Surgical neurology international
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Brain abscess carries a high morbidity and mortality despite medical advances. In this paper, we present a single institution's experience with the surgical treatment of brain abscess. ⋯ In this series, most patients were treated with an open technique, either by surgical excision or open aspiration of brain abscess. An open technique may reduce the need for additional imaging, surgical treatment, and length of antibiotic therapy. In resource-limited settings, excision of brain abscess may play a more important role in patient management while maintaining favorable outcomes.
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Systemic hypotension, cardiac dysrhythmia especially bradycardia, apnea, and gastric hypermotility occurring presumably after stimulation of any of the sensory branches of trigeminal nerve are coined as trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR). Neither enough is known about the predisposing factors in relation with the intraoperative occurrence of this life threatening reflex, nor about the exact pathophysiology of its brain stem pathway. ENCOUNTERING TWO CASES OF BRADYCARDIA AND HYPOTENSION DURING SURGERY ENCOURAGED THE AUTHORS TO: (1) report these two cases and review similar reports in the relevant literature, (2) discuss the suggested mechanisms for such an event, and (3) report the result of a prospective cohort of precisely checked cases in a sister article, to remind the younger neurosurgical community of a possible and bothering even mortal, but avoidable complication in their everyday practice. ⋯ WE DO NOT INTEND ONLY TO ADD TWO NEW CASES OF TCR OCCURRING IN THE PERIOPERATIVE PERIOD IN NEUROSURGICAL PRACTICE, BUT WE WISH TO RAISE THE QUESTION: (a) what could be the predisposing factors for development of such issue for better handling of the problem and (b) stress upon careful continuous mapping of the vital signs during surgery and even till very late after operation.
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Intracerebral pial arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are rare vascular lesions of the brain. These lesions are composed of one or more direct arterial connection to a single venous channel without true intervening nidus and usually have associated venous varix or giant venous aneurysms. Intracerebral varices are occasionally associated with high-flow AVF, and usually treated by interrupting the feeding arteries leaving the varices intact. ⋯ Though endovascular occlusion of feeding arteries offers a simple and safe option, direct surgical removal should be considered in rare cases of intracerebral superficially located large AVF with calcified wall and mass effect.
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Coagulation accomplished using bipolar forceps is common in neurosurgery. Control of thermal spread from the forceps tips into surrounding neural tissues is a persistent concern, as neural tissues are especially vulnerable to heat injury. The purpose of our investigation was to compare the efficacy of cooling mechanisms for four different bipolar forceps and to understand thermal spread when coagulating vessels on the spinal cord. ⋯ Bipolar forceps incorporating either heat-pipe embedded technology or SILVERGlide coating can effectively limit excessive thermal spread, thus decreasing potential injury to adjacent tissues when compared with standard stainless steel and titanium bipolar forceps. Of the two, heat-pipe embedded technology appeared safest, having better cooling efficiency at higher temperature.
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Owing to the debilitating nature of degenerative disc disease (DDD) and other spine pathologies, significant research has been performed with the goal of healing or regenerating the intervertebral disc (IVD). Structural complexity, coupled with low vascularity and cellularity, make IVD regeneration an extremely challenging task. ⋯ This review article summarizes the genetic and molecular advances that promise to play an integral role in the development of new strategies to combat DDD and promote healing of injured discs.