World Neurosurg
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Observational Study
The Role of Vancomycin Powder During Spinal Cord Stimulator Implantation: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.
We examined the role of intrawound vancomycin powder as prophylaxis against postoperative surgical site infection (SSI) after spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implantation. ⋯ Our experience suggests open laminectomy for SCS implantation surgery can be performed with a low postoperative SSI rate, with or without the use of powdered vancomycin. We found no evidence suggesting that the use of powdered vancomycin is unsafe or related to postoperative seroma formation. We failed to draw any definitive conclusions regarding its efficacy, despite referencing the largest single case series of SCS implantation to date.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE MONITORING IN POOR-GRADE PATIENTS WITH ANEURYSMAL SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE TREATED BY COILING.
The main objective of the present study was to analyze the intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) changes during coiling. We also evaluated the prevalence of rebleeding and outcomes for patients monitored before and after coiling. ⋯ During coiling, patients with poor-grade aSAH can experience episodes of intracranial hypertension and reduced CPP. Early and appropriate treatment of elevated ICP was not associated with rebleeding and might have improved the outcomes.
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This study aimed to compare the external ventricular drain (EVD) placement accuracy and complication rates, between neuronavigation-guided, ultrasound-guided, and freehand techniques in our single-center cohort, and through an additional meta-analysis of the currently available literature. ⋯ Our results, pooled with those of previous studies, suggest image-guided EVD placement significantly reduced the rate of suboptimally placed EVDs. We conclude in appropriately selected cases that image-guided EVD insertions may improve accuracy of catheter placements and reduce associated complications of the procedure.
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Intracranial surgery can be complex and high risk. Safety, ethical and financial factors make training in the area challenging. Head model 3-dimensional (3D) printing is a realistic training alternative to patient and traditional means of cadaver and animal model simulation. ⋯ The findings of this review indicate that those who practice surgery and surgical techniques on 3D-printed head models deem them to be valuable assets in cranial surgery training. Understanding how surgical simulation on such models affects surgical performance and patient outcomes, and considering cost-effectiveness, are important future research endeavors.