Articles tagged with Neurosurgery
A team of researchers led by WPI's Gregory Fischer will test a new minimally invasive approach to treating brain tumors using a robot designed to work within an MRI scanner. The system promises to accurately destroy malignant tissue while leaving surrounding tissue unaffected, offering a significant improvement over current treatments.
A randomized clinical trial found a significant increase in cerebral vasospasm and EVD-related complications when CSF was drained continuously in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. The study, halted early due to high complication rates, suggests continuous drainage may not be the best method for intracranial pressure management.
A new image-guided surgical system uses steerable needles to penetrate the brain and remove blood clots with minimal damage. The system has shown promising results in removing up to 92% of simulated blood clots, offering a new treatment option for patients with life-threatening hemorrhages.
Recent studies have reported discouraging results for endovascular treatment of acute stroke, but a commentary suggests it remains a viable option for certain patients. A new study also finds no evidence that obesity affects outcomes in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients.
Researchers found a reliable D-dimer plasma level threshold for detecting venous thromboembolism after craniotomy, indicating high sensitivity and specificity. A postoperative D-dimer threshold of 2 mg/L is proposed, with higher levels associated with pulmonary embolism.
Researchers discovered that significant others' excessive fears about SAH recurrence negatively impact patients' psychosocial recovery. Patients whose significant others were the most fearful experienced compromised recovery, with worse general health and limitations in everyday activities.
A study in Neurosurgery finds that most professional athletes can return to competition within a year after vertebral fusion surgery on the upper (cervical) spine. Another study analyzes variations in treatment for patients with minor head injuries seen in emergency departments versus doctors' offices.
The hospital's aggressive approach helped manage brain swelling, stop seizures, and minimize brain injury in the patient. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that EEE is one of the most severe mosquito-transmitted diseases in the U.S., with a mortality rate of approximately 33%.
Dr. Gary Mathern, a pediatric neurosurgeon at UCLA, was honored with the Ambassador for Epilepsy Award for his significant work in improving clinical care for children with medically refractory epilepsy. His research has led to breakthrough discoveries on mechanisms of the disease process and how seizures develop in the brain.
The study found that it took a mean of 5.2 physician visits to obtain the correct diagnosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), highlighting delays in diagnosis due to lack of awareness among primary care physicians and community-based orthopedic surgeons.
Artificial neural networks (ANNs) improve patient survival prediction in advanced brain cancers, with a pooled voting method correctly predicting risk of death within one year in 84% of patients. A new proposal calls for medical professionals and specialty societies to play an increased role in evaluating 'off-label' uses of medications.
Research findings suggest that active smoking significantly increases perioperative complications, including intraoperative blood loss, delayed wound healing, and adverse cardiopulmonary effects. Neurosurgeons are urged to advise patients to quit smoking before surgery to minimize risks.
A new formula predicts when brain haemorrhage patients need surgery for the best outcome, helping ensure the right treatment at the right time. This study aims to improve patient survival rates and independence.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet discovered that aspirin-triggered resolvin D1 can prevent and treat postoperative cognitive dysfunctions by resolving inflammation. The study found that treatment with a single dose of AT-RvD1 protected the brain from memory dysfunction after surgery.
A new study identifies larger arachnoid cysts and recent head trauma as key risk factors for rupture or bleeding in children. The study found that the risk of rupture was significantly higher for children with larger cysts, with an estimated 16 times greater risk for cysts measuring five centimeters or larger.
A study of 16 newborns with posterior fossa subdural hematoma (PFSDH) found that most infants survived and had relatively minor neurological abnormalities, even in severe cases. Surgery was successful in eliminating the hematoma and normalizing intracranial pressure.
Researchers found that all modern helmets provided significantly more protection than vintage leather helmets, reducing concussion risk by up to 96%. Modern helmets with lower star ratings had greater peak accelerations than higher-rated ones, highlighting the importance of helmet testing methodologies.
Two new papers highlight the risks of dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa) in cases of closed head injuries, showing a higher mortality rate and increased risk of hemorrhage progression. The studies emphasize the need for effective anticoagulation reversal protocols to improve patient outcomes.
Michel M. Modo and Thomas B. Freeman received the 2013 Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award for Brain Repair for their groundbreaking work in neurorestorative biology, stem cell transplantation, and Parkinson's disease research. The awards recognize their outstanding contributions to advancing neural therapy and brain repair.
During the April 2011 tornado disaster, neurosurgeons at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center treated patients with spinal cord injuries, most of which were limited to the thoracic and lumbar regions. The authors highlight the importance of disaster preparedness in treating such injuries.
