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Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) represents a rare but preventable postoperative complication. Unfractionated heparin (UH) and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) are used to prevent VTE, but comparative studies of their safety and efficacy in the neurosurgical context are limited. Objective To determine the relative safety and efficacy of UH and LMWH for prophylaxis after cranial surgery. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of 3204 elective intracranial surgical admissions in 2901 patients over the period 2013 to 2018. From chart review, we extracted demographic and clinical features, including diagnosis and procedure, drugs administered, and the occurrence of VTE events. To compare postoperative outcomes, we performed propensity score matching of patients receiving different drugs, and reviewed postoperative cranial imaging. To contextualize our results, we selected 14 prior neurosurgical studies of VTE prophylaxis to compare our outcomes to the existing literature. Results In our sample of 3204 admissions, the overall rate of VTE was 0.8% (n = 27). Rates of VTE were not statistically different in matched cohorts receiving UH and LMWH (1.7% vs 1.0%, respectively); however, LMWH was associated with a higher rate of clinically significant intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) (3.4% vs 0.5%, P = .008). Literature review and meta-analysis supported these findings. Across studies, UH and LMWH were associated with similar rates of VTE. Studies in which patients received LMWH reported significantly higher rates of ICH (4.9% higher, P = .005). Conclusion We find that LMWH and UH show similar efficacy in preventing VTE; however, LMWH is associated with higher rates of ICH.

The use of direct oral anticoagulants is increasing rapidly, because of perceived benefits over older agents, such as predictable pharmacokinetics and a reduced risk of bleeding. Elderly patients, who are more likely to be prescribed these drugs, are also presenting for neurosurgical procedures more often. The combination of these factors will result in neurosurgeons and neuroanesthesiologists encountering patients prescribed direct oral anticoagulants on an increasingly frequent basis. This review provides a summary of the current evidence pertaining to the perioperative management of these drugs, in the context of elective and emergency intracranial surgery. It highlights emerging therapies, including specific antidotes, as well as areas where the evidence base is likely to improve in the future.

Background and importance Retraction injury can result in significant complications during intracranial operations. Alternative surgical techniques to minimize retraction pressure and duration of retraction can minimize the risk of retraction injury. We describe the use of a cottonoid "slider," which is a simple, cost-effective modification of a commonly used cottonoid, in multiple applications. Clinical presentation The cottonoid sliders are constructed preoperatively by overlaying an adhesive plastic incision drape on one side of a dry cottonoid patty and trimming the edges to fit the form of the cottonoid. Intraoperatively, the sliders can slide across the parenchymal surface atraumatically and are used for gentle retraction to expose desired areas. In addition, suction may be placed on the slider to clear fluid from the operative view. The plastic side of the slider prevents adherence to the parenchymal surface. Retractorless surgical techniques have been developed to minimize risk of retractor associated injury in intracranial surgery by reducing retraction pressure and duration. Given that the cottonoid sliders glide along the parenchyma, do not stick, and are used for dynamic retraction, the main objectives to minimize retraction injury can be met while not compromising operative efficiency. Conclusion Cottonoid sliders are a simple and cost-effective method of providing gentle exposure during intracranial surgery. This technique represents a valuable and cost-effective addition to the neurosurgical armamentarium.

We engineered light-gated channelrhodopsins (ChRs) whose current strength and light sensitivity enable minimally-invasive neuronal circuit interrogation. Current ChR tools applied to the mammalian brain require intracranial surgery for transgene delivery and implantation of invasive fiber-optic cables to produce light-dependent activation of a small volume of tissue. To facilitate expansive optogenetics without the need for invasive implants, our engineering approach leverages the significant literature of ChR variants to train statistical models for the design of new, high-performance ChRs. With Gaussian Process models trained on a limited experimental set of 102 functionally characterized ChRs, we designed high-photocurrent ChRs with unprecedented light sensitivity; three of these, ChRger1–3, enable optogenetic activation of the nervous system via minimally-invasive systemic transgene delivery, not possible previously due to low per-cell transgene copy produced by systemic delivery. ChRger2 enables light-induced neuronal excitation without invasive intracranial surgery for virus delivery or fiber optic implantation, i.e. enables minimally-invasive optogenetics.

PubMedID: 30257818 Inappropriate antidiuretic hormone syndrome (SIADH) may develop after intracranial surgery. SIADH in the pediatric age group is usually encountered in patients with an intracranial mass both before and after surgery. Fluid restriction is the standard therapy in SIADH. However, a resistant, hyponatremic pattern may be encountered in some cases. Vaptans have been recently introduced for treatment of hyponatremia due to SIADH. There is inadequate data concerning tolvaptan treatment in pediatric patients. We present a 13 year-old female with SIADH of triphasic episode who was transferred to our clinic after surgery for craniopharyngioma. Resistant hyponatremia did not resolve despite fluid restriction and hypertonic saline support. The patient responded rapidly to a single dose of tolvaptan, with no adverse effect, which resulted in successful control of her SIADH. © 2019 by Turkish Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Society.

