[The efficacy analysis of neurosurgical robot-assisted DBS in the treatment of elderly Parkinson's disease].

Objective: To investigate the surgical efficacy of neurosurgery robot deep brain stimulation(DBS) in the treatment of elderly Parkinson's disease(PD). Methods: The clinical data of elderly patients (≥75 years) with PD who underwent neurosurgical robot-assisted DBS surgery in the Department of Neurosurgery of the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from September 2016 to September 2022 were collected retrospectively. Operation time, electrode implantation duration, postoperative pneumocephalus volume, electrode implantation accuracy, the Tao's DBS surgery scale, perioperative complications were analyzed.The unified Parkinson's disease rating scales (UPDRS), UPDRS-Ⅲ, tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, axial, Barthel Activities of Daily Living (ADL-Barthel), Levodopa Equivalent Daily Dose (LEDD), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) scores and mortality were assessed respectively before operation, 6, 12 and 24 months after operation and last follow-up. Results: A total of 25 elderly patients were enrolled, including 14 males and 11 females, aged(78.3±3.2) years. Nine patients had underlying diseases. Nine patients (36%) underwent bilateral Globus Pallidus pars Interna deep brain stimulation (GPi-DBS) and 16 patients (64%) underwent bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS).The operation time was (1.56±0.19) hours, the electrode implantation duration was (1.01±0.19) hours, the pneumocephalus volume was 9.8(4.7, 23.3) cm3, and the electrode implantation accuracy was (0.84±0.24) mm, the Tao's DBS surgery scale was (80.2±6.2).The follow-up time [M(Q1, Q3)] was 57.3(27.9, 75.7) months. No serious complications such as intracranial hemorrhage, infection or poor wound healing occurred during the perioperative period. The improvement rate of UPDRS, UPDRS-Ⅲ, rigidity, bradykinesia, and LEDD at 6 months after surgery was significantly higher than that at 24 months after surgery and at the last follow-up (all P<0.05); the improvement rate of axial symptoms, ADL-Barthel score, and MoCA score at 6 months after surgery was significantly higher than that at the last follow-up (P<0.05). HAMD and HAMA scores showed no significant improvement during follow-up after surgery (both P>0.05). At the last follow-up, 12 patients died, with death time of (35.1±20.2) months after operation, and the death age of [M(Q1, Q3)] 80(79, 83)years. Conclusions: Robot-assisted DBS surgery for elderly patients with PD is accurate and safe, and the postoperative symptoms are significantly improved, and they can benefit from neuromodulation for long term, and the risks are controllable.

Prophylactic Antibiotics in Patients with Traumatic Pneumocephalus or Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak.

INTRODUCTION: Pneumocephalus and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are uncommon after trauma, but they expose the sterile CSF to environmental pathogens and create theoretical risk of central nervous system infection (CNSI). Prophylactic antibiotics are commonly given to these patients, but there is a paucity of evidence to guide this practice. We aim to quantify the incidences of these entities and analyze the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics in preventing CNSIs. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using our institutional trauma registry. All patients admitted from January 2014 to July 2020 with traumatic pneumocephalus (TP) or basilar skull fracture with CSF leak (BSF-CSF) were included. ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes were used to identify CNSIs. CNSI rates among defined prophylactic antibiotic regimens, no antibiotics, and other antibiotic regimens were evaluated. ANOVA was used to analyze differences between the groups. RESULTS: 365 patients met inclusion criteria: 360 with TP; 5 with BSF-CSF. 1.1% (4/365) of patients developed CNSI, all with isolated traumatic pneumocephalus. 1.4% of patients (1/72) without antibiotics; 1.2% (3/249) receiving IV antibiotics outside of a defined regimen; and 1.1% (1/88) on a designated prophylactic regimen developed CNSIs. ANOVA indicated the incidence of CNSI was not significantly different among patients who received antibiotics or not, regardless of the regimen (p-value 0.958). CONCLUSION: TP and BSF-CSF are rare diagnoses among trauma patients. The rate of CNSI is marginal and antibiotics do not appear to confer a protective advantage. A larger trial is needed to elucidate the true effect of antibiotics on preventing CNSIs in patients with these uncommon diagnoses.

A Case of Atraumatic, Streptococcal Pneumocephalus: A Rare Complication of Influenza B Infection.

BACKGROUND Pneumocephalus is a rare occurrence without trauma, neurosurgery, or intracranial pathology. It is an uncommon complication of bacterial meningitis, and it is usually diagnosed with a CT head. Bacterial pneumocephalus in the setting of influenza B virus infection is an extremely rare complication; however, vaccination against influenza and early diagnosis and treatment help prevent mortality. CASE REPORT A 51-year-old woman presented to the Emergency Department in early winter because of worsening mental status over seven days prior to presentation. She was not vaccinated against influenza. Before and upon presentation to our facility, she was diagnosed with influenza B virus infection and was positive for streptococcal meningitis. A CT head revealed pneumocephalus, likely due to Streptococcus infection. She was treated with antibiotics, and a repeat CT head showed resolution of the lesion. CONCLUSIONS Bacterial pneumocephalus in the background of influenza is an uncommon occurrence. Influenza vaccination and early diagnosis with a CT of the head and prompt initiation of antibiotics are essential in preventing mortality.