A nationwide program by the Society of Neurological Surgeons has been shown to retain knowledge and skills acquired by PGY1 residents through hands-on learning. The program, which includes patient care and surgical simulations, has demonstrated significant effectiveness in improving residency experiences and patient outcomes.
A team of researchers has developed a verification method to detect software bugs in surgical robots, ensuring their safety and effectiveness. The method, based on theorem-proving techniques, identified a critical flaw in the control algorithm for a robot assisting skull-base surgery, allowing the development of a new safe algorithm.
Researchers explore the potential of EVs as biomarkers, delivery vehicles, and immune modulatory tools for brain cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment. Extracellular vesicles may provide a way for tumor cells to alter the microenvironment, enabling growth and spread while evading immune responses.
Researchers developed a quick and simple fMRI task to localize critical brain areas governing speech and other functions. The new protocol accurately localized the anterior and posterior language areas of the brain in about 90% of subjects, including patients undergoing surgery for epilepsy or tumors.
Brain researchers at Barrow Neurological Institute have discovered that healthy observers and neurological patients scan visual scenes with the same general strategy, regardless of scene size or fixation status. This finding challenges previous concepts of exploration and fixation as fundamentally different behaviors.
Researchers at Penn Medicine developed a personalized brain mapping technique using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to preserve language, visual, and motor functions during brain tumor surgeries. This technique improved accuracy and extended survival in some cases, with a median survival time of 21.2 months.
Researchers recommend radiosurgery for treating unruptured AVMs due to its reasonable benefit-to-risk profile. The procedure resulted in AVM obliteration in 62% of patients, with a reduced annual hemorrhage rate compared to left untreated AVMs.
A Phase II clinical trial found that combining hyperbaric oxygen therapy with normobaric hyperoxia improves neurological recovery in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. The treatment reduced mortality rates, improved cerebral oxidative metabolism, and lowered intracranial hypertension.
Surviving patients with ruptured aneurysms have persistent problems in key areas affecting quality of life, including mobility and anxiety/depression. Long-term follow-up care plans are necessary to address these challenges.
Researchers found a high prevalence of low T3 syndrome before and after surgery, associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes and depressive symptoms. Perioperative low T3 syndrome was linked to a five-fold increased risk of poor outcome.
The updated SEEG technique combines sophisticated imaging data reconstructions and robot-assisted surgery to provide essential information in complex cases of drug-resistant epilepsy. The new workflow reduces procedural error risks and improves accuracy in localizing the epileptogenic zone.
A study published in Neurosurgery found that patients undergoing cerebral angiography and neurointerventional procedures are at a very low risk of infection, even without preventive antibiotics. The authors suggest that the minimally invasive nature and short duration of these procedures may contribute to this low risk.
A team of UCSF researchers has uncovered the neurological basis of speech motor control, revealing a hierarchical and cyclical structure that exerts split-second control over articulators in fluent speech. The study has potential implications for developing computer-brain interfaces and treating speech disorders.
Researchers describe the use of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) fluorescence to guide resection of recurrent glioblastoma multiforme, revealing a pathway of tumor spread through brain regions inaccessible to MRI. This technique increases the success of achieving maximum resection.
A recent study found that 25% of hospital readmissions for spine surgery patients were not due to true quality-of-care issues. Planned readmissions, unrelated surgeries, and rescheduled procedures were among the cases not counted against hospitals. The study suggests modifying the calculation method to make it more clinically relevant.
A minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove blood clots in brain tissue after hemorrhagic stroke appears safe and effective in improving long-term disability and reducing hospital time. The study found that patients treated with the surgery had less disability, spent less time in the hospital, and were less likely to be in a long...
Researchers found that minimally invasive delivery of tPA directly into brain clots improved functional recovery in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, reducing hospital stays and costs. Patients who received the active tPA treatment recovered more quickly and independently after a year.
A study published in Neurosurgery found that subcortical damage during awake craniotomy for brain tumor surgery can lead to worsening neurological deficits. The researchers analyzed data from 241 patients and found that 36 developed new neurological abnormalities while the surgeon was operating in the subcortex.
Researchers confirm the value of the Pipeline embolization device in treating difficult-to-reach brain aneurysms. The study showed that the device is a safe and effective tool for patients, with 68% achieving complete occlusion of their aneurysm.
A new study by UCSF neurosurgeon Christopher Ames and orthopedic surgeon Vedat Deviren found that complex spinal surgeries with two attending physicians were significantly shorter, averaging five hours instead of eight, and resulted in less blood loss, fewer major complications, and shorter hospital stays.