Meningiomas are benign lesion although anot insignificant number experiences recurrences despite Simpson grade 1 removal. FG001 is a compound with a fluorophore (ICG) that binds to a urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and is currently investigated at our institution in a first-in-human trial. The patient presented with a plausible malignant glioma but proved to be a grade 1 meningioma. FG001 could delineated the tumor not only on the surface but supplementary in the cavity to remove safely the dural attachment. We present FG001 as a new promising tool for improved surgical radicality beyond the intended indication, provided that a prospective validation in a consecutive meningioma cohort demonstrates similar results.

Surgical brain injury caused by brain retraction is a well-known consequence of intracranial surgery. Modern retractor designs, particularly since the 1980s, have significantly improved ease of use, improved visibility for surgeons, and minimized retraction-induced injuries, though not yet been entirely eliminated. Today, brain retractors come in a broad range of styles, each with its own pros and cons regarding operational utility and patient safety. Which type is chosen for use depends on the surgical approach, lesion size and depth, cost, and surgeon preference. Traditionally, self-retaining brain retractors with moveable arms and 1 or more attachable blades made from malleable stainless steel or silicone rubber have been the tool of choice; however, recently tubular retraction systems that only require fixation to the head frame and cause less focal pressure damage than older retractors have gained in popularity for some cases. This review aims to address the history of brain retraction and discuss each of the commonly used brain retractor types, as well as some newer and less common varieties especially in terms of the extent of tissue damage typically caused as well as the types of injuries reported by the users.

Background Intracranial pneumocephalus is a well-known clinical entity most frequently caused by trauma and intracranial surgery. A less frequent cause of intracranial pneumocephalus is spontaneous pneumocephalus. Spontaneous pneumocephalus can have an intraventricular extension, causing tension intraventricular pneumocephalus. Case Description We present an exceptionally rare case of spontaneous otogenic intraventricular pneumocephalus in a 58-year-old female that resulted in a decline in mentation and neurologic deficit. The patient was subsequently treated with ventriculostomy and middle fossa craniotomy, with repair of a bony defect and dural closure. Conclusions This case demonstrates an unusual presentation of spontaneous intraventricular tension pneumocephalus necessitating ventriculostomy in addition to the traditional repair of a cerebrospinal fluid fistula.

Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measured by transocular ultrasound is a marker of real-time intracranial pressure (ICP). The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between optic nerve sheath (ONS) dilation after a Valsalva maneuver and a prior history of mild to moderate traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in a heterogeneous sample of participants. Participants were excluded if they had had a recent brain injury, were symptomatic from a prior brain injury, had a history consistent with severe TBI and/or had undergone intracranial surgery. Ninety-five participants with and without a history of mTBI were included in the study. Transocular ultrasound of the ONS was performed before and after a Valsalva maneuver. Differences in the ONSD before and after a Valsalva maneuver were analyzed and correlated to the participants' history of mTBI. Baseline ONSD measurements between groups were not statistically significant. Following Valsalva, participants with a history of mTBI had a statistically significant increase in the ONSD compared with participants with no history of mTBI. This significant difference persisted after controlling for age, race, and sex. This study demonstrated an association between a prior history of mTBI and dilation of the ONS after Valsalva maneuver in a sample of asymptomatic participants, which was not seen in participants without a history of mTBI.

Background Brain metastases (BM) from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are the most frequent intracranial tumors. To identify patients who might benefit from intracranial surgery, we compared the six existing prognostic indexes(PIs) and built a nomogram to predict the survival for NSCLC with BM before they intended to receive total intracranial resection in China. Methods First, clinical data of NSCLC presenting with BM were retrospectively reviewed. All of the patients had received total intracranial resection and were randomly distributed to developing cohort and validation cohort by 2:1. Second, we stratified the cohort using a recursive partitioning analysis(RPA), a score index for radiosurgery (SIR), a basic score for BM (BS-BM), a Golden Grading System (GGS), a disease-specific graded prognostic assessment (DS-GPA) and by NSCLC-RADES. The predictive power of the six PIs was assessed using the Kaplan–Meier method and the log-rank test. Third, univariate and multivariate analysis were explored, and the nomogram predicting survival of BMs from NSCLC was constructed using R 3.2.3 software. The concordance index (C-index) was calculated to evaluate the discriminatory power of the nomogram in the developing cohort and validation cohort. Results BS-BM could better predict survival of patients before intracranial surgery compared with other PIs. In the final multivariate analysis, KPS at diagnosis of BM, metachronous or synchronous BM and the histology of lung cancer appeared to be the independent prognostic predictors for survival. The C-index in the developing cohort and validation cohort were 0.75 and 0.71 respectively, which was better than the C-index of the other six PIs. Conclusions The new nomogram is a promising tool in further choosing the candidates for intracranial surgery among NSCLC with BM and in helping physicians tailor suitable treatment options before operation in clinical practice.

