Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B: Skull Base最新文献

Introduction Skull base neuroanatomy is traditionally learned through two-dimensional anatomical atlases, which while are of unquestionable value, lack the nuanced association of three-dimensional relationships between fundamental anatomical structures relevant to surgical approaches. Surgically focused step-by-step anatomical dissections can augment trainee learning of complex skull base techniques, particularly multistep and nuanced techniques such as translabyrinthine and transcochlear approaches.

Methods Translabyrinthine and transcochlear approaches were performed on six sides of three formalin-fixed latex-injected specimens. The study objective was the completion and photo documentation of the steps involved in the approach in order to provide a comprehensive, intelligible, and anatomically oriented resource for multilevel trainees. Illustrative case examples were prepared to supplement approach dissections.

Results The translabyrinthine and transcochlear approaches offer unique lateral windows through the temporal bone into the posterior fossa, providing excellent access to pathology at the petrous apex, internal auditory canal, Meckel's cave, and anterolateral brainstem. The transcochlear approach, which is an anterior extension of the translabyrinthine, particularly provides excellent exposure of the prepontine region and clivus. Important surgical considerations include patient position, temporal bone drilling and identification of critical landmarks, dural opening and identification of neurovascular structures, and reconstruction/closure techniques.

Conclusion The translabyrinthine and transcochlear approaches are fundamental techniques for lateral skull base and posterior fossa pathologies. Both approaches are hearing-sacrificing but often require minimal to no cerebellar retraction and deliver unique visualization of prepontine neurovascular structures. This step-by-step approach guide provides a unique practical and high-yield surgically oriented learning resource for neurosurgery and otolaryngology trainees.

Objectives To conduct a systematic review of facial nerve hemangiomas (FNH), focusing on patient characteristics, management options, and treatment outcomes.

Design A systematic review was performed following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, utilizing PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases from inception to December 31, 2022.

Setting Literature sourced from various databases providing information on FNH cases.

Participants A total of 176 patients with FNH were included in the study, identified from 40 articles meeting inclusion criteria.

Main Outcome Measures Patient demographics, lesion characteristics, preoperative symptoms, surgical approaches, and postoperative outcomes, including House-Brackmann (HB) grades.

Results Among the 1,682 initially identified articles, 40 were included in the final review. From these, a total of 176 patients (mean age = 42.7 ± 12.8, 51.1% male) were included for analysis. Bivariate analysis showed that patients with longer preoperative symptom duration and facial nerve sacrifice had significantly greater postoperative HB Grades (p < 0.001). Additionally, a strong positive correlation was observed between pre- and postoperative HB Grades (Spearman's rho = 0.649). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that both facial nerve sacrifice (β = 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.38–1.34; p < 0.001) and greater preoperative HB Grades (β = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.20–0.53; p < 0.001) were associated with significantly greater postoperative HB Grades, but preoperative symptom duration did not persist as a significant predictor of postoperative HB Grades.

Conclusions FNHs are rare lesions of the skull base affecting the temporal bone. Our findings highlight the role of preoperative facial nerve function and intraoperative preservation of the facial nerve in predicting postoperative outcomes. Timely resection of lesions that prioritizes facial nerve preservation is critical to achieving optimal patient outcomes.

Background Natural language processing (NLP), a subset of artificial intelligence (AI), aims to decipher unstructured human language. This study showcases NLP's application in surgical health care, focusing on vestibular schwannoma (VS). By employing an NLP platform, we identify prevalent text concepts in VS patients' electronic health care records (EHRs), creating concept panels covering symptomatology, comorbidities, and management. Through a case study, we illustrate NLP's potential in predicting postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks.

Methods An NLP model analyzed EHRs of surgically managed VS patients from 2008 to 2018 in a single center. The model underwent unsupervised (trained on one million documents from EHR) and supervised (300 documents annotated in duplicate) learning phases, extracting text concepts and generating concept panels related to symptoms, comorbidities, and management. Statistical analysis correlated concept occurrences with postoperative complications, notably CSF leaks.

Results Analysis included 292 patients' records, yielding 6,901 unique concepts and 360,929 occurrences. Concept panels highlighted key associations with postoperative CSF leaks, including “antibiotics,” “sepsis,” and “intensive care unit admission.” The NLP model demonstrated high accuracy (precision 0.92, recall 0.96, macro F1 0.93).

Conclusion Our NLP model effectively extracted concepts from VS patients' EHRs, facilitating personalized concept panels with diverse applications. NLP shows promise in surgical settings, aiding in early diagnosis, complication prediction, and patient care. Further validation of NLP's predictive capabilities is warranted.

Objectives The study aimed to examine the influence of different anesthesia depths monitored by Narcotrend on postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in elderly patients undergoing radical resection of gastrointestinal malignancies.

Methods Individuals in the control group (n = 40) maintained the Narcotrend index (NTI) at 50 to 59 monitored by Narcotrend, whereas the experimental group at 30 to 39. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scale and serum S100β concentration were used to evaluate the cognitive function. Cerebral oxygen metabolism and inflammation were evaluated, presenting as regional oxygen saturations of brain (rSO₂) and cerebral oxygen uptake rate (CERO2), serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6).

