Safety and efficacy of the endoscopic transsphenoidal transclival approach performed using direct cortical stimulation for pontine cavernous malformations.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical treatment of brainstem cavernous malformations (CMs) is challenging. Surgery using the endoscopic transsphenoidal transclival approach (eTSTCA) is reported as a useful alternative for ventral brainstem CMs. However, CMs located in the ventral midline of the brainstem are rare, and only a small number of case reports on these CMs treated with the eTSTCA exist. The efficacy and safety of the eTSTCA have not yet been fully examined. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 5 consecutive patients who underwent surgery via the eTSTCA for treating ventral pontine CMs. RESULTS: The average maximum CM diameter was 26.0 mm (18-38 mm). All patients underwent MR-diffusion tensor imaging, which confirmed that the corticospinal tract (CST) deviated posteriorly or laterally to the CM. Direct brainstem cortical stimulation was performed to localize the CST before making the cortical incision. After the excision of the CM, the cavity was filled with artificial CSF to make an aqueous surgical field (wet-field technique) for observing the tumor cavity and confirming complete hemostasis and resection. Total removal was achieved in all patients. The preoperative modified Rankin Scale score was 3 in 3 patients and 4 in 2 patients, whereas it was 1 in 2 patients and 0 in 3 patients 3 months after surgery. Postoperative CSF leakage was observed in 1 patient, and transient abducens nerve palsy was observed in 1 patient. No other intra- or postoperative complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: MR-diffusion tensor imaging and direct brainstem cortical stimulation were useful to ascertain the proximity of the CST to the CM. The endoscope provides a clear view even underwater, and it was safe and effective to observe the entire CM cavity and confirm complete hemostasis without additional retraction of the brainstem parenchyma, including the CST. The eTSTCA provides a direct access point to the lesion and may be a safer alternative treatment for patients whose CST deviates laterally or posteriorly to the CM.

The importance of preserving the superior hypophyseal artery infundibular branch in craniopharyngioma surgery.

PURPOSE: Postoperative pituitary dysfunction, a critical problem in the treatment of craniopharyngiomas, can occur even when the pituitary stalk is preserved. We hypothesized that compromise of the primary superior hypophyseal artery (pSHA) might be related to this occurrence. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 131 patients with craniopharyngioma who underwent surgery from April 2009 to September 2021. The inclusion criteria were initial surgery, endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery, preoperative normal pituitary function or pituitary dysfunction in one axis, and morphological preservation of the pituitary stalk. The branches of the pSHA consist mainly of the chiasmatic branches (Cb), infundibular branches (Ib), and descending branches (Db). We analyzed the association between postoperative pituitary function and preservation of these branches. RESULTS: Twenty patients met the criteria. Preoperative anterior pituitary function was normal in 18 patients, and there was isolated growth hormone deficiency in two patients. No patient had preoperative diabetes insipidus (DI). Anterior pituitary function was unchanged postoperatively in eight patients. Of these eight patients, bilateral preservation of pSHA Ib was confirmed in seven patients. Bilateral preservation of pSHA Ib was the only factor associated with preserved anterior pituitary function (p < 0.01). Fifteen patients were free of permanent DI, and the preservation of any given pSHA branch produced no significant difference in the postoperative occurrence of permanent DI. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that bilateral preservation of pSHA Ib provides favorable postoperative anterior pituitary function in craniopharyngioma surgery; however, such preservation may have little effect on the postoperative occurrence of DI.

Effect of embolization before stereotactic radiosurgery for brain arteriovenous malformations: a case-control study with propensity score matching.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether endovascular embolization prior to stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has a negative impact on nidus obliteration for patients with arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). METHODS: A total of 704 eligible patients with AVM who did not undergo prior surgery or radiotherapy were evaluated. Of these patients, 593 were treated with SRS only, and 111 were treated with embolization followed by SRS (E+SRS). Most patients in the E+SRS group (88%) underwent embolization with n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. In the comparison of radiosurgical outcomes between patients treated with SRS only and E+SRS, these groups were matched in a 1:1 ratio using propensity score matching to eliminate differences in basic characteristics. The primary outcome was to compare the nidus obliteration rates between the SRS-only and E+SRS groups. The secondary outcomes were the comparison of cumulative hemorrhage rates and the incidence of cyst formation or chronic encapsulated hematoma after SRS between these groups. RESULTS: In the unmatched cohorts, the actuarial 3-, 5-, and 8-year nidus obliteration rates after a single SRS session were 49.6%, 69.4%, and 74.1% in the SRS-only group, respectively, and 30.7%, 50.9%, and 68.6% in the E+SRS group, respectively (p = 0.001). In the matched cohort of 98 patients in each group, the rates were 47.1%, 62.0%, and 69.6% in the SRS-only group and 32.5%, 55.3%, and 75.0% in the E+SRS group, respectively (p = 0.24). There was no significant difference in either cumulative hemorrhage or the incidence of cyst formation or chronic encapsulated hematoma between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-SRS embolization did not affect nidus obliteration rates, cumulative hemorrhage rates, or the incidence of cyst formation or chronic encapsulated hematoma as late adverse radiation effects in patients with AVM treated with SRS.