Object In the past, the accuracy of surface matching has been shown to be disappointing. We aimed to determine whether this had improved over the years by assessing application accuracy of current navigation systems, using either surface matching or point-pair matching. Methods Eleven patients, scheduled for intracranial surgery, were included in this study after a power analysis had shown this small number to be sufficient. Prior to surgery, one additional fiducial marker was placed on the scalp, the “target marker,” where the entry point of surgery was to be expected. Using one of three different navigation systems, two patient-to-image registration procedures were performed: one based on surface matching and one based on point-pair matching. Each registration procedure was followed by the digitization of the target marker’s location, allowing calculation of the target registration error. If the system offered surface matching improvement, this was always used; and for the two systems that routinely offer an estimate of neuronavigation accuracy, this was also recorded. Results The error in localizing the target marker using point-pair matching or surface matching was respectively 2.49 mm and 5.35 mm, on average (p

Multiple pulmonary metastases from meningioma are rare. We report here a 59-year-old man with multiple pulmonary metastases from a recurrent intracranial meningioma. The primary intracranial tumour in the left occiput was totally excised in 2009. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of atypical meningioma and adjuvant radiotherapy was given to help prevent recurrence. However, recurrence occurred in the left occipital region in 2011 and the meningioma was re-excised in 2012. At the same time, multiple metastases in the right pulmonary lobe were found and excised 3 months after the second craniotomy. The patient has not developed any further recurrence or metastases to date. Neurosurgeons should be aware of the occurrence of pulmonary metastases in patients with intracranial meningioma; potential predictive factors include atypical meningioma, venous sinus invasion, recurrence or previous intracranial surgery, and loss of heterozygosity.

Objective A steady trend in medicine has been discharging patients earlier after surgical procedures, a trend that has been resisted by many in the field of intracranial tumor surgery. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of discharge on postoperative days 1 or 2 for patients undergoing elective intracranial surgery. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis on all patients undergoing elective intracranial keyhole surgery for tumors, cysts, and other masses between January 2010 and December 2011. During this time period, we used an early discharge plan centered on the clinical appearance of the patient, for which all patients were eligible preoperatively. Patients who met discharge criteria were encouraged to continue recovery at home. Results Of 313 patients, 213 (68.1%) were discharged on postoperative days 1 or 2. Within this group, 81.6% had supratentorial lesions, 16.9% had infratentorial lesions, and 1.4% had lesions extending above and below the tentorium. High grade gliomas accounted for 38.5% of lesions. No deaths or readmissions for postoperative swelling or hematomas occurred within 28 days of surgery. The overall rate of readmission for postoperative complications was 4.2%, compared with 4.0% for patients discharged on or after postoperative day 3. Readmission rate for repeat surgery addressing complications causing neurological symptoms was 1.9%. Conclusions Our data suggest that the most serious complications occur within hours of the procedure, not days. The complications requiring readmission that we observed would not have been avoided with longer inpatient courses. Thus, consideration should be given to sending well-looking patients home to recover on postoperative days 1 or 2.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) for patients undergoing intracranial meningioma resection. Eighty patients (aged 48–65 years) with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I–II undergoing intracranial meningioma resection were included in this prospective observational study. The patients were randomly divided into group A (ANH group), which underwent a combination of ANH and intraoperative cell salvage (ICS), and group B (control group), which underwent ICS alone. The study parameters were recorded as baseline values before blood drainage (T0), after blood drainage (T1), and before (T2) and after (T3) retransfusion in group A. Whereas in group B, the same parameters were measured 10 minutes after anesthesia induction (T0), before surgery (T1), and before (T2) and after (T3) transfusion of autologous blood. When intraoperative blood loss was .05). The mean hemoglobin and hematocrit levels at T1 and T2 in group A were lower than in group B (P

Although attempts to develop stereotactic approaches to intracranial surgery started in the late 19th century with Dittmar, Zernov, and more famously, Horsley and Clarke, widespread use of the technique for human brain surgery started in the second part of the 20th century. Remarkably, a significant similar surgical procedure had already been performed in the late 19th century by Gaston Contremoulins in France and has remained unknown. Contremoulins used the principles of modern stereotaxy in association with radiography for the first time, allowing the successful removal of intracranial bullets in 2 patients. This surgical premiere, greatly acknowledged in the popular French newspaper L’Illustration in 1897, received little scientific or governmental interest at the time, as it emanated from a young self-taught scientist without official medical education. This surgical innovation was only made possible financially by popular crowdfunding and, despite widespread military use during World War I, with 37,780 patients having benefited from this technique for intra- or extracranial foreign bodies, it never attracted academic or neurosurgical consideration. The authors of this paper describe the historical context of stereotactic developments and the personal history of Contremoulins, who worked in the department of experimental physiology of the French Academy of Sciences led by Étienne-Jules Marey in Paris, and later devoted himself to radiography and radioprotection. The authors also give precise information about his original stereotactic tool “the bullet finder” (“le chercheur de projectiles”) and its key concepts.