Results Experimental group presented prominently high levels of rSO2 and low levels of CERO2 relative to controls, meanwhile with reduced serum TNF-α and IL-6. Individuals receiving deep anesthesia owned low levels of S100β and enhanced MMSE score, which showed negative correlation. Low incidence rate of POCD was detected in the experimental group. Both age (hazard ratio = 5.219, 95% confidence interval = 1.813–15.025) and NTI score (hazard ratio = 3.707, 95% confidence interval = 1.292–10.633) were independent influence factors for the onset of POCD.

Conclusion NTI maintained at 30 to 39 can reduce the incidence of POCD in the early postoperative period for elderly patients receiving gastrointestinal tumors surgery, the contribution might be attributed to the improvement of perioperative cerebral oxygen metabolism and inflammatory stress response.

Background Due to the escalating health care costs in the United States, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented a cost transparency initiative on January 1, 2021. Hospitals lack functional cost estimators or fail to provide pricing information for common skull base procedures.

Methods A list of the top 70 neurosurgery and otolaryngology hospital systems according to the US News and World Report rankings was made. Google searches for each hospital's cost estimator tool were conducted, recording its presence and accessibility time. Using the cost estimator tool, specific skull base procedure prices, Current Procedural Terminology codes, and contact information for personalized estimates were searched.

Results Fifty-seven hospitals (81%) were privately funded. The majority were urban teaching hospitals (n = 68; 97%). Geographical locations included 19 (27%) in the Northeast, 21 (30%) in the Midwest, 20 (29%) in the South, and 10 (14%) in the West. Of the 70 hospitals, 4 (5.7%) did not have a cost estimation website. Of the 66 hospitals that did, the average time to locate the cost of the skull-based procedures was 17.8 seconds (range 12–28 seconds). Only two (2.9%) hospitals had information for skull base procedures; both were radiosurgery procedures. The most common stereotactic radiosurgery offered was gamma knife radiosurgery (n = 50; 71%). A total of 19 hospitals (27%) did not include contact information for personalized cost estimation.

Conclusion The CMS price transparency guidelines are not designed to encompass skull base procedures. Due to this ambiguity, patients are unable to make informed financial decisions when selecting treatment options.

Objectives Our objective was to compare transorbital neuroendoscopic surgery (TONES) with open craniotomy and analyze the effect of visualization technology on surgical freedom.

Design Anatomic dissections included supraorbital craniotomy (SOC), transorbital microscopic surgery (TMS), and TONES.

Setting The study was performed in a neurosurgical anatomy laboratory.

Participants Neurosurgeons dissecting cadaveric specimens were included in the study.

Main Outcome Measures Morphometric analysis of cranial nerve (CN) accessible lengths, frontal lobe base area of exposure, and craniocaudal and mediolateral angle of attack and volume of surgical freedom (VSF) of the paraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA), terminal ICA, and anterior communicating artery (ACoA).

Results The mean (standard deviation [SD]) frontal lobe base parenchymal exposures for SOC, TMS, and TONES were 955.4 (261.7) mm², 846.2 (249.9) mm², and 944.7 (158.8) mm², respectively. Access to distal vasculature was hindered when using TMS and TONES. Multivariate analysis estimated that accessing the paraclinoid ICA with SOC would provide an 11.2- mm³ increase in normalized volume (NV) compared with transorbital corridors (p < 0.001). There was no difference between the three approaches for ipsilateral terminal ICA VSF (p = 0.71). Compared with TONES, TMS provided more access to the terminal ICA. For the ACoA, SOC produced the greatest access corridor maneuverability (mean [SD] NV: 15.6 [5.6] mm³ for SOC, 13.7 [4.4] mm³ for TMS, and 7.2 [3.5] mm³ for TONES; p = 0.01).

Conclusion SOC provides superior surgical freedom for targets that require more lateral maneuverability, but the transorbital corridor is an option for accessing the frontal lobe base and terminal ICA. Instrument freedom differs quantifiably between the microscope and endoscope. A combined visualization strategy is optimal for the transorbital corridor.

Introduction: The supraorbital keyhole approach (SOKHA) has been a less invasive alternative for anterior and middle skull base lesions. We aimed to review our data and understand the advantages and limitations of the approach.

Methods: We analyzed our data and reviewed 89 consecutive cases who underwent the SOKHA. We included the clinico-radiological parameters, pathology, use of endoscope, complications, etc. for analysis.

Results: A total of 47 patients were of aneurysm with a total of 48 aneurysms (39 were ruptured and 9 were unruptured) and Acomm artery aneurysm was the most common site. Meningiomas were the second most common pathology encountered (n = 29). Tuberculum sella meningioma being the most common type of meningiomas operated through this approach. Gross total resection was done in all except two cases in which a small part of the tumor was left behind as the tumor was adhered to blood vessels. Among the remaining cases, craniopharyngiomas (n = 7), optic pathway gliomas (n = 2), hypothalamic hamartomas (n = 2), dermoid (n = 1), and arteriovenous malformation (n = 1) were the other pathologies operated upon. Eight patients had opening of the frontal sinus. Four patients had wound bulge and one patient had cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea. All these cases were managed conservatively.

