Articles: surgery.
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Review
Infrastructural Barriers to the Neurosurgical Care of Brain Tumors in LMICs: A Systematic Review.
Appropriate surgical infrastructure is important for improving patient outcomes. However, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often struggle to provide adequate brain tumor surgery due to fractured infrastructure. This study aims to identify and evaluate barriers to surgical care infrastructure for brain tumors in LMICs. ⋯ The review highlights key barriers in infrastructure while providing effective neurosurgical care to brain tumors in LMICs. To overcome these challenges, targeted strategies need to be implemented by stakeholders, policymakers, and health ministries.
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Critical care medicine · Nov 2024
Intestinal Drug Absorption After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Elective Neurosurgery: Insights From Esomeprazole Pharmacokinetics.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) may critically impair cardiovascular, metabolic, and gastrointestinal function. Previous research has demonstrated compromised drug absorption in this group of patients. This study aimed to examine the impact of SAH on gastrointestinal function and its subsequent effect on the absorption of enterally administered drugs, using esomeprazole as a probe drug. ⋯ Following SAH, significantly reduced drug absorption may be attributed to decreased intestinal motility and compromised intestinal mucosal function. Clinicians should anticipate the reduced effectiveness of enterally administered medications for at least seven days after high-grade SAH.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Nov 2024
The autonomous nervous system and the cholinergic anti-inflammatory reflex in postoperative neurocognitive disorders.
Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common and serious complication after surgery. It is associated with postoperative neurocognitive disorder (PNCD). The vagal cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) has been hypothesized to play a role in POD/PNCD and may be a target for interventions such as transcutaneous auricular stimulation (taVNS). We aim to review associations of heart rate variability (HRV) as an indicator of vagal function with POD and postoperative immune reaction as well as taVNS as a potential preventive intervention for POD. ⋯ Our review provides no evidence that CAP suppression is associated with POD/PNCD. Future studies should consider that high vagal tone may also mediate immunosuppression in surgical patients, yielding an increased risk for postoperative infections. Although taVNS is a promising approach to prevent POD/POCD, future studies should take these concerns into account.
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Pituitary neoplasms account for 15% of all intracranial neoplasms and affect 20% of the population. ⋯ Despite advancements in endoscopic endonasal pituitary surgery, disparities in access and outcomes persist across racial, socioeconomic, and insurance groups. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address these inequalities and ensure equitable access to quality care.