BackgroundIt remains unclear whether the use of central venous catheters (CVC) improves a patient's clinical outcome after elective intracranial supratentorial procedures.MethodsThis two-armed, single-center retrospective study sought to compare patients undergoing elective intracranial surgery with and without CVCs. Standard anaesthesia procedures were modified during the study period resulting in the termination of obligatory CVC instrumentation for supratentorial procedures. Peri-operative adverse events (AEs) were evaluated as primary endpoint.ResultsThe data of 621 patients in total was analysed in this study (301 with and 320 without CVC). Patient characteristics and surgical procedures were comparable between both study groups. A total of 132 peri-operative AEs (81 in the group with CVC vs. 51 in the group without CVC) regarding neurological, neurosurgical, cardiovascular events and death were observed. CVC patients suffer from AEs almost twice as often as non CVC patients (ORadjusted = 1.98; 95%CI[1.28-3.06]; p = 0.002). Complications related to catheter placement (pneumothorax and arterial malpuncture) were observed in 1.0% of the cases. The ICU treatment period in patients with CVC was 22 (19;24) vs. 21 (19;24) hours (p = 0.413). The duration of hospital stay was also similar between groups (9 (7;13) vs. 8 (7;11) days, p = 0.210). The total time of ventilation (350 (300;440) vs. 335 (281;405) min, p = 0.003) and induction time (40 (35;50) vs. 30 (25;35) min, pConclusionThe data of our retrospective study suggests that patients undergoing elective neurosurgical procedures with CVCs do not demonstrate any additional benefits in comparison to patients without a CVC.

Post-operative haematoma is a well-known complication following the intracranial surgery, the surgical site itself being the most frequent and usually results from inadequate haemostasis. Remote site intracranial haemorrhage, that is, haemorrhage occurring at a distant site from the site of craniotomy, is relatively rare and may occasionally cause significant morbidity or even mortality. Authors report a clinical series of five patients who developed remote site haemorrhage following intracranial surgery. Out of 2500 cranial surgeries performed at the authors' institute in the year 2010, only five patients developed this complication (0.002%). One of these patients developed infratentorial haematoma following supratentorial surgery and one patient developed supratentorial haematoma following infratentorial surgery. All the patients were diagnosed by CT scan in the post-operative period. Four patients were operated and made a good recovery while one patient with cerebellar haematoma rapidly deteriorated and developed brain death and hence was not operated. The pertinent literature is reviewed regarding pathophysiology and management of this rare condition.

BACKGROUND: Extubation failure is defined as the re-institution of respiratory support ranging from 24 to 72 hours following scheduled extubation and occurs in 2% to 25% of extubated patients. The aim of this study was to determine clinical and surgical risk factors that may predict extubation failure in patients submitted to non-emergency intracranial surgery. METHODS: This was a prospective observational cohort study. The study was carried out on 317 subjects submitted to nonemergency intracranial surgery for tumors, aneurysms, and arteriovenous malformation. Preoperative assessment was performed and subjects were followed up for the determination of extubation failure until either discharge from hospital or death. RESULTS: Twenty-six (8.2%) of the 317 subjects experienced extubation failure following surgery. The following variables were considered for the multivariate analysis: level of consciousness at the time of extubation, duration of mechanical ventilation prior to extubation, sex and the use of intraoperative mannitol. The multivariate analysis determined that the most important variable for extubation failure was the level of consciousness at the time of extubation (P .001), followed by female sex, which also showed to be significant (P .006). CONCLUSIONS: Lower level of consciousness (GCS 8T-10T) and female sex were considered risk factors for extubation failure in subjects submitted to elective intracranial

Summary Aim To report our institutional experience with intraoperative jugular venous oximetry during pediatric intracranial surgery to guide anesthetic care. Background The utility of intraoperative jugular venous oximetry in adults undergoing intracranial surgery is well known. However, there is a little information on its' application in children during intracranial surgery. Methods After IRB approval, we examined patient, equipment, placement, and sampling characteristics for jugular bulb catheters in children aged

A 1-day-old female newborn presenting with a severe left proptosis was found, on imaging, to have a cranial mass extending in both orbits and ethmoid sinuses. Tumor debulking and biopsy were performed through a lateral orbitotomy. Based on histologic findings, a diagnosis of infantile myofibroma was made. No involvement was found in other areas of the body. The patient died because of respiratory arrest after intracranial surgery that was performed 45 days after the orbital surgery. To the authors' knowledge, only one similar case of cranio-orbital myofibroma has been reported previously. This tumor should be considered in the differential diagnosis of congenital proptosis and cranio-orbital tumor. In such cases, tumor debulking can be performed through orbitotomy.

