World Neurosurg
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Observational Study
Non-English Primary Language Is Associated with Short-Term Outcomes after Supratentorial Tumor Resection.
Despite research indicating that patients with non-English primary language (NEPL) have increased hospital length of stay (LOS) for craniotomies, there is a paucity of neurosurgical research examining the impact of language on short-term outcomes. This study sought to evaluate short-term outcomes for patients with English primary language (EPL) and NEPL admitted for resection of a supratentorial tumor. ⋯ Patients with NEPL have different short-term outcomes after supratentorial tumor resection that varies based on primary language. More research is needed to understand the mechanisms driving these findings and to clarify unique experiences for different populations with NEPL.
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Occlusion of ventriculoperitoneal shunts placed after intraventricular hemorrhage occurs frequently. The objective of this study was to develop a hemorrhagic hydrocephalus model to assess the ability of an oscillating microactuator within the ventricular catheter (VC) to prevent shunt obstruction. ⋯ In addition to protecting the VC, the microactuator appeared to prevent hematoma obstructing the valve or distal catheter, resulting in a much longer duration of low intraventricular pressures. A microactuator activated by placing the patient's head in an external magnetic field could reduce shunt obstructions in hemorrhagic hydrocephalus.
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Cortical spreading depolarization (CSD), cortical spreading ischemia (CSI), and early brain injury are involved in the occurrence of delayed brain ischemia after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We tested whether local application of magnesium (Mg) sulfate solution suppressed CSD and CSI, and decreased brain damage in a rat SAH-mimicking model. ⋯ Local application of Mg suppressed CSI and reduced brain damage in a rat SAH-mimicking model. Mg irrigation therapy may be beneficial to suppress brain damage due to CSI after SAH.
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Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas (JNAs) are highly vascularized benign lesions that mainly arise in adolescent male patients. Current treatment options include observation, radiotherapy, or surgical resection. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice as it achieves immediate and complete results, thereby minimizing the risk of recurrence. ⋯ The sinonasal cavity was widely patent and no tumor recurrence was noted 5 months postoperatively. JNAs can be challenging to treat as they can invade extensively into local structures. A careful consideration of treatment options and approaches are necessary when faced with these lesions.
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It has been proposed that Tourette syndrome is associated with dysfunction in widespread cortical areas and globus pallidus externus hyperactivity secondary to dopaminergic hyperactivity and serotonergic/dynorphinergic hypoactivity. The main objective of this study was to test this hypothesis by developing an animal model of Tourette syndrome via striatotomy, followed by administration of drugs that mimic the neurotransmitter environment, so as to induce globus pallidus externus hyperactivity. ⋯ These results show that striatotomy, followed by administration of levodopa/benserazide alone or associated with ergotamine and naloxone, is efficacious in inducing IM, supporting the hypothesis that led to this study.