World Neurosurg
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Patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) have limited evidence regarding the relationship between blood urea nitrogen and albumin. Aiming to investigate the relationship between the blood urea nitrogen to albumin ratio (BUN/ALB ratio) and poor outcomes in AIS patients at 3 months was the purpose of this study. ⋯ The BUN/ALB ratio and poor outcomes in AIS patients show a nonlinear correlation. For AIS patients, a BUN/ALB ratio of approximately 0.326 is associated with the lowest risk of adverse outcomes at 3 months. Specifically, for nonsmoking AIS patients, a BUN/ALB ratio of approximately 0.295 is associated with the lowest risk of adverse outcomes at 3 months.
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This study investigates the prognostic value of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in magnetic resonance imaging for patients with acute posterior circulation stroke (PCS) undergoing endovascular therapy (EVT). ⋯ High ADC values and unilateral infarction are independent predictive factors for the prognosis of patients with PCS after EVT. Combining these factors provides the highest predictive accuracy, aiding in clinical decision making for PCS treatment.
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Despite advancements in gender equality within neurosurgery, the field continues to encounter challenges related to the under-representation of women and reports of gender-based disparities. This study examines the impact of these disparities on the experiences, professional development, and well-being of female neurosurgery residents in Germany, identifying specific challenges within the neurosurgical community. ⋯ The survey highlights gender disparities affecting female neurosurgery residents in Germany, negatively influencing job satisfaction and career advancement. Tackling gender discrimination and harassment requires a multifaceted approach, and further studies are warranted to assess these methods. The neurosurgical community must ensure a supportive environment by adopting no-tolerance policies against discrimination for all residents, paving the way for a future where professional excellence and patient care are free from gender inequalities.
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Trigeminal neuralgia is usually associated with vascular compression of the nerve entry zone. However, a dolichoectatic basilar artery represents the cause in only up to 3% of cases.1 This is characterized by dilation, elongation, or tortuosity of the vertebrobasilar arteries.2 In 10%-30% of cases, pain relief is not achieved with medical treatment. Thus, microvascular decompression techniques have been proven the most effective. ⋯ This surgical video illustrates anatomic nuances and critical aspects of the retrosigmoid approach as a safe and adequate access for microvascular decompression in a rare case of a megadolichoectatic basilar artery (Video 1). The patient consented to the procedure and the publication of his images. Institutional review board/ethics committee approval was not required nor sought due to the nature of this paper.
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The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of combined intravenous and topical use of tranexamic acid (TXA) in patients undergoing separation surgery for thoracolumbar spinal metastases by evaluating perioperative blood loss and complications. ⋯ The application of TXA in separation surgery of spinal metastases can obviously reduce drain days, perioperative blood loss, an dintraoperative transfusion rate. The combination of intravenous infusion and topical use of TXA is more effective than intravenous use alone, which showed a strong synergistic effect; additionally, it does not increase the risk of venous thromboembolism and wound infection.