Acta Neurochirurgica最新文献

Background

The emergence of virtual reality and augmented reality makes preoperative simulation and intraoperative real-time guidance possible, especially for lesions in functional areas.

Method

Preoperatively, the virtual reality technique allowed the simulation of tumor resection while visualizing the fiber tracts. During resection, we used augmented reality to localize the terminations of dorsal language pathways and strictly followed the preoperative plan to perform the surgery. Gross total resection and favorable functional outcome were finally achieved.

Conclusion

This case demonstrates that preoperative simulation and augmented reality can truly assist in glioma surgery in functional areas.

Background

In GTA, exposing the neck is challenging, and temporary clipping is often not feasible, increasing the risk of intraoperative bleeding.

Method

An aneurysmotomy with a continuous lock on one side and a clip on the other is performed and functions as a "zipper." During thrombectomy, if bleeding occurs, the zipper closes for temporary clipping. A clinical case demonstrates this technique.

Conclusion

The 'zipper' technique is a novel approach that offers the potential benefit of performing thrombectomy without requiring proximal control. Moreover, it may reduce the overall duration of temporary clipping by breaking it down into shorter intervals. However, this is a proof of concept demonstrated in a single case, and further validation through additional cases is necessary to confirm its efficacy.

Introduction

Low back pain is common during pregnancy, affecting up to 76% of women. However, symptomatic lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is rare, occurring in about 1 in 10,000 pregnancies, with less than 2% progressing to cauda equina syndrome (CES). The overlap in symptoms between LDH and typical pregnancy-related conditions complicates both diagnosis and management. This review aims to enhance understanding of LDH and CES during pregnancy and provide a comprehensive overview of treatment options.

Methodology

A systematic review of the PubMed database was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, focusing on patient demographics, clinical presentation, diagnostics, treatment strategies, and outcomes.

Results

Thirty-three case reports and series involving 51 pregnant women diagnosed with LDH and CES were analyzed. The average age was 33.2 years, with most symptoms occurring in the third trimester. Lower extremity pain (86.3%) and low back pain (78.4%) were the predominant symptoms, with 49.0% experiencing sphincter involvement. MRI was the primary diagnostic tool, identifying single-level disc herniation in 92.2% of cases. Antepartum spine surgery was performed on 74.5% of the women, predominantly through microdiscectomy, with 79.2% using general anesthesia. Post-surgery, 52.6% had cesarean sections, while 42.1% delivered vaginally. Adverse events were minimal (3.9%), and 62.7% of patients experienced favorable outcomes without neurological deterioration or maternal/fetal deaths.

Conclusion

Although rare, acute LDH and CES during pregnancy require prompt attention and intervention. MRI and emergent surgical treatment are generally safe and effective for both mother and fetus. Special surgical positioning and anesthesia management considerations are critical to minimizing risks and ensuring favorable outcomes.

Background Objective

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a common complication in craniotomy patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The duration of surgery is a known risk factor. Other factors such as positioning and tumor entity have hardly been investigated or are controversial.

In two pilot studies, the determination of plasma D-dimer concentration led to a high detection rate of DVT, while the use of intermittent pneumatic venous compression (IPC) drastically reduced the incidence of VTE. In the present study we investigated the efficacy of the two approaches, either alone or in combination, in a large patient cohort.

Methods

1759 patients who underwent elective craniotomy between 2009 and 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The staggered use of D-dimer determination and intraoperative use of IPC resulted in 3 groups: Group 1: no procedure; Group 2: D-dimer evaluation; Group 3: IPC and D-dimer evaluation. If the D-dimer level was ≥ 2 mg/l (Fibrinogen equivalent units; FEU), venous ultrasound was performed. Age, gender, tumor entity, duration and extent of surgery, patient positioning, type of VTE were also recorded and analyzed.

Results

The introduction of postoperative D-dimer evaluation increased the rate of detection of thrombosis from 1.7% in group 1 to 22.6% in group 2. The addition of IPC reduced the rate of thrombosis to 4.4%. Age, gender and patient positioning did not affect the rate of VTE. We were able to confirm the duration of surgery as an individual risk factor and showed that WHO grade 4 tumors and metastasis have an increased VTE risk.

Conclusions

If D-Dimer levels are not analyzed routinely about 20% of craniotomy patients suffer from a clinically silent thrombosis. Each with the risk of fate PE. Intraoperative use of IPC during craniotomy dramatically reduces the risk of VTE.

Objective

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting has become the standard treatment for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). Nevertheless, there is still disagreement on diagnostic criteria for selecting patients for surgery and optimal shunt management. The primary aim of the present study was to provide an update on the status of best practice, the use of different diagnostic algorithms and therapeutic management of idiopathic NPH in an European country.

