Microsurgical clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: Clinical and radiological outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms is 1-3%. The annual rupture rate increases in patients with multiple aneurysms that presented a previous hemorrhage from another aneurysm. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate outcomes of clipping unruptured aneurysms, comparing patients with single or multiple aneurysms clipped, describe the complications related to surgery and to identify risk factors predicting an unfavorable outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study including patients who underwent clipping of unruptured aneurysms between 2020-2023 at our center. Occlusion rate, complications, and functional outcome were analyzed. Risk factors for poor prognosis are identified using univariate model. RESULTS: 82 patients with 114 aneurysms were treated with microsurgery. Multiple aneurysms were clipped in 22 patients. A mini-open approach was used in 86,5% of cases. Complete occlusion in angio3D was found in 78.6% of clipped aneurysms. Complication rate was 12.2%, including asymptomatic cases. Mortality was 0%. The probability of 1 point mRS worsening was 7.3% and 2 or more points was 1.2%, with a good functional outcome in 98.9%. Clipping multiple aneurysms, miniopen approaches, or surgery in patients with previous subarachnoid hemorrhage did not increase the risk of complications. Posterior circulation aneurysms surgery increased the risk of ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: The management for unruptured intracranial aneurysms should be multimodal and based on clinical and radiological outcomes. Microsurgery is a valid and safe technique, with 0% mortality and bleeding rates and 1,2% rate of severe morbidity in our series.

Patients awaiting surgery for neurosurgical diseases during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain: a multicentre cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: The large number of infected patients requiring mechanical ventilation has led to the postponement of scheduled neurosurgical procedures during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aims of this study were to investigate the factors that influence the decision to postpone scheduled neurosurgical procedures and to evaluate the effect of the restriction in scheduled surgery adopted to deal with the first outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain on the outcome of patients awaiting surgery. DESIGN: This was an observational retrospective study. SETTINGS: A tertiary-level multicentre study of neurosurgery activity between 1 March and 30 June 2020. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 680 patients awaiting any scheduled neurosurgical procedure were enrolled. 470 patients (69.1%) were awaiting surgery because of spine degenerative disease, 86 patients (12.6%) due to functional disorders, 58 patients (8.5%) due to brain or spine tumours, 25 patients (3.7%) due to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) disorders and 17 patients (2.5%) due to cerebrovascular disease. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was mortality due to any reason and any deterioration of the specific neurosurgical condition. Second, we analysed the rate of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. RESULTS: More than one-quarter of patients experienced clinical or radiological deterioration. The rate of worsening was higher among patients with functional (39.5%) or CSF disorders (40%). Two patients died (0.4%) during the waiting period, both because of a concurrent disease. We performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine independent covariates associated with maintaining the surgical indication. We found that community SARS-CoV-2 incidence (OR=1.011, p<0.001), degenerative spine (OR=0.296, p=0.027) and expedited indications (OR=6.095, p<0.001) were independent factors for being operated on during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Patients awaiting neurosurgery experienced significant collateral damage even when they were considered for scheduled procedures.

Impact of the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the outcome of neurosurgical patients: a nationwide study in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the outcome of neurosurgical patients in Spain. SETTINGS: The initial flood of COVID-19 patients overwhelmed an unprepared healthcare system. Different measures were taken to deal with this overburden. The effect of these measures on neurosurgical patients, as well as the effect of COVID-19 itself, has not been thoroughly studied. PARTICIPANTS: This was a multicentre, nationwide, observational retrospective study of patients who underwent any neurosurgical operation from March to July 2020. INTERVENTIONS: An exploratory factorial analysis was performed to select the most relevant variables of the sample. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of mortality and postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. RESULTS: Sixteen hospitals registered 1677 operated patients. The overall mortality was 6.4%, and 2.9% (44 patients) suffered a perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Of those infections, 24 were diagnosed postoperatively. Age (OR 1.05), perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR 4.7), community COVID-19 incidence (cases/105 people/week) (OR 1.006), postoperative neurological worsening (OR 5.9), postoperative need for airway support (OR 5.38), ASA grade ≥3 (OR 2.5) and preoperative GCS 3-8 (OR 2.82) were independently associated with mortality. For SARS-CoV-2 postoperative infection, screening swab test <72 hours preoperatively (OR 0.76), community COVID-19 incidence (cases/105 people/week) (OR 1.011), preoperative cognitive impairment (OR 2.784), postoperative sepsis (OR 3.807) and an absence of postoperative complications (OR 0.188) were independently associated. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection in neurosurgical patients was associated with an increase in mortality by almost fivefold. Community COVID-19 incidence (cases/105 people/week) was a statistically independent predictor of mortality. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CEIM 20/217.

Quadrigeminal Cistern Epidermoid Cyst: Neuroendoscopy and Endoscope-Assisted Supracerebellar Infratentorial Approach.

