World Neurosurg
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Case Reports
Acute hemorrhage after intra-cerebral biopsy in COVID-19 patients: a report of 3 cases.
When Belgium's coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak began in March 2020, our neurosurgical department followed the protocol of most surgical departments in the world and postponed elective surgery. However, patients with tumor-like brain lesions requiring urgent surgery still received treatment as usual, in order to ensure ongoing neurooncologic care. From a series of 31 patients admitted for brain surgery, 3 were confirmed as infected by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. ⋯ This case series reports the previously unreported and unexpected outcomes of COVID-19 patients suffering from acute hemorrhage after intracerebral biopsy procedures. Although no direct relation can yet be established, we recommend the neurosurgical community be cautious in such cases.
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Defect in internal elastic lamina, defect in tunica media, and the amount of collagen and elastin play a role in vessel wall weakening leading to aneurysm formation. A similar picture may be found in connective tissue disorders, such as Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), neurofibromatosis type 1, and Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS), where there is a predominant disorder of collagen formation/maturation. ⋯ The histologic changes seen in skin and the STA in cases of IAs signify a weak connective tissue. Some of these findings are also seen in known connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome, EDS, neurofibromatosis type 1, and LDS. The connective tissue abnormalities found in patients with IAs may be congenital, which gets further accentuated by known risk factors leading to weak vessel wall and subsequent aneurysm formation.
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Epidermoids account for <1.5% of all intracranial tumors. Overall, the cerebellopontine angle has been the most commonly reported location. In the supratentorial compartment, epidermoids will usually be found in the suprasellar area, sylvian fissure, and intraventricular area. The interhemispheric fissure represents an extremely rare location for supratentorial epidermoids, with limited cases reported previously. Surgery of an interhemispheric epidermoid can be challenging because of its adherence to the anterior cerebral artery branches or the brain parenchyma itself. In the present study, we have reported the largest Series of interhemispheric epidermoid tumors to better understand the clinical behavior, radiological features, and surgical outcomes. ⋯ Interhemispheric epidermoids can often reach a large size with substantial lateral extension found at diagnosis. The position of the anterior cerebral Artery branches can help to differentiate interhemispheric epidermoids from radiologically similar corpus callosum, velum interpositum, and cavum septum pellucidum epidermoids. Complete surgical excision with minimal complications is feasible, with good long-term outcomes.
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Vigabatrin, an antiepileptic drug, increases the level of gamma aminobutyric acid in the brain by inhibiting its catabolism. Because gamma aminobutyric acid has been proved to have vasodilatory effects, in the present study, we investigated the effect of vigabatrin to treat experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)-induced vasospasm. ⋯ These findings have indicated that vigabatrin has a vasodilatory effect in an experimental SAH model in the rabbit. Moreover, it showed a neuroprotective effect in the hippocampal neurons against secondary injury induced by SAH.
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Trans-cell approach for the Neuroform Atlas stent (Stryker Neurovascular, Fremont, CA) is occasionally unsuccessful as a microcatheter can become stuck in the struts. This study aimed to evaluate the passability and impassability of 0.0165-inch microcatheters through the Neuroform Atlas stent using a simplified benchtop model. ⋯ Target crowns and microcatheters affected the use of the trans-cell approach through the Neuroform Atlas stent. The passability was excellent in a lower profile 0.0165-inch microcatheter. Moreover, neurointerventionalists must be knowledgeable of the crown jackpot phenomenon, which might cause fatal stent migration.