World Neurosurg
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Improving the comprehension and communication of patient education materials could augment patient participation in shared clinical decision making. Inadequate healthcare-oriented educational resources for patients with a newly diagnosed complex disease, such as a cerebral aneurysm, can lead to an insufficient understanding of their ailment. As such, we hypothesized that a PowerPoint-style educational intervention with grade-conscious (i.e., sixth grade level) written material accompanied by visual graphics would help improve patient health literacy and satisfaction. ⋯ Overall, in the present prospective study, the use of a multimedia-based educational intervention resulted in an upward trend in knowledge without a statistically significant difference in patient satisfaction scores compared with the control patients. To better measure the effectiveness of multimedia-based patient education interventions, future studies should account for the patients' baseline education level, preexisting educational resources available to study patients, socioeconomic factors, and emotional state.
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In this paper, 64-slice spiral computed tomography (CT) retrospective electrocardiographic (ECG) gating technology was used to perform coronary CT angiography scans. The aorta and aortic pulmonary artery diameter were measured quantitatively in healthy people and patients with hypertension and cerebrovascular disease. ⋯ At the same time, the aortic diameter measured by multidetector CT scan combined with ECG gating technology and the phase difference between different phases can objectively reflect the degree of arterial damage in patients with hypertension; therefore, early screening of aortic diseases in patients with hypertension can be performed. Diagnosis to detect abnormalities as early as possible and start treatment as early as possible to prevent the disease from progressing and even affecting other tissues and organs can also be obtained.
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To retrospectively analyze our clinical data to determine the risk factors for thromboembolism, especially with unruptured posterior circulation coil embolization. ⋯ In cases of posterior circulation aneurysm coil embolization, if we place the guiding catheter into the side of the dominant posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA), then the risk of thromboembolism within the PICA territory could be higher. Accordingly, when faced with this situation, several solutions might be considered, such as changing the antiplatelet strategy or adding an intermediate catheter.
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Case Reports
Transient dorsal column dysfunction following extreme cervical deformity correction: Report of 3 cases.
Chin-on-chest kyphotic cervical deformity can be debilitating. Surgical deformity correction serves to decompress neural elements and restore lordosis. This can be achieved through multiple osteotomies with instrumentation and fusion, sometimes requiring a staged approach. Such procedures carry a high risk of neurologic injury. Here we present examples of transient neurologic dysfunction not previously reported in the common literature. ⋯ Incomplete spinal cord syndromes such as posterior cord syndrome can be caused by compression or stretching of the ascending dorsal spinal tracts. Considering the large degree of correction obtained, we hypothesize the resulting shortening of the dorsal columns as the pathomechanism. Providers should be aware, and patients should be counseled preoperatively that these symptoms may occur. If these symptoms are present postoperatively, appropriate diligence is warranted with the understanding that these deficits may be transient.