The number of elderly patients proposed for brain tumor removal is increasing. Only few data on long-term functional prognosis after intracranial surgery are available.Prospective, observational study of all patients greater than 70 year of age operated for intracranial tumors. Two scales for health status evaluation were used: Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) score. Data were expressed as medians (first to third quartiles). The primary endpoint was the probability to remain nondependant (ADL3 and KPS≥70%) after 1 year.Between 2003 and 2007, 90 patients were included: 46 (51.1%) meningioma, 17 (18.9%) high-grade glioma, and 11 (12.2%) metastasis. At hospital admission, age was 73.50 years (71.25-76.00), American Society of Anesthesiology score 2 (2 to 3), KPS 80% (70-90), ADL 5.5 (4.5 to 6.0). Two patients died during the first 28 days, 3 others during the first year. Both KPS and ADL decreased after 1 year: KPS 80% (70 to 90; mean: 80%) at hospital admission versus 80% (60 to 90) at 1 year (mean: 70%), P=0.003; ADL 5.5 (4.5 to 6.0) at hospital admission versus 5.0 (3.25 to 5.50) at 1 year, P=0.001. In multivariate analysis, 2 preoperative parameters were associated with autonomy at 1 year: the ADL at hospital admission and meningioma as histologic type.In this series of elderly patients, intracranial tumor surgery was associated with low 1-year mortality. Meningioma was associated with a better postoperative functional outcome. Preoperative ADL score was a predictive of functional evolution 1 year after the surgery.

The use of surgical navigation systems (SNSs) is well established in intracranial surgery for gliomas and metastases yet some doubt its benefit in surgery for intracranial meningiomas. In this chapter we review the authors' experiences and literature on how use of surgical navigation may be useful in craniotomy for intracranial mengingiomas. With the exception of small convexity meningiomas, finding the tumor is not a common problem. The most important issues where the capabilities of SNS can be used to the surgeon's advantage are optimizing the bone and dural opening, avoiding arterial and venous structures, defining the frontal air sinuses and determining one's location within a large tumor devoid of landmarks. Contemporary SNS can provide instantaneous localization and orientation information, as well as utilize multimodality imaging that is required to address these problems and is an effective means of optimizing surgery for many intracranial meningiomas.

Desflurane in neurosurgery may be beneficial because it facilitates postoperative early neurologic evaluation. However, its use has been debated because of its capacity to promote cerebral vasodilatation. Sevoflurane has been extensively used in neurosurgical patients. In this prospective clinical trial, we compared early postoperative recovery and cognitive function in patients undergoing craniotomy for supratentorial expanding lesions and receiving sevoflurane or desflurane anesthesia.One hundred twenty patients, ASA physical status I-III (66 men), Glascow Coma Scale 15, undergoing craniotomy for supratentorial expanding lesions were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomly allocated to two anesthetic regimens. In Group S (60 patients, 52 +/- 16 yr), anesthesia was maintained using sevoflurane with end-tidal of 1.5%-2% and was age adjusted to obtain approximately 1.2 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration. In Group D (60 patients, 60 +/- 14 yr), anesthesia was maintained using desflurane with end-tidal of 6%-7% and was age adjusted to obtain approximately 1.2 minimum alveolar concentration. Emergence time was measured as the time from drug discontinuation to the time at which patients opened their eyes; tracheal extubation time was measured as the time from anesthetic discontinuation and tracheal extubation. Recovery time was measured as the time elapsing from discontinuation of anesthetic and the time when patients were able to recall their name and date of birth. Cognitive behavior was evaluated with the Short Orientation Memory Concentration Test. In the postanesthesia care unit, a blinded observer monitored the patients for 3 h; the incidence of hemodynamic events, pain, nausea, and shivering requiring rescue medication was recorded.The mean emergence time (12.2 +/- 4.9 min in Group S vs 10.8 +/- 7.2 min in Group D; P = ns) was similar in the two groups, whereas the mean extubation time and recovery time were longer in Group S (15.2 +/- 3.0 min in Group S vs 11.3 +/- 3.9 min in Group D and 18.2 +/- 2.3 min in Group S vs 12.4 +/- 7.7 min in Group D, respectively; P0.001). The Short Orientation Memory Concentration Test score differed between the two groups only at the earliest assessment (15 min after extubation). No difference between the two groups was found in pain, shivering, nausea, vomiting, and incidence of postoperative hemodynamic events.Patients who received desflurane had a shorter extubation and recovery time but similar intraoperative and postoperative incidence of complications compared with those who received sevoflurane.

Transsphenoidal approaches to pituitary tumors have undergone a rigorous test of time since the introduction of the first technique by Schloffer in 1907. Harvey W. Cushing played an instrumental role in launching the era of pituitary surgery by popularizing the transsphenoidal route between 1909 and 1929. Cushing performed his first transsphenoidal operation in 1909 in a patient with acromegaly by using a modified form of the Schloffer method to reach the pituitary gland. He did not find this approach satisfactory and instead favored a modified form of the sublabial-transsphenoidal route described by A. E. Halstead and Theodor Kocher. At that time, the development of intracranial surgical corridors to the sellar region was in its infancy. Later in his career, in 1927, Cushing's mastery of intracranial surgery ultimately led him to favor the subfrontal or "transfrontal" route to treat pituitary tumors. In this article, the authors review the clinical details of Cushing's first case of transsphenoidal pituitary surgery.