Conclusion: SOKHA is an excellent approach for anterior cranial fossa lesions especially with properly chosen cases. Incidence of CSF leak in our study is 1.1% and majority can be managed by placement of lumbar drain. Intraoperative obliteration of the frontal sinus can reduce the risk of postoperative CSF leak. A large frontal sinus needs not be a contraindication for SOKHA.

Introduction Skull base meningiomas (SBMs) are often subtotally resected and there is a paucity of evidence regarding the long-term rates of postoperative tumor progression. We aimed to investigate the factors that influence tumor recurrence in patients with an extended period of follow-up.

Methods Surgically resected tumors with long-term radiological follow-up were included for analysis. Data were collected on patient demographics, anatomical location, Simpson grade, World Health Organization (WHO) grade, modality of reintervention, and functional status. Recurrence was defined as tumor progression requiring intervention. Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test were used to calculate recurrence-free probability. Cox regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with tumor progression.

Results Sixty-one patients were identified. Median radiological follow-up was 11.25 (IQR 4.3) years. Median age at first surgery was 50 (IQR 17) years. A total of 55/61(90%) tumors were WHO grade I and 6/61(10%) were grade II. Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 37/61 (60.7%) patients with subtotal resection (STR) in 24/61 (39.3%). In total, 28/61(45.9%) demonstrated recurrence/regrowth with a median time to recurrence of 2.8 (IQR 5) years. Also, 15/37 (40.5%) and 13/24 (54.2%) patients with GTR and STR, respectively, had tumor recurrence. Of the 28 recurrences, 4/28 (14.3%) underwent reresection, 9/28 (32.1%) were managed with radiotherapy, and 15/28 (53.6%) received both reresection and radiotherapy. Tumor grade was the only significant predictor of tumor recurrence (p = 0.033). Neurological function at last follow-up was significantly worse (modified Rankin scale >2) in patients with recurrence (p = 0.035).

Conclusion Surgically resected SBMs are associated with a significant recurrence rate during prolonged follow-up, irrespective of the extent of resection achieved. We recommend a prolonged period of radiological surveillance for SBM following surgical resection.

Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes after salvage microsurgery for vestibular schwannoma (VS) treated initially with modern radiotherapy techniques as compared to those treated with primary microsurgical resection.

Methods Patients who underwent microsurgical resection of sporadic VS undergoing a translabyrinthine approach at a single academic skull base tertiary referral center were included. Baseline and postoperative dynamic gait index, functional gait assessment, House–Brackmann facial nerve grading, and completeness of resection were prospectively recorded.

Results Of the 265 patients reviewed, 21 (7.9%) patients underwent prior radiation. Median age of the cohort was 55 years (interquartile range: 51–63). The likelihood of achieving a gross total resection was significantly lower for radiated as compared to nonradiated patients (odds ratio: 0.18, 95% confidence interval: 0.05–0.53, p = 0.004) when controlling for tumor size. Radiated patients had better postoperative facial nerve function on the first postoperative day, but this difference was not significant at long-term follow-up. Radiated patients had lower preoperative postural stability scores than nonradiated patients on FGA (26 vs. 23, p = 0.035). Postoperatively, radiated patients had comparable outcomes compared to nonradiated patients when controlling for age and tumor size.

Conclusions Compared to patients with VS treated with surgery alone, previously radiated patients are less likely to achieve gross total resection in the salvage setting. Radiated patients scored better on facial nerve outcomes compared to nonradiated patients in the initial postoperative period but demonstrated similar long-term outcomes.

Background and Objectives Endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) has become increasingly popular, yet anatomical constraints posed by the nose and limitations of nonarticulated instruments render EES technically challenging, with a steep associated learning curve. Therefore, we developed a handheld robot to enhance dexterity in endoscopic neurosurgical procedures. A previous trial of the robot demonstrated its potential advantages in endoscopic neurosurgery but also the need for improvements. In this study, we assess the feasibility, acceptability, and comparative performance of the updated robotic prototype (version 0.2) against standard instruments in a preclinical phantom and cadaveric trial.

Methods Ethical approval was received. Participants were stratified according to their neurosurgical experience. In the phantom study, a randomized crossover design compared the robot against standard instruments at a phantom tumor resection task. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann–Whitney U tests and paired t-tests. In the cadaver-based user study, participants evaluated the device's functional domains through a qualitative interview design.

Results In the phantom study, the device demonstrated a learning curve: initial resection attempts favored the traditional instrument (84% vs. 59%, p = 0.055), but parity was achieved by the fifth attempt (80% vs. 83%, p = 0.76). Acceptability was evident, as most clinicians (7/8) preferred the robot for its superior range, ergonomics, and precision. Also, the robot exhibited a diminished cognitive workload. The cadaveric study underscored the robot's clinical feasibility, through sufficient workspace reach and force delivery.

Conclusion: Overall, our robot demonstrates promising acceptability and feasibility for endoscopic neurosurgery, yet further iterative developments are required before proceeding to in-human clinical trials.