Endoscopic Trans-Mini-Cylinder Biopsy for Intraparenchymal Brain Lesions.

OBJECTIVE: The biopsy procedure is intended to obtain an adequate specimen volume from the targeted area while ensuring minimal damage to the normal brain. We performed navigation-guided endoscopic biopsy using a small-diameter cylinder to reduce the invasiveness of the biopsy procedure and ensure a sufficient amount of tissue is collected. We examined whether it is possible to reduce brain tissue injury by using a small-diameter cylinder and improve safety and effectiveness by using an endoscope to directly observe the lesion and achieve hemostasis. METHODS: Patients who underwent endoscopic biopsy surgery using a 6-mm-diameter cylinder for intraparenchymal lesions were enrolled in this study. Postoperative hematoma formation and the extent of trajectory scarring were assessed. RESULTS: Fifty-two procedures performed on 51 patients were analyzed in this study. Postoperative neurological deterioration was not observed in any patient. A pathological diagnosis was made for all patients. Postoperative computed tomography revealed no hematoma after 49 procedures and a small hematoma after 3 procedures, and no patients required additional treatment. A postoperative trajectory scar less than 5 mm in diameter was observed after 30 procedures, a scar of 5-10 mm was observed after 19 procedures, a scar larger than 10 mm was observed after 3 procedures at 1 week after surgery, and 40, 6 and 0 scars were observed at 3 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic biopsy using a small-diameter cylinder is a possible alternative biopsy technique for intraparenchymal lesions. This surgical technique is useful, especially in patients at risk of hemorrhagic complications.

Direct intracranial invasion of eccrine spiradenocarcinoma of the scalp: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Eccrine spiradenocarcinoma (SC), also known as malignant eccrine spiradenoma, is a rare malignant cutaneous adnexal neoplasm arising from long-standing benign eccrine spiradenoma. Malignant skin tumors rarely show direct intracranial invasion. However, once the intracranial structure is infiltrated, curative excision with sufficient margins can become extremely difficult, particularly when the venous sinuses are involved. No effective adjuvant therapies have yet been established. Here, we report an extremely rare case of scalp eccrine SC with direct intracranial invasion, which does not appear to have been reported previously. CASE PRESENTATION: An 81-year-old woman presented with a large swelling on the parietal scalp 12 years after resection of spiradenoma from the same site. The tumor showed intracranial invasion with involvement of the superior sagittal sinus and repeated recurrences after four surgeries with preservation of the sinus. The histopathological diagnosis was eccrine SC. Adjuvant high-precision external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) proved effective after the third surgery, achieving remission of the residual tumor. The patient died 7 years after the first surgery for SC. CONCLUSIONS: Scalp SC with direct intracranial invasion is extremely rare. Radical resection with tumor-free margins is the mainstay of treatment, but the involvement of venous sinuses makes this unfeasible. High-precision EBRT in combination with maximal resection preserving the venous sinuses could be a treatment option for local tumor control.

Efficacy and safety of the endoscopic "wet-field" technique for removal of supratentorial cavernous malformations.

OBJECTIVE: Cerebral cavernous malformations (CMs) presenting with focal neurological symptoms or mass effects require surgical removal. In recent years, cylindrical retractors have been widely utilized for the removal of deep-seated lesions during both microscopic and endoscopic surgery. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of endoscopic transcylinder removal of CMs using a novel wet-field technique. METHODS: We included 13 patients with supratentorial CMs who had undergone endoscopic transcylinder surgery between April 2013 and March 2022. One patient experienced recurrence of the CM and underwent a second endoscopic transcylinder surgery. Therefore, we retrospectively evaluated 14 procedures. The surgical field was continuously irrigated with artificial cerebrospinal fluid to maintain expansion and visualization of the tumor bed. We termed this method as the "wet-field technique." Patient characteristics, symptoms, and pre- and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging results were obtained from medical records. RESULTS: The average maximum CM diameter was 35.3 mm (range: 10-65 mm). Cylinder diameters were 6 mm in eight procedures, 10 mm in four procedures, and 17 mm in one procedure. Wet-field technique was applied in all cases. The endoscope provided a bright field of view even under water. Continuous water irrigation made it easier to observe the entire tumor bed which naturally expanded by water pressure. Gross total resection was achieved in 13 procedures, while subtotal resection was achieved in one procedure. No surgical complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The endoscopic transcylinder removal using wet-field technique is safe and effective for the removal of symptomatic intracranial supratentorial CMs.

Modified Shoelace Dural Closure with Collagen Matrix in Extended Transsphenoidal Surgery.