Endovascular Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms and Vasospasm After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Ricardo A. Hanel, MD*, Demetrius K. Lopes, MD, J. Christopher Wehman, MD, Eric Sauvageau, MD, Elad I. Levy, MD, Lee R. Guterman, PhD, MD, L. Nelson Hopkins, MD, FACS Department of Neurosurgery and Toshiba Stroke Research Center, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, 3 Gates Circle, Buffalo, NY 14209, USA Departments of Neurosurgery and Radiology, Rush-Presbyterian–St. Luke’s Hospital, 1725 West Harrison Street, Suite 970, Chicago, IL 60612, USA

Syringohydromyelia associated with supratentorial space-occupying lesion has rarely been reported. We present a 28-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with head and neck pain. Upon examination, there was only left central facial paralisia, with no evidence of papilledema.Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a left parietal and temporal chronic subdural hematoma (CSH) with a 1-cm shift to the right from midline. Also, cervical MRI revealed a syringohydromyelic cavity at the level of C6/7. The patient was operated on for supratentorial CSH. A follow-up cervical MRI revealed no syringohydromyelic cavity after 2 months. No neurological deficit was reported, and overall outcome was excellent.Syringohydromyelia was secondary to a space-occupying lesion in our case of supratentorial chronic subdural hematoma.

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of Neurolocate frameless registration system and frame-based registration for robotic stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG).METHODSThe authors performed a 40-trajectory phantom laboratory study and a 127-trajectory retrospective analysis of a surgical series. The laboratory study was aimed at testing the noninferiority of the Neurolocate system. The analysis of the surgical series compared Neurolocate-based SEEG implantations with a frame-based historical control group.RESULTSThe mean localization errors (LE) ± standard deviations (SD) for Neurolocate-based and frame-based trajectories were 0.67 ± 0.29 mm and 0.76 ± 0.34 mm, respectively, in the phantom study (p = 0.35). The median entry point LE was 0.59 mm (interquartile range [IQR] 0.25–0.88 mm) for Neurolocate-registration–based trajectories and 0.78 mm (IQR 0.49–1.08 mm) for frame-registration–based trajectories (p = 0.00002) in the clinical study. The median target point LE was 1.49 mm (IQR 1.06–2.4 mm) for Neurolocate-registration–based trajectories and 1.77 mm (IQR 1.25–2.5 mm) for frame-registration–based trajectories in the clinical study. All the surgical procedures were successful and uneventful.CONCLUSIONSThe results of the phantom study demonstrate the noninferiority of Neurolocate frameless registration. The results of the retrospective surgical series analysis suggest that Neurolocate-based procedures can be more accurate than the frame-based ones. The safety profile of Neurolocate-based registration should be similar to that of frame-based registration. The Neurolocate system is comfortable, noninvasive, easy to use, and potentially faster than other registration devices.

Purpose of review Age-related differences in the surgical lesions, anatomy and physiological responses to surgery and anesthesia underlie the clinically relevant differences between pediatric patients and their adult counterparts. Anesthesiologists need to be aware of the unique challenges in the anesthetic management of the pediatric neurosurgical patient. Recent findings Neurosurgeons with subspecialty training in pediatrics have driven advances in intracranial surgery in infants and children. Subspecialization in pediatric neurosurgery and critical care has resulted in more favorable outcomes. Innovations in tumor, epilepsy and endoscopic and cerebrovascular neurosurgery are constantly being adapted to the pediatric patient. The highly specialized nature of these and other pediatric neurosurgical procedures prompt calls for similarly trained anesthesiologists for management of these infants and children. Summary The aim of this review is to highlight the impact of these techniques on the intraoperative management of the pediatric neurosurgical patient. These issues are essential in minimizing perioperative morbidity and mortality.

For intraoperative monitoring of auditory nerve function, the auditory steady-state response (ASSR) analysis may be an alternative to brain stem auditory evoked potentials, offering frequency specificity and short detection times. Clinical studies investigating the viability of ASSR under total intravenous anesthesia have not been performed.During craniotomy under total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil in 20 patients, ASSR were recorded. An additional control patient undergoing cerebellopontine angle surgery was included, in whom the auditory nerve could not be preserved. One-minute sinus tones (500, 1,000, 2,000 Hz) were applied with 60-, 70-, and 80-decibel hearing level. Stimuli were amplitude modulated with 40, 90, or 110 Hz and applied monaurally to the left and right ears. Time to detect a significant response and response amplitudes at 40, 90, or 110 Hz in the evoked EEG spectra was evaluated.Overall, 90-Hz ASSR were successfully detected in all 20 patients, 110 Hz in 18 patients, and 40 Hz in 14 patients after a median of 10 seconds. No ASSR could be detected in the control patient at the end of the surgical procedure. Time-to-significance and ASSR amplitudes were influenced by stimulus intensity, carrier, and modulation frequency (Scheirer-Ray-Hare test, P0.005). Ipsilateral responses were higher than contralateral (P0.0001).In conclusion, 90- and 110-Hz ASSR can be reliably detected under total intravenous anesthesia. Our results are in line with those from previous studies in awake patients. Auditory steady-state response during anesthesia may enable intraoperative frequency-specific audiometry and monitoring of the auditory nerve.