Methods  

A standardized questionnaire with sections on the assessment of clinical symptoms and signs of NPH, diagnostic work-up, therapeutic decision making, and operative techniques was sent to 135 neurosurgical clinics in Germany that regularly perform shunt surgeries.

Results

Overall, responses were received from 114/135 (84.4%) clinics. Most responders considered gait disturbance to be the hallmark clinical sign of idiopathic NPH (96%). A lumbar tap test was utilized always/ mostly by 97 centers (86%). In 43% of the centers, 30–40 ml CSF were removed with the spinal tap test. Spinal dynamic CSF studies were used by 12 centers only occasionally, and only by 1 center always for diagnostic purposes. Ventriculo-peritoneal shunting was the most frequent type of CSF diversion (> 90%). Pressure-controlled valves were used by the majority of units (95%) Overall 102 centers (93%) always/mostly used adjustable valves, and antisiphon devices were used always/ mostly in 50% of units.

Conclusion

The present survey demonstrates that there has been a remarkable change of practice and opinions on the diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic NPH over the past two decades in Germany. Remarkably, variabilities in practice among different centers are less common than previously and recommendations according to scientific publications and guidelines have been implemented more readily.

Background

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Optic Nerve Sheath Fenestration (ONSF) in improving visual outcomes in patients with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH).

Methods

A meta-analysis was conducted using data from 19 studies, totaling 1159 observations. The main assessed outcomes after ONSF surgery were: the improvement in visual acuity, the improvement in visual fields and reduction in papilledema. We performed separate analyses to distinguish between outcomes using different surgical approaches. Comprehensive literature searches were conducted in the Ovid MEDLINE(R) and SCOPUS databases, following PRISMA guidelines. Statistical analyses employed a Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) to integrate proportion data, with heterogeneity assessed via I-squared and H statistics. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots, Egger's test, and Peters' test.

Results

The analysis revealed that ONSF significantly improved visual acuity in 41.09% of patients, and visual fields in 76.34% of cases. The transconjunctival approach demonstrated higher success rates for visual field improvement. A high improvement rate of 97% was observed in reducing optic disc swelling. Significant heterogeneity was noted, particularly in visual acuity (I² = 92.1%) and visual field improvements (I² = 73.8%), reflecting variability in surgical techniques and patient demographics. Publication bias assessments indicated no significant bias for visual acuity and visual field outcomes, although potential bias was detected for papilledema reduction.

Conclusions

This meta-analysis confirms that ONSF is effective in improving visual outcomes for IIH patients, especially when using the transconjunctival approach. Early surgical intervention is crucial for optimal results, principally in preventing advanced ischemic damage. Despite high success rates, observed heterogeneity highlights the need for standardized surgical techniques and further investigation into patient-specific factors influencing outcomes. Addressing potential publication bias and conducting more rigorous studies will enhance the reliability of future meta-analyses. Upcoming research in ONSF efficacy is needed to refine surgical practices and optimize patient care.

Objective

Postoperative delirium (POD) may cause cognitive morbidities and prolonged hospital stay. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with postoperative delirium in patients undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Method

We retrospectively reviewed 83 patients with idiopathic PD who underwent bilateral DBS between 2016 and 2023. The target of DBS was the globus pallidus interna (Gpi) or the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in 84.3% and 15.7% of patients, respectively. Patients were evaluated using the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) and categorized into two groups: those with delirium and those without. Demographic features, disease duration, preoperative cognitive status (Mini-Mental State Examination) and silent ischemia, brain atrophy rates, DBS target location, surgical type and duration, Unified PD Rating Scale-3 scores, Hoehn and Yahr scores, postoperative perilead edema, and electrolyte imbalance were compared between patients with and without post-DBS delirium. Apart from univariate analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for disease duration and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine independent risk factors for post-DBS delirium.

Results

Five out of the 83 patients (6%) developed post-DBS delirium. Age (> 68 years), disease duration, preoperative cerebral atrophy rates, and postoperative perilead edema were significantly higher in patients who developed delirium (p < 0.05 each). The ROC curve analysis revealed disease duration of ≥ 11 years as a risk factor for delirium (p = 0.001; odds ratio, OR: 58.4, 95% confidence interval, CI: 5.45–625.49). Age and disease duration were independent risk factors for post-DBS delirium (OR: 1.243, 95% CI: 1.070–1.592 and OR: 22.52, 95% CI: 1.21–383.96, respectively).

Conclusions

Older age and longer disease duration are independent risk factors for postoperative delirium in patients with PD. This study highlights the need to identify high-risk patients when undertaking DBS to facilitate early diagnosis and timely management.

Background

Large Language Models (LLMs) have garnered increasing attention in neurosurgery and possess significant potential to improve the field. However, the breadth and performance of LLMs across diverse neurosurgical tasks have not been systematically examined, and LLMs come with their own challenges and unique terminology. We seek to identify key models, establish reporting guidelines for replicability, and highlight progress in key application areas of LLM use in the neurosurgical literature.

