Surgical decompression for space-occupying cerebral infarction: outcomes at 3 years in the randomized HAMLET trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We assessed whether the effects of surgical decompression for space-occupying hemispheric infarction, observed at 1 year, are sustained at 3 years. METHODS: Patients with space-occupying hemispheric infarction, who were enrolled in the Hemicraniectomy After Middle cerebral artery infarction with Life-threatening Edema Trial within 4 days after stroke onset, were followed up at 3 years. Outcome measures included functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale), death, quality of life, and place of residence. Poor functional outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale >3. RESULTS: Of 64 included patients, 32 were randomized to decompressive surgery and 32 to best medical treatment. Just as at 1 year, surgery had no effect on the risk of poor functional outcome at 3 years (absolute risk reduction, 1%; 95% confidence interval, -21 to 22), but it reduced case fatality (absolute risk reduction, 37%; 95% confidence interval, 14-60). Sixteen surgically treated patients and 8 controls lived at home (absolute risk reduction, 27%; 95% confidence interval, 4-50). Quality of life improved between 1 and 3 years in patients treated with surgery. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with space-occupying hemispheric infarction, the effects of decompressive surgery on case fatality and functional outcome observed at 1 year are sustained at 3 years. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION URL: http://www.controlled-trials.com. Unique identifier: ISRCTN94237756.

Abnormalities in cardiac-induced brain tissue deformations are now detectable with MRI: A case-report of a patient who underwent craniotomy after trauma.

BACKGROUND: Heartbeat and respiration induce cyclic brain tissue deformations, which receive increasing attention as potential driving force for brain clearance. These deformations can now be assessed using a novel 3D strain tensor imaging (STI) method at 7 T MRI. METHODS: An 18-year-old man had suffered a traumatic brain injury and was treated with a craniotomy with a maximal diameter of 12 cm. STI was employed to capture cardiac-induced brain tissue deformations and additional time-resolved 2D flow measurements were acquired to capture cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow towards the spinal canal. RESULTS: The craniotomy caused major changes in all aspects of the brain's mechanical dynamics as compared to healthy volunteer references. Tissue strains increased, particularly around the craniotomy, and directionality of deformations showed large abnormalities, also in the contralateral hemisphere. As the brain tissue could pulsate outward from the skull, physiological pulsatile CSF flow at the foramen magnum was abolished. CONCLUSIONS: This work illustrates how STI can assess physiological patterns of brain tissue deformation and how craniotomy leads to widespread deformation abnormalities that can be detected at a single patient level. While this case is meant to provide proof of concept, application of STI in other conditions of abnormal brain mechanical dynamics warrants further study.

Visual Outcomes after Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Resection of Pituitary Adenomas: Our Institutional Experience.

Objectives Visual dysfunction in patients with pituitary adenomas is a clear indication for endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (EETS). However, the visual outcomes vary greatly among patients and it remains unclear what tumor, patient, and surgical characteristics contribute to postoperative visual outcomes. Methods One hundred patients with pituitary adenomas who underwent EETS between January 2011 and June 2015 in a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. General patient characteristics, pre- and postoperative visual status, clinical presentation, tumor characteristics, hormone production, radiological features, and procedural characteristics were evaluated for association with presenting visual signs and visual outcomes postoperatively. Suprasellar tumor extension (SSE) was graded 0 to 4 following a grading system as formulated by Fujimoto et al. Results Sixty-six (66/100) of all patients showed visual field defects (VFD) at the time of surgery, of whom 18% (12/66) were asymptomatic. VFD improved in 35 (35%) patients and worsened in 4 (4%) patients postoperatively. Mean visual acuity (VA) improved from 0.67 preoperatively to 0.84 postoperatively ( p = 0.04). Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) and Fujimoto grade were independent predictors of preoperative VFD in the entire cohort ( p = 0.02 and p < 0.01 respectively). A higher grade of SSE was the only factor independently associated with postoperative improvement of VFD ( p = 0.03). NFPA and Fujimoto grade 3 were independent predictors of VA improvement (both p = 0.04). Conclusion EETS significantly improved both VA and VFD for most patients, although a few patients showed deterioration of visual deficits postoperatively. Higher degrees of SSE and NFPA were independent predictors of favorable visual outcomes.