Postoperative intracranial haematoma is a serious complication of intracranial surgery with a mortality rate of around 30%. There have been reports implicating abrupt rises of blood pressure during the last stages or immediately after the procedure, in the production of the clot. This prospective study examined this hypothesis. Over the last 7 years, 526 consecutive patients underwent craniotomy under a strict anaesthesiological protocol based on deep opioid analgesia which virtually eliminated any acute elevations of the arterial pressure during and immediately after craniotomy. Emergence from anaesthesia was delayed for an average of 1 1/2-2 h following the procedure. Postoperative CT was obtained in every patient. There have been no cases of postoperative clot formation in this series of patients. The results of the study suggest that postoperative haematoma is probably an avoidable complication of intracranial surgery.

✓ Nontraumatic adrenal hemorrhage in adults is uncommon and unexpected in the context of intracranial surgery. The authors report on a patient in whom hemodynamically relevant retroperitoneal bleeding developed within hours after an otherwise uneventful operation for a falcine meningioma. In this brief report they seek to draw attention to this rare but life-threatening complication, because rapid diagnosis can be life-saving.

Increasing numbers of patients presenting for surgery are receiving concurrent medication with low-dose aspirin. We surveyed the opinions and working practices of consultant members of the Neuroanaesthesia Society regarding patients who present for elective intracranial surgery whilst taking this form of medication. Identical questionnaires were sent to 140 members of the society and proffered four main questions: (1) the adherence to any policy of stopping aspirin pre-operatively, (2) the preferred method of treatment for excessive bleeding in this context, (3) personal knowledge of haemorrhagic complications in this group of patients, (4) the neurosurgical unit concerned. There were 121 responses (86.4%) of which 116 (82.9%) were valid. Of the respondents, 78 (67.2%) were unaware of a written departmental policy for the discontinuation of pre-operative aspirin treatment and had no personal policy. Thirty-two respondents (27.6%) had a personal policy but were unaware of a written departmental policy; only six respondents (5.2%) stated that a written departmental policy was in place. The mean time suggested for discontinuation of aspirin pre-operatively was 11.3 days (range: 1–42 days). Fifty-one respondents (44.0%) considered that patients taking low-dose aspirin were at increased risk of excessive peri-operative haemorrhage and 15 (12.9%) anaesthetists reported having personal experience of such problems. Fifty-seven respondents (49.1%) would use a platelet infusion, alone or in association with other blood products or prohaemostatic agents, if haemorrhagic complications developed. The majority of neuroanaesthetists felt that aspirin was a risk factor for haemorrhagic complications associated with intracranial procedures, but most adopt no policy regarding its pre-operative discontinuation.

Plasma ropivacaine levels produced by routine scalp infiltration for field block were assayed in eight patients undergoing awake intracranial surgery. Levels peaked within approximately 13 minutes, indicating rapid systemic absorption of ropivacaine. Potentially toxic plasma drug levels were achieved in three of eight patients, although no untoward effects attributable to elevated levels of ropivacaine were observed. Clinical vigilance is indicated during scalp infiltration with ropivacaine.

Neuropsychological follow-up appointments are important for patients who have had intracranial surgery because cognitive deficits are common in this population and prognosis is not always optimistic. Unfortunately some patients cancel or do not show up. The current study attempted to identify predictors of non-attendance in this population. A total of 428 patients recruited over 2 years with a scheduled neuropsychological follow-up appointment after intracranial surgery in the St. Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands were included. Demographic, clinical, and other miscellaneous variables were extracted from medical records. Of this total population, 42% were non-attenders. The predictors of non-attendance were as follows: patients who had subdural hematomas and/or malignant tumors (compared to those who had other diagnoses prior to intracranial surgery); those who had been transferred to another hospital (compared to those sent home); those who had been referred for further medical treatment before the appointment; a shorter time interval between discharge and follow-up appointment; and finally, if the patient’s home was further away from the hospital. Patients who undergo intracranial surgery are a very heterogeneous group with different needs. Neuropsychological follow-up after surgery may be important for some patients (the better-functioning and/or those with cognitive complaints) but perhaps not for others (those with more severe prognoses and/or no complaints). We provide suggestions which should increase attendance in those who could benefit from follow-up neuropsychological assessment.