The pineal region is a complex anatomical location with multiple surrounding important neurovascular structures.1,2 Several approaches to this region have been described, including posterior interhemispheric, transchoroidal, infratentorial supracerebellar, supracerebellar and infracerebellar trans-sinus, and their modifications. Neuroendoscopy and endoscope-assisted surgery have been widely applied to aid resection of pineal region lesions.3-5 A 40-year-old man presented with tonic-clonic seizures and bilateral papillary edema on fundus examination. Computed tomography showed a midline lesion at the level of the quadrigeminal cistern with mass effect on the aqueduct of Sylvius and posterior wall of the third ventricle, triggering obstructive triventricular hydrocephalus. As a first intervention, a third ventriculostomy was attempted unsuccessfully owing to unfavorable third ventricle floor anatomy. This approach was used to obtain a biopsy specimen, which showed an epidermoid cyst. Ventriculoscopy showed a communication of the pineal recess and quadrigeminal cistern owing to tumor invasion. An external ventricular drain was placed to control the hydrocephalus until complete resection was performed (Video 1). Several days later, tumor resection was carried out via the median supracerebellar infratentorial approach with the patient in semisitting position. After near-total resection under microscope, the third ventricle and both lateral recesses were explored with the endoscope. A small tumor remnant (visible only with endoscope) was identified and removed. This step was essential to achieve complete resection, confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. The patient was discharged 6 days later without complications. During follow-up, the patient remains asymptomatic. The combination of microneurosurgery, neuroendoscopy, and endoscope-assisted surgery improves management of pineal region lesions and facilitates complete resection.

Repair of internal carotid artery injury with aneurysm clip during endoscopic endonasal surgery: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: One of the most feared and dangerous scenarios that can appear during an endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) is the iatrogenic injury of the internal carotid artery (ICA). Several methods, along with a variety of outcomes, have been described to deal with this complication. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on the use of a Yasargil-type aneurysm clip to solve an ICA injury, preserving the artery's patency and having a long-term follow-up. The authors discuss the advantages and disadvantages of other vessel preservation techniques compared with clipping. OBSERVATIONS: A visually impaired 56-year-old woman was diagnosed with a giant nonfunctional pituitary tumor that invaded the sphenoidal sinus, anterior and posterior ethmoidal cells, and both cavernous sinuses, with suprasellar extension and optochiasmatic compression. The patient underwent EES, and during the final resection phase her left ICA was injured, with massive hemorrhage. LESSONS: ICA injury during endoscopic skull base surgery carries high mortality and morbidity; it is essential to maintain carotid flow when possible to avoid short-term and long-term consequences. There are several techniques depicted in the literature to deal with this situation. The authors report the use of a Yasargil mini-clip to deal with the injury for a positive outcome: primary hemostasis, vessel preservation, and no postoperative complications.

[The joint management of Geriatrics-Neurosurgery of patients older than 75 years reduces the average stay, morbidity, hospital readmissions and mortality per year]. / El manejo conjunto Geriatría-Neurocirugía de pacientes mayores de 75 años reduce la estancia media, la morbilidad, los reingresos hospitalarios y la mortalidad al año.

OBJECTIVE: Population ageing is a reality for which national health systems are not adapted. The World Health Organisation has already raised awareness about the implementation of specific measures, from undergraduate training to dedicated elderly care units, to tackle this situation. In this article, the aim is to analyse the potential benefits of geriatric monitoring on elderly neurosurgical patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive analysis was performed in this medical centre, comparing the information collected from elderly patients (over 75 years of age) admitted into the neurosurgical department during 2periods: June 2015 to February 2017, in which a shared geriatric monitoring was implemented, and between October 2013 and May 2015, equivalent period, in which only the geriatrician performed the evaluation of the patients' general condition, before referring them to other social-healthcare units. A number of factors were considered, including mean age, gender, the neurosurgical condition that led to admission, mean stay, infectious complications, acute confusional syndrome, admission into an intensive care unit, need for support from other medical departments, reoperations, mortality during hospitalisation, referral to social-health units, readmission within a month, and mortality within a year. RESULTS: A total of 173 patients on shared monitoring were compared to 189 patients from the previous period. Both groups had similar demographic characteristics. During the analysis, a significant reduction was observed in shared monitoring as regards, mean hospitalisation, infectious complications, admissions into an intensive care unit, the need for support from other medical departments, readmissions within a month, and mortality within a year. CONCLUSIONS: On patients of over 75 years of age, shared geriatric-neurosurgical monitoring reduces mean hospitalisation, morbidity, the need for support from other medical departments, early readmission, and mortality within a year. This strategy prioritises patient care, reduces costs, and rationalises resources.

Pott's puffy tumor by Actinomyces after minor head trauma. / Pott's puffy tumor por Actinomyces tras trauma craneal leve.

Pott's puffy tumour (PPT) is a rare entity that involves scalp swelling associated with subperiosteal abscess and cranial osteomyelitis, occasionally accompanied by intracranial infection. It is usually affiliated with frontal sinusitis, which is a typical but infrequent complication. On the contrary, Osteomyelitis by Actinomyces is rare and usually occurs at the mandibular level, with very few cases of cranial osteomyelitis caused by this bacterial specie, especially after traumatic brain injury. We report an exceptionally unusual case of a PPT frontal tumor after blunt trauma (closed head injury), with an intracranial lesion whereby Actinomyces was isolated after surgery, as a co-participant of the mentioned infection besides Fusobacterium and Propionibacterium.