Aspergillus Terreus Brain Abscess Complicated by Tension Pneumocephalus in a Patient with Angiosarcoma.

BACKGROUND Aspergillus terreus is an evolving opportunistic pathogen, and patients with A. terreus often have poor outcomes due to its intrinsic resistance to several systemic antifungal agents. Here we present a unique case of intracranial abscesses of A. terreus in a patient with recurrent angiosarcoma, complicated by development of tension pneumocephalus. CASE REPORT A 67-year old gentleman with history of scalp angiosarcoma with wide excision two years prior presented to the hospital for left arm clumsiness, altered mental status, and low-grade fever. Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis bacteremia was detected, and Computed Tomography (CT) of the head showed right frontal lobe abscesses. He was started on steroids, intravenous vancomycin and cefepime, and was eventually discharged. He presented to the hospital again due to persistent and worsening symptoms. MRI showed progression of the brain lesions, and surgical biopsy and culture of lesions revealed A. terreus and gram-positive cocci. He was started on trimethroprim/sulfamethoxazole and voriconazole and symptoms improved. On post-op day four, he acutely decompensated with total loss of left arm strength; MRI demonstrated tension pneumocephalus. Conservative management was undertaken with continuous supplemental oxygen. Serial x-ray imaging over the next week demonstrated resolution of the pneumocephalus, and the patient was able to regain all proximal lower and upper extremity strength. CONCLUSIONS Never before has a case of A. terreus been associated with angiosarcoma or tension pneumocephalus in the literature. Proper identification and prompt diagnosis of species is crucial in the immunocompromised patient. Tension pneumocephalus should be included in the differential diagnosis of nontraumatic hemiparesis for emergent evaluation and management.

Ventricular pneumocephalus, cervical subarachnoid pneumorrhachis, and meningoencephalitis in a dog following rhinotomy for chronic fungal rhinitis.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 5-year-old 35.8-kg (78.8-lb) neutered male Labrador Retriever was evaluated for chronic nasal discharge associated with a fungal infection. The dog had previously been prescribed antimicrobials and antifungal treatment, but owner compliance was lacking. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Bilateral mucopurulent nasal discharge, mild ulceration of the left nasal commissure, and hyperkeratosis of the dorsal nasal planum were present. Computed tomography revealed destruction of the intranasal structures, focal lysis of the cribriform plate, and invasion of a soft-tissue mass into the frontal cortex. Rhinoscopy revealed a large pale mass in the caudal aspect of the right nasal passage; a biopsy sample was consistent with Aspergillus sp on histologic evaluation. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Initial treatment included medical management with an antifungal agent. Approximately 3 months later, a large fungal granuloma in the right frontal sinus was removed and debridement was performed via dorsal rhinotomy. One month after surgery, the dog was evaluated for signs of cervical pain and altered mentation. An MRI and CSF analysis were performed; diagnoses of ventricular pneumocephalus, subarachnoid pneumorrhachis, and meningoencephalitis were made. Management included oxygen therapy and administration of antimicrobials, analgesics, and antifungal medications. On follow-up 9 months after initial evaluation, neurologic deficits were reportedly resolved, and the dog was doing well. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This report emphasizes the importance of prompt, appropriate treatment of fungal rhinitis in dogs. Although rare, pneumocephalus and pneumorrhachis should be included as differential diagnoses for neurologic signs following treatment for this condition. In this dog, the complications were not considered severe and improved over time with supportive care.

Severe Sepsis due to Otogenic Pneumococcal Meningitis with Pneumocephalus without Meningeal Symptoms.

The absence of meningeal signs and symptoms is rare in patients with bacterial meningitis and may lead to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, the onset of bacterial meningitis associated with pneumocephalus is a rare complication of ear infections. We herein report a rare case of otogenic meningitis complicated by pneumocephalus that was initially missed due to the absence of typical meningeal signs and symptoms and later diagnosed correctly based on a thorough review of the patient's systems.

Pneumocephalus as a complication of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis.

Pneumocephalus implies air inside the cranial vault, which usually results from cranio-facial trauma. Occasionally, meningitis caused by gas-forming organisms can result in pneumocephalus. Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis can, on rare occasions, cause pneumocephalus as a complication. The drug of choice for K. pneumoniae meningitis is a third-generation cephalosporin, and resistance to these drugs is unusual. We report a case of multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae meningitis resulting from chronic suppurative otitis media, which was later complicated by pneumocephalus. The patient was successfully managed with meropenam and amikacin, the only antibiotics to which these bacilli showed no resistance.