Twenty percent mannitol is widely used to reduce brain bulk and facilitate the surgical approach in intracranial surgery. However, a dose-response relationship has not yet been established. In this study, we compared the effects of 0.7 and 1.4 g·kg(-1) mannitol on brain relaxation during elective supratentorial brain tumor surgery.In this prospective, randomized, double-blind study, we enrolled 80 patients undergoing supratentorial craniotomy for tumor resection. Patients were assigned to receive 0.7 g·kg(-1) (group L) or 1.4 g·kg(-1) (group H) of 20% mannitol at surgical incision. Brain relaxation was assessed immediately after opening of the dura on a scale ranging from 1 to 4 (1 = perfectly relaxed, 2 = satisfactorily relaxed, 3 = firm brain, 4 = bulging brain).There was no significant difference between the 2 groups regarding age, sex, body mass index, and brain tumor localization or size. In group L 52.5% of patients and in group H 77.5% of patients presented a midline shift (P = 0.03). The median scores of brain relaxation (interquantile range) were 2.0 (1.75-3) and 2.0 (1-3) (P = 0.16 for patients in group L and H, respectively). We then used a proportional odds model to adjust for this unbalanced distribution and to assess the group effect (low-dose versus high-dose mannitol) on brain relaxation scores. When adjusted for the presence of midline shift, the use of a higher dose of mannitol resulted in an odds ratio of 2.5 (P = 0.03). This indicates that, considering the effect of a midline shift, the odds of having a 1-level improvement in relaxation score in patients who received a higher dose of mannitol (group H) was 2.5 times as large as the odds for the low-dose group. The odds ratio of 0.29 (P = 0.007) for the midline shift indicates that its occurrence was associated with a higher probability of a lower relaxation score, on average.In this study, we show that 1.4 g·kg(-1) of 20% mannitol results in equivalent brain relaxation scores as 0.7 g·kg(-1) in patients undergoing craniotomy for supratentorial brain tumor. When corrected for the presence of midline shift, this study reveals that patients in the high-dose group had significantly more chances of obtaining a better relaxation score compared with the lower-dose group.

The evolution of techniques to manage patients with head injuries has served as the basis for the treatment of other neurosurgical disorders, including brain tumors, intracranial infections, and cerebrovascular disease. In the nineteenth century, advances in anesthesia, asepsis, and cerebral localization slowly took hold and created the groundwork for modern neurosurgery. To better understand the advances in the treatment of brain injuries in the late 1800s and early 1900s, we examine relevant historical literature and, through the courtesy of the Alan Mason Chesney Medical Archives, we review Dr. Harvey Cushing's patient records (1898-1909) in the Johns Hopkins Hospital surgical archives. The original case histories of 10 patients (6 in detail) who suffered head injuries and underwent treatment by Cushing illustrate some of Cushing's early attempts at intracranial surgery. We also examine the influences on Cushing as he developed into a leader in the new era of modern neurosurgery.

This study brings to light the potential use of intracranial endoscopic techniques that can be combined with osteotomies and bone distraction to improve precision and reduce complications in craniofacial surgery. It also anticipates the widespread use of endoscopic techniques to reduce the morbidity and mortality of plastic surgical and neurosurgical intracranial surgery.

Two cases are described of patients, undergoing surgery for intracranial pathology, who developed polyuria intraoperatively. The urine output decreased to within normal range shortly after the administration of ketorolac, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug. The possible mechanisms producing the increased urinary output and the influence of prostaglandins on renal function are discussed.

A comprehensive anesthetic plan for managing patients undergoing "awake: intracranial surgery (AICS) must include a means of rescuing the patient if the airway becomes obstructed. Since access to the patient's airway is limited, mask ventilation can be challenging and laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation, impossible. The need exists for an alternative airway device that is easy to insert, would allow controlled ventilation, and would facilitate a smooth emergence with minimal coughing. The cuffed oropharyngeal airway (COPA) was introduced as a supraglottic airway device in spontaneously breathing patients. The authors report their preliminary experience of its use in AICS. The COPA was inserted in 20 patients on 31 occasions. Insertion of the COPA was accomplished easily at the first attempt in all cases irrespective of patient position. Airway maneuvers were required when patients were supine but not lateral. The COPA is a useful device to instrument the airway in patients undergoing AICS using the asleep-awake-asleep technique in the lateral position.

Air travel following intracranial surgery is considered to be associated with a risk of tension pneumocephalus. However, the likelihood of it is currently undetermined in the literature. We decided to establish if there was any consensus amongst UK neurosurgeons with regard to advice given to patients.A questionnaire was approved by the Scientific Meeting Committee of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons (SBNS) and then distributed to all current practicing Consultant Neurosurgeons in the UK via e-mail.61/66 responders advised patients not to fly for a period of time postoperatively. 35/61 of these neurosurgeons advised a fixed post-operative timescale against flying irrespective of the nature of surgery. The remaining 26/61 advised patients with complex surgical procedures against flying for a longer period. However, the timescales advised by different surgeons in both categories varied between2 weeks and8 weeks. Pneumocephalus was the main concern for air travel (42/61) and 17/61 precluded flying due to concerns regarding complications away from home. 3/61 were concerned with deep vein thrombosis. CT scans were obtained prior to discharge by 11/61 of these neurosurgeons. 5/66 neurosurgeons did not advise patients against flying and their advice was independent of the type of surgery. Only one of these 5 neurosurgeons obtained a pre-discharge CT scan.Clinical practice varies widely due to a lack of clear evidence, standards or guidelines. Should the SBNS be producing national guidelines to standardise the advice given to patients?