A new robot technology called RP-7 enables remote presence in programming brain and spine stimulators, allowing non-expert nurses to be guided by specialists. The study found no significant difference in accuracy or clinical outcomes between remote-presence and conventional programming.
A new tool has been developed to help brain surgeons diagnose cancer and detect tumor boundaries more accurately. The tool uses mass spectrometry analysis to analyze brain tissue and produces a color-coded image revealing the nature and concentration of tumor cells.
A new study questions the need for routinely obtaining repeated CT scans in patients with mild head trauma, suggesting that it is unnecessary when patients are unchanged or improving neurologically. The study found that only two patients had a change in treatment based solely on routine repeated CT scans.
The January issue of Neurosurgical Focus explores the science of neurosurgical practice, shifting priorities from medical discoveries to patient safety, quality of care, and economic implications. Professional societies have launched a national practice data collection platform, N2QOD, to advance quality and outcomes.
The use of virtual reality (VR) and robotic technologies is expanding in neurosurgery, providing opportunities for training, planning, and performance. However, significant technical and economic challenges must be overcome before these technologies become widely used.
A study by neurologists at Henry Ford Hospital found that brain surgery for refractory localization-related epilepsy can lead to significant long-term benefits, with 73% achieving favorable seizure outcomes and 28% experiencing seizure freedom. The researchers tracked 470 patients over 15 years after surgery.
The Pipeline embolization device shows encouraging results in patients with certain types of difficult-to-treat brain aneurysms, including a 68% complete blockage rate. However, the data also show substantial risks, including major complications and fatal bleeding, particularly for aneurysms in specific locations.
New research reveals higher concussion incidence rates in female hockey players compared to males, emphasizing the need for reevaluation of concussion definition. Advanced imaging techniques and neuropsychological assessments were used to track changes in brain function over an entire season.
A higher density of neurologists and neurosurgeons in the US is associated with a decreased risk of death from stroke, according to a new study. The study found that an increase of one neuroscience provider per million population was linked to 0.38 fewer deaths from stroke per million population.
Pituitary centers of excellence could provide optimal clinical management for patients with pituitary tumors, highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary collaborative environments. The proposal suggests three key missions: comprehensive patient care, residency training, and research contributions.
A new study found that rapid tumor growth in pregnant women with meningiomas is linked to blood flow changes, not hormonal fluctuations. Most of the tumors showed an unusual 'hypervascular' pattern and high edema rates.
A new Johns Hopkins research suggests that uninsured brain cancer patients are twice as likely to die in the hospital after undergoing surgery to remove a tumor. Despite this, patients with government-subsidized insurance through Medicaid had survival rates closer to those with private insurance.
A study published in Archives of Surgery found that uninsured patients with brain tumors had higher in-hospital mortality rates than privately insured patients. The disparity was pronounced in teaching hospitals, highlighting the need for further research into insurance-related disparities in medical outcomes.
A study published in Neurosurgery found that limiting neurosurgery residents' work hours hasn't decreased complication rates, but actually increased them in teaching hospitals. Complication rates remained stable in non-teaching hospitals.
A recent study in Neurosurgical Focus highlights the importance of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative processes in reducing neurosurgery-related adverse events. The authors propose a national registry for outcome data and monitoring, as well as standardization of specialized equipment and evidence-based guidelines.
A recent Johns Hopkins study found that repeated surgeries to remove glioblastomas, the most aggressive brain tumors, can increase median survival time from 14 months to 26.6 months. This may be due to increased efficacy of radiation and chemotherapy with each successive surgery.
A joint UMCP and UMB research project has been awarded a new $2 million grant to continue developing a small robot that could aid neurosurgeons in removing difficult-to-reach brain tumors. The robot, called MINIR-II, is fully MRI-compatible and will be controlled by the physician, with targeting information obtained from real-time MRI.
Patients who underwent weight loss surgery reported an initial decrease in substance use, but improvements were short-lived. By 24 months post-surgery, there was a significant increase in substance use, including drug use, alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking.
A study of 38 premature babies from low-income families found a higher risk of brain bleeds, fewer follow-up appointments, and more ER visits compared to those from higher-income families. The findings highlight the critical need for better identification of high-risk pregnancies and reduction of premature births.
A study by Loyola University Medical Center neurosurgeon Beejal Amin found that 25% of spine surgery patients' readmissions were not due to true quality-of-care issues. This suggests the current calculation method overstated true spine surgery-related readmissions.