World Neurosurg
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Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy is an increasingly popular treatment for medically intractable epilepsy. During a review of our cases, we noted that one of the senior authors give patients 1 week of antibiotic prophylaxis after VNS surgery while the other does not. We reviewed our experience with postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis after VNS surgery. ⋯ Just as with any hardware implantation, infection of the hardware can lead to significant morbidity. However, the use of postoperative oral antibiotic prophylaxis did not show benefit in reducing the infection rate.
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Transient cardiac dysfunction, or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is a well-known complication among patients presenting with neurologic insult, who are described as having takotsubo syndrome. This condition is commonly associated with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage but has also been described in patients after cerebral surgery or in those with ischemic stroke, seizure, and traumatic brain injury. Current evidence suggests that cardiac dysfunction in these patients is a result of increases in catecholamines that are induced by supraphysiologic levels of sympathetic activity. The cardiac injury is typically reversible and carries a good prognosis, but secondary complications may arise if the diagnosis is not recognized early.
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To determine the outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) versus medical management in patients with minor stroke symptomatology. ⋯ Our study shows significant selection bias and heterogeneity in the literature with differences in baseline characteristics (age, stroke severity, prestroke modified Rankin Scale score, side of infarct, vessel and site of occlusion, use of intravenous thrombolysis, criteria for clinical deterioration, and selection bias for rescue MT and rates of reperfusion), emphasizing the need for a randomized controlled trial.
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WORLD NEUROSURGERY (WN) is among the most influential peer-reviewed neurosurgery journals and has had an explicitly global focus historically. The goal of the current study was to perform quantitative bibliographic and social network analyses to identify key contributors and trends influencing article citation patterns. ⋯ Bibliographic analysis suggests that WN has published a wide range of novel and impactful research studies in neurosurgery, which collectively demonstrate strong collaborative trends in association with advancement of new tools and techniques in all aspects of neurosurgery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Application of Midazolam Injection in Patients with Intraoperative Nerve Block Anesthesia and Sedation Assisted by Imaging Guidance.
In the present study, we explored the clinical effect of midazolam as an adjuvant analgesic and tranquilizer after brachial plexus block anesthesia with the aid of imaging guidance. ⋯ The ultrasound-guided inferior intermuscular sulcus approach for brachial plexus block is suitable for unilateral upper extremity radial hand surgery. For surgery involving the upper extremity ulnar hand side, a larger dose (concentration) of local anesthetic should be used within a safe range and/or an additional ulnar nerve block might be necessary. Midazolam adjuvant medication can have a good sedative and amnestic effect in brachial plexus block anesthesia, helping to reduce pain and inhibit the increase in stress levels.