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Dural sinus thrombosis is a well-recognized and potentially serious complication following lateral skull base surgery. Methods of diagnosis are limited to post-operative computerized tomography scans or magnetic resonance venography. There are currently no reports of an intraoperative technique used to detect dural sinus thrombosis. Here, we describe the case of a 62-year-old woman who underwent translabyrinthine resection of a right vestibular schwannoma with no evidence of sinus thrombosis on pre-operative scans. Following tumor resection, patency of the sigmoid sinus was assessed intraoperatively using indocyanine green (ICG) videography which revealed a lack of flow in the right sigmoid sinus. Postoperative CT scan confirmed thrombosis of the right sigmoid sinus. We present the first report of real-time intraoperative diagnosis of sigmoid sinus thrombosis during removal of a vestibular schwannoma. ICG videography may be used for intraoperative visualization of dural sinus integrity and patency during prolonged or technically challenging microsurgical procedures. This technique may enable periodic monitoring and early identification of filling defects which can guide further intraoperative strategies and postoperative monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimal modern radiation therapy (RT) approach after surgery for atypical and malignant meningioma is unclear. We present results of dose escalation in a single-institution cohort spanning 2000 to 2021. Consecutive patients with histopathologic grade 2 or 3 meningioma treated with RT were reviewed. A dose-escalation cohort (≥66 Gy equivalent dose in 2-Gy fractions using an α/β = 10) was compared with a standard-dose cohort (<66 Gy). Outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS), cause-specific survival, overall survival (OS), local failure (LF), and radiation necrosis. One hundred eighteen patients (111 grade 2, 94.1%) were identified; 54 (45.8%) received dose escalation and 64 (54.2%) standard dose. Median follow-up was 45.4 months (IQR, 24.0-80.0 months) and median OS was 9.7 years (Q1: 4.6 years, Q3: not reached). All dose-escalated patients had residual disease versus 65.6% in the standard-dose cohort (P <.001). PFS at 3, 4, and 5 years in the dose-escalated versus standard-dose cohort was 78.9%, 72.2%, and 64.6% versus 57.2%, 49.1%, and 40.8%, respectively, (P =.030). On multivariable analysis, dose escalation (hazard ratio [HR], 0.544; P =.042) was associated with improved PFS, whereas ≥2 surgeries (HR, 1.989; P =.035) and older age (HR, 1.035; P <.001) were associated with worse PFS. The cumulative risk of LF was reduced with dose escalation (P =.016). Multivariable analysis confirmed that dose escalation was protective for LF (HR, 0.483; P =.019), whereas ≥2 surgeries before RT predicted for LF (HR, 2.145; P =.008). A trend was observed for improved cause-specific survival and OS in the dose-escalation cohort (P <.1). Seven patients (5.9%) developed symptomatic radiation necrosis with no significant difference between the 2 cohorts. Dose-escalated RT with ≥66 Gy for high-grade meningioma is associated with improved local control and PFS with an acceptable risk of radiation necrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is an increasingly common condition due to the growing use of anticoagulation. Currently, there remains a lack of evidence to guide the optimal timing of anticoagulant reinitiation for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation after cSDH evacuation. We aimed to better understand the perceived risks of hemorrhagic and embolic complications along with current practice patterns on restarting anticoagulation after surgical evacuation of cSDH. We conducted a survey of Canadian neurosurgeons and stroke neurologists using a novel self-administered questionnaire using clinical cases that included questions on clinical experience, practice setting, practice patterns, and perceptions on stroke/bleeding risk with anticoagulation reinitiation after cSDH evacuation. The instrument was evaluated for clinical sensibility by 5 neurosurgeons, neurologists, and intensivists. The response rate after 4 mailings was 40% for neurosurgeons (55/136) and 21% for stroke neurologists (26/122). Almost all participants would restart anticoagulation for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation after cSDH evacuation (91.8% in low-risk patients, 98.6% in high-risk patients). Time to reinitiation of anticoagulation varied considerably, particularly for high-risk patients where 36% of participants would restart anticoagulation within 1 week of surgery, 44% between 1 and 4 weeks after surgery, and 19% after 4 weeks postoperatively. The perceived risk of stroke and SDH reaccumulation varied considerably among participants and was dependent on timing of anticoagulation reinitiation. There is considerable variation in current practice patterns and perceived risks of embolic and hemorrhagic complications with anticoagulation reinitiation after cSDH evacuation. These results demonstrate clinical equipoise that warrant further targeted investigation in large-scale randomized controlled trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 develop bilateral vestibular schwannomas with progressive hearing loss. Auditory brainstem implants (ABIs) stimulate hearing in the cochlear nuclei and show promise in improving hearing. Here, we assess the impact of ABI on hearing over time by systematically reviewing the literature and re-analyzing available individual patient data. A multidatabase search identified 3 studies with individual patient data of longitudinal hearing outcomes after ABI insertion in adults. Data were collected on hearing outcomes of different sound complexities from sound to speech using an ABI ± lip reading ability plus demographic data. Because of heterogeneity each study was analyzed separately using random effects multilevel mixed linear modeling. Across all 3 studies (n = 111 total) there were significant improvements in hearing over time from ABI placement (P < 0.000 in all). Improvements in comprehension of sounds, words, sentences, and speech occurred over time with ABI use + lip reading but lip reading ability did not improve over time. All categories of hearing complexity had over 50% comprehension after over 1 year of ABI use and some subsets had over 75% or near 100% comprehension. Vowel comprehension was greater than consonant, and word comprehension was greater than sentence comprehension (P < 0.0001 in both). Age and sex did not predict outcomes. ABIs improve hearing beyond lip reading alone, which represents baseline patient function prior to treatment, and the benefits continue to improve with time. These findings may be used to guide patient counseling regarding ABI insertion, rehabilitation course after insertion, and future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) are at high risk for developing venous thromboembolism (VTE). Nonetheless, pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis is often delayed out of concern for precipitating extension of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of early vs late VTE prophylaxis in patients with sTBI, and to characterize the risk of subsequent ICH-related complication.Study Design: Adults with isolated sTBI (head Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≥3 and total Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤8) who received VTE prophylaxis with low-molecular-weight or unfractionated heparin were derived from the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program (2012 to 2014). Patients were divided into EP (<72 hours) or LP (≥72 hours) groups. Propensity score matching was used to minimize selection bias. The primary end point was VTE (pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis). Secondary outcomes were defined as late neurosurgical intervention (≥72 hours) or death.Results: We identified 3,634 patients with sTBI. Early prophylaxis was given in 43% of patients. Higher head injury severity, presence of ICH, and early neurosurgery were associated with late prophylaxis. Propensity score matching yielded a well-balanced cohort of 2,468 patients. Early prophylaxis was associated with lower rates of both pulmonary embolism (odds ratio = 0.48; 95% CI, 0.25-0.91) and deep vein thrombosis (odds ratio = 0.51; 95% CI, 0.36-0.72), but no increase in risk of late neurosurgical intervention or death.Conclusions: In this observational study of patients with sTBI, early initiation of VTE prophylaxis was associated with decreased risk of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis, but no increase in risk of late neurosurgical intervention or death. Early prophylaxis may be safe and should be the goal for each patient in the context of appropriate risk stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]