Methods

We searched PubMed and Google Scholar using terms related to LLMs and neurosurgery (“large language model” OR “LLM” OR “ChatGPT” OR “GPT-3” OR “GPT3” OR “GPT-3.5” OR “GPT3.5” OR “GPT-4” OR “GPT4” OR “LLAMA” OR “MISTRAL” OR “BARD”) AND “neurosurgery”. The final set of articles was reviewed for publication year, application area, specific LLM(s) used, control/comparison groups used to evaluate LLM performance, whether the article reported specific LLM prompts, prompting strategy types used, whether the LLM query could be reproduced in its entirety (including both the prompt used and any adjoining data), measures of hallucination, and reported performance measures.

Results

Fifty-one articles met inclusion criteria, and were categorized into six application areas, with the most common being Generation of Text for Direct Clinical Use (n = 14, 27.5%), Answering Standardized Exam Questions (n = 12, 23.5%), and Clinical Judgement and Decision-Making Support (n = 11, 21.6%). The most frequently used LLMs were GPT-3.5 (n = 30, 58.8%), GPT-4 (n = 20, 39.2%), Bard (n = 9, 17.6%), and Bing (n = 6, 11.8%). Most studies (n = 43, 84.3%) used LLMs directly out-of-the-box, while 8 studies (15.7%) conducted advanced pre-training or fine-tuning.

Conclusions

Large language models show advanced capabilities in complex tasks and hold potential to transform neurosurgery. However, research typically addresses basic applications and overlooks enhancing LLM performance, facing reproducibility issues. Standardizing detailed reporting, considering LLM stochasticity, and using advanced methods beyond basic validation are essential for progress.

Background

Percutaneous rhizotomy of the Gasserian ganglion is a well-established intervention for patients suffering from refractory trigeminal pain, not amenable to pharmacological management or microvascular decompression. Traditionally conducted under fluoroscopic guidance using Hartel’s technique, this study investigates a modified approach employing low-dose CT guidance to achieve maximal procedural precision and safety with the emphasis on minimizing radiation exposure.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing percutaneous rhizotomy of the Gasserian ganglion at our institution was undertaken. Procedures were divided into fluoroscopy and CT-guided foramen ovale (FO) cannulation cohorts. Radiation doses were assessed, excluding cases with incomplete data. The study included 32 procedures in the fluoroscopy group and 30 in the CT group.

Results

In the CT-guided group, the median effective dose was 0.21 mSv. The median number of CT scans per procedure was 4.5, and the median procedure time was 15 min. Successful FO cannulation was achieved in all 30 procedures (100%). In the fluoroscopy group, the median effective dose was 0.022 mSv, and the median procedure time was 15 min. Cannulation of FO was successful in 31 of 32 procedures (96.9%).

The only complications in the CT-guided group were three minor cheek hematomas. Immediate pain relief in the CT-guided group was reported in 25 of 30 procedures (83.3%), 22 of 30 (73.3%) provided relief at one month, and 10 of 18 (55.6%) procedures resulting in pain relief at one month continued to provide relief after two years.

Conclusion

Low-dose CT-guided percutaneous rhizotomy conducted in the radiology suite carries negligible radiation exposure for patients and eliminates it for personnel. This method is fast, simple, precise, and carries a very low risk of complications.

Introduction

The craniovertebral junction (CVJ) is susceptible to diverse pathologies. While the transoral-transpharyngeal approach has been the primary method for addressing anterior CVJ conditions, it carries significant morbidity. Endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA), has emerged as a Minimally invasive option. However, EEA has potential limitations in providing adequate caudal exposure. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of enhancing caudal exposure to the endoscopic transodontoid (TO) approach by drilling the posterior part of the central hard palate, thus achieving an extended endoscopic approach to odontoid (ETO) and to compare the accuracy of predictive lines, (Nasopalatine line (NPL), Nasoaxial line (NAxL), and Rhinopalatine line (RPL)) in predicting the caudal limit of the approach.

Methods

Eight cadaveric specimens underwent pre and post-endoscopic dissection measurements. The distance resected (DR), and inferior exposure of C2 posterior wall (PW) were measured and compared between TO and ETO. Furthermore, multivariable logistic regression was utilized to assess the predictive line values for DR.

Results

Implementation of the ETO resulted in a significant increase in mean DR (8.6 mm, 52% improvement, p-value 0.03381), and the inferior exposure of the PW increased by 5.31 mm (p-value 6.063e-05, 37% greater exposure). The linear multivariable regression analysis indicated significant positive associations between NAxL, RPL and DR after TO. However, these associations were not seen for ETO.

Conclusion

The ETO proved superior to the traditional approach, providing improved caudal exposure and distance resected. While NPL and NAxL demonstrated predictive value for the TO, their utility was somewhat limited in the ETO.