Surgical decompression for space-occupying cerebral infarction (the Hemicraniectomy After Middle Cerebral Artery infarction with Life-threatening Edema Trial [HAMLET]): a multicentre, open, randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients with space-occupying hemispheric infarctions have a poor prognosis, with case fatality rates of up to 80%. In a pooled analysis of randomised trials, surgical decompression within 48 h of stroke onset reduced case fatality and improved functional outcome; however, the effect of surgery after longer intervals is unknown. The aim of HAMLET was to assess the effect of decompressive surgery within 4 days of the onset of symptoms in patients with space-occupying hemispheric infarction. METHODS: Patients with space-occupying hemispheric infarction were randomly assigned within 4 days of stroke onset to surgical decompression or best medical treatment. The primary outcome measure was the modified Rankin scale (mRS) score at 1 year, which was dichotomised between good (0-3) and poor (4-6) outcome. Other outcome measures were the dichotomy of mRS score between 4 and 5, case fatality, quality of life, and symptoms of depression. Analysis was by intention to treat. This trial is registered, ISRCTN94237756. FINDINGS: Between November, 2002, and October, 2007, 64 patients were included; 32 were randomly assigned to surgical decompression and 32 to best medical treatment. Surgical decompression had no effect on the primary outcome measure (absolute risk reduction [ARR] 0%, 95% CI -21 to 21) but did reduce case fatality (ARR 38%, 15 to 60). In a meta-analysis of patients in DECIMAL (DEcompressive Craniectomy In MALignant middle cerebral artery infarction), DESTINY (DEcompressive Surgery for the Treatment of malignant INfarction of the middle cerebral arterY), and HAMLET who were randomised within 48 h of stroke onset, surgical decompression reduced poor outcome (ARR 16%, -0.1 to 33) and case fatality (ARR 50%, 34 to 66). INTERPRETATION: Surgical decompression reduces case fatality and poor outcome in patients with space-occupying infarctions who are treated within 48 h of stroke onset. There is no evidence that this operation improves functional outcome when it is delayed for up to 96 h after stroke onset. The decision to perform the operation should depend on the emphasis patients and relatives attribute to survival and dependency.

Early decompressive surgery in malignant infarction of the middle cerebral artery: a pooled analysis of three randomised controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Malignant infarction of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) is associated with an 80% mortality rate. Non-randomised studies have suggested that decompressive surgery reduces this mortality without increasing the number of severely disabled survivors. To obtain sufficient data as soon as possible to reliably estimate the effects of decompressive surgery, results from three European randomised controlled trials (DECIMAL, DESTINY, HAMLET) were pooled. The trials were ongoing when the pooled analysis was planned. METHODS: Individual data for patients aged between 18 years and 60 years, with space-occupying MCA infarction, included in one of the three trials, and treated within 48 h after stroke onset were pooled for analysis. The protocol was designed prospectively when the trials were still recruiting patients and outcomes were defined without knowledge of the results of the individual trials. The primary outcome measure was the score on the modified Rankin scale (mRS) at 1 year dichotomised between favourable (0-4) and unfavourable (5 and death) outcome. Secondary outcome measures included case fatality rate at 1 year and a dichotomisation of the mRS between 0-3 and 4 to death. Data analysis was done by an independent data monitoring committee. FINDINGS: 93 patients were included in the pooled analysis. More patients in the decompressive-surgery group than in the control group had an mRS

Hemicraniectomy after middle cerebral artery infarction with life-threatening Edema trial (HAMLET). Protocol for a randomised controlled trial of decompressive surgery in space-occupying hemispheric infarction.

BACKGROUND: Patients with a hemispheric infarct and massive space-occupying brain oedema have a poor prognosis. Despite maximal conservative treatment, the case fatality rate may be as high as 80%, and most survivors are left severely disabled. Non-randomised studies suggest that decompressive surgery reduces mortality substantially and improves functional outcome of survivors. This study is designed to compare the efficacy of decompressive surgery to improve functional outcome with that of conservative treatment in patients with space-occupying supratentorial infarction METHODS: The study design is that of a multi-centre, randomised clinical trial, which will include 112 patients aged between 18 and 60 years with a large hemispheric infarct with space-occupying oedema that leads to a decrease in consciousness. Patients will be randomised to receive either decompressive surgery in combination with medical treatment or best medical treatment alone. Randomisation will be stratified for the intended mode of conservative treatment (intensive care or stroke unit care). The primary outcome measure will be functional outcome, as determined by the score on the modified Rankin Scale, at one year.