealed that her death was associated with unintended intravascular entry of gelatin sponge fragments, resulting in an embolic event and secondary cardiopulmonary collapse.
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The present study analyzed the benefits of the use of tractography in the preoperative and intraoperative scenarios. ⋯ Intraoperative navigated tractography shortened the time of awake neuro-oncological surgery and might provide help in performing complete tumor resection. Also, tractography used in the preoperative planning could be a useful tool for better prediction of complete tumor resection.
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Review Case Reports
5-ALA 'False Positives' in cerebral neurooncology: not all that fluorescences is tumor. A case-based update and literature review.
One of the most valuable innovations in high-grade glioma surgery is 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA). Fluorescence is a specific and sensitive indicator of metabolically active tumor tissue. In the published literature, the main focus has been placed on false-negative cases, with only a few articles addressing false positivity. The aim of the article was to highlight settings in which 5-ALA fluorescence does not necessarily mean tumor and to point out conditions in which intraoperative 5-ALA fluorescence has to be critically interpreted. ⋯ As reported, 5-ALA-induced fluorescence is not limited to glioma but is also evident in nonglioma and non-neoplastic conditions. Critical interpretation of intraoperative fluorescence is therefore mandatory in recurrences and in atypical cases that might hinder alternative diagnoses.
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Review Case Reports
"Two-Birds-One-Stone" Approach for Treating an Infant with Chiari I Malformation and Hydrocephalus: Is Cerebrospinal Fluid Diversion as a Sole Treatment Enough?
Chiari I malformation (CIM) is a disorder characterized by caudal displacement of the cerebellar tonsils below the foramen magnum. It is often associated with syringomyelia and occasionally with hydrocephalus. CIM is commonly treated by posterior fossa decompression with or without removal of the posterior arch of C1 and duraplasty, but the treatment for infants with symptomatic CIM is not well established. We present a case of symptomatic CIM in an infant that was successfully treated with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) and discuss the importance of the pathophysiology in management decisions. ⋯ Ventriculoperitoneal shunting alone was successfully used to treat an infant with concurrent CIM, syrinx, and hydrocephalus. This case underscores not only the importance of hydrocephalus as the pathogenesis of CIM in some cases but also the possibility of avoiding the morbidity of decompressive surgery in infants.
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Review Case Reports
Reperfusion "White Cord'' Syndrome in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: Does Mean Arterial Pressure Goal Make a Difference? Additional Case and Literature Review.
"White cord syndrome" or reperfusion injury of chronically ischemic areas of the spinal cord is a relatively newly defined etiology in spinal surgery. This rare syndrome is characterized as unexplained new neurological deficits after an anterior or posterior decompressive cervical procedure. The radiographic hallmark is the presence of hyperintense T2 intramedullary signal change after a decompressive procedure without other pathologic changes. We present an additional case of this complication and review the literature. ⋯ White cord syndrome is rare and has only been reported in 5 other patients upon review of the literature. Our case is the 7th general and the 5th after posterior cervical decompression. The pathophysiology is thought to be due to a reperfusion type injury of chronically ischemic areas of the spinal cord. All but one patient to date have improved after MAP goal, steroid administration therapy, and acute rehabilitation, including our patients. Spine surgeons should be aware of this potentially devastating complication and how to properly manage these patients' postoperative care.