Survival and quality of life after CSF diversion in adult patients with leptomeningeal metastasis-associated hydrocephalus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is associated with altered CSF flow dynamics in 50%-70% of patients. Approximately 1%-5% of patients develop symptomatic LM-associated hydrocephalus (LM-H), which adversely impacts quality of life (QOL), functional status, and overall survival (OS). There is equipoise for CSF diversion procedures in LM-H. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effect of CSF diversion on OS and QOL in this context. METHODS: This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for articles that evaluated the role of CSF diversion for LM-H due to systemic cancer in adult patients. A meta-analysis was conducted using random effects models, with mean differences and 95% CIs reported. Bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Nonrandomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool. RESULTS: Ten eligible studies with a total of 494 patients were included. Two studies reported multivariate HRs for median OS, suggesting no significant effect of shunting on OS (pooled HR 0.42, 95% CI 0.09-1.94, p = 0.27). A difference between preoperative and postoperative Karnofsky Performance Status of mean 17.6 points (95% CI 10.44-24.68, p < 0.0001) was calculated from 4 studies. Across all studies, a symptomatic improvement rate of 67%-100% was observed, with high rates of improvement for headaches and nausea and lower rates for cranial nerve palsies. Complication rates across 9 studies ranged from 0% to 21.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the present findings, shunting does not improve OS but does relieve symptoms, suggesting that individuals who exhibit certain symptoms should be considered for CSF diversion. The present findings prompt the generation of a standardized decision-making tool and a critical analysis of the individual patient risk-benefit ratio. Implementation of these will optimize surgical management of LM-H patients.

A parcellation-based connectomic model of hemispatial neglect.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hemispatial neglect is characterized by a reduced awareness to stimuli on the contralateral side. Current literature suggesting that damage to the right parietal lobe and attention networks may cause hemispatial neglect is conflicting and can be improved by investigating a connectomic model of the "neglect system" and the anatomical specificity of regions involved in it. METHODS: A meta-analysis of voxel-based morphometry magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of hemispatial neglect was used to identify regions associated with neglect. We applied parcellation schemes to these regions and performed diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) tractography to determine their connectivity. By overlaying neglect areas and maps of the attention networks, we studied the relationship between them. RESULTS: The meta-analysis generated a list of 13 right hemisphere parcellations. These 13 neglect-related parcellations were predominantly linked by the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) throughout a fronto-parietal-temporal network. We found that the dorsal and ventral attention networks showed partial overlap with the neglect system and included various other higher-order networks. CONCLUSIONS: We provide an anatomically specific connectomic model of the neurobehavioral substrates underlying hemispatial neglect. Our model suggests a fronto-parietal-temporal network linked via the SLF supports the functions impaired in neglect and implicates various higher-order networks which are not limited to the attention networks.

Preoperative pregabalin or gabapentin for acute and chronic postoperative pain among patients undergoing breast cancer surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer surgery is associated with acute and chronic pain. We sought to systematically evaluate the effects of gabapentin and pregabalin on postoperative pain among patients undergoing breast cancer surgery. DATABASES AND DATA TREATMENT: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and ProQuest from the inception of each database to November 2015. We included studies enrolling adult patients undergoing breast cancer surgery who were randomly assigned to preoperative gabapentin or pregabalin versus placebo or active control and assessed acute (≤24 h) or chronic (≥2 months) pain. We conducted meta-analyses when possible and rated the quality of evidence (QoE) by using the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Twelve studies were eligible for review, of which eight evaluated gabapentin (n = 516) and four pregabalin (n = 209). Gabapentin reduced pain scores in the recovery room (mean difference [MD] -1.68 on a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), 95% CI -2.59 to -0.77; minimally important difference is 1 point; relative risk [RR] for mild pain (<4/10) 1.71, 95% CI 1.33-2.02; moderate QoE) and 24 h postoperatively (MD -0.52, 95% CI -1.02 to -0.01; RR for mild pain 1.07, 95% CI 1.00-1.13; very low QoE). Pregabalin reduced pain and morphine consumption in the recovery room (MD -6.71 mg, 95% CI -10.73 to -2.70; low QoE). No significant difference was observed in pain score at 24 h (MD -0.38, 95%, CI -0.96 to 0.21; moderate QoE). Neither drug reduced the rate of chronic postoperative pain. CONCLUSIONS: Gabapentin and pregabalin seem to reduce opioid consumption in the recovery room. Gabapentin, but not pregabalin, reduces pain at 24 h after breast cancer surgery. Neither drug affects the development of chronic postoperative pain. SIGNIFICANCE: Gabapentin and pregabalin administered perioperatively in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery improve acute postoperative pain as indicated by the reduction in opioid consumption. Further data are needed on reducing chronic postoperative pain.