Extended endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (eTSS) offers a wide surgical field for various parasellar lesions; however, intraoperative high-flow cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is inevitable. Therefore, secure sellar reconstruction methods are essential to prevent postoperative CSF leakage. Although collagen matrix has been applied for dural reconstruction in neurosurgery, its suitability for application in extended eTSS remains unclear. Eighteen patients underwent modified shoelace dural closure using collagen matrix after lesionectomy via extended eTSS. In this technique, a collagen matrix, which was placed subdurally (inlay graft), was continuously sutured with both open dural edges like a shoelace. Then, another collagen matrix was placed epidurally (onlay graft), and rigid reconstruction was performed using the septal bone and a resorbable fixation mesh. Postoperative CSF leakage did not occur in 17 patients but did occur in 1 patient with tuberculum sellae meningioma. In this case, the CSF leakage point was detected just around the area between the coagulated dura and the adjacent collagen matrix. The collagen matrix harvested from this area was pathologically examined; neovascularization and fibroblastic infiltration into the collagen matrix were not detected. On the other hand, neovascularization and fibroblast infiltration into the collagen matrix were apparent on the surface of the collagen matrix harvested from the non-CSF leakage area. Our novel dural closure technique using collagen matrix could be an effective option for sellar reconstruction in extended eTSS; however, it should be applied in patients in whom normal dural edges are preserved.

Fully Endoscopic Transcylinder Trans-Magendie Foraminal Approach for Fourth Ventricular Cavernoma: A Technical Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Neuroendoscopy offers wide and close surgical views with fine illumination, even in deep surgical sites. Furthermore, transcylinder surgery has the advantage that a tubular retractor can protect critical neurovascular structures in the surgical corridor. These advantages of neuroendoscopy and transcylinder surgery can contribute to safer and less invasive surgical approaches for deep-seated fourth ventricular lesions, for which various critical neurovascular structures exist along the surgical route. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 54-year-old man with a fourth ventricular cavernoma underwent tumor resection via the endoscopic transcylinder trans-Magendie foraminal approach. A 6.8-mm transparent sheath (cylinder) was introduced into the fourth ventricle via the foramen of Magendie without incisions in the inferior medullary velum or the tela choroidea, resulting in the minimal retraction of and trauma to critical neurovascular structures in the surgical corridor. Under the view of a 2.7-mm rigid neuroendoscope, the lesion was completely removed with preservation of a venous anomaly on the ventral side of the aqueduct of Sylvius. Neuroendoscopy could offer a fine surgical view even under continuous irrigation with artificial cerebrospinal fluid; it prevented collapse of the fourth ventricle and facilitated anatomic understanding by the surgeons. The postoperative course was uneventful. CONCLUSIONS: Our novel approach can be an effective surgical option for fourth ventricular lesions with minimal cerebellar retraction and injury.

[A Case of Pediatric C1 Dysplasia with Ruptured Aneurysm in Collateral Plexiform Arterial Network].

A 3-year-old girl was admitted to our hospital with symptoms including headache, nausea, and vomiting. Head CT scan showed subarachnoid hemorrhage in the right carotid cistern. Digital subtraction angiography revealed right internal caortid artery(ICA)malformation at the C1 segment with collateral plexiform arterial network. The right ICA branched into posterior communicating artery and anterior choroidal artery(AChoA)and the ICA was decreased in caliber. The distal portion of the C1 segment of the ICA continued to the collateral plexiform arterial network, forming a saccular aneurysm. The plexiform arterial network connected to the right AChoA and the anterior communicating artery and continued to the distal portion of the right M1 segment. Right cervical carotid artery was normal. There was no transdural collateral flow from the right external carotid artery. Genetic analysis of a variant of RING finger protein 213 was negative. We diagnosed this patient with C1 dysplasia. We performed coil embolization for the aneurysm. The patient was discharged without any neurological deficit. Four months after the surgery, recurrence of the aneurysm was observed. We suspected that the aneurysm was formed due to hemodynamic mechanism and vulnerability of the collateral plexiform arterial network.

Sake yeast YHR032W/ERC1 haplotype contributes to high S-adenosylmethionine accumulation in sake yeast strains.

Sake yeasts are ideally suited for sake making, producing higher levels of ethanol, proliferating at lower temperatures, and producing greater levels of various aromatic components and nutrients than laboratory yeasts. To elucidate the mechanism underlying S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) accumulation in sake yeast strains compared with that in laboratory yeast strains, we performed quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis and identified a significant QTL on chromosome VIII. Of the 165 genes mapped at 49.8 cM from the left-end DNA marker of chromosome VIII, we focused on the YHR032W/ERC1 gene, encoding a member of the multi-drug and toxin extrusion family having antiporter activity and involved in SAM accumulation and ethionine resistance. Expression of the sake yeast ERC1 haplotype (K7ERC1) in a low- and high-copy number plasmid BYΔerc1 resulted in intracellular SAM accumulation, whereas expression of the laboratory yeast ERC1 haplotype (XERC1) did not. Comparison between DNA sequences of K7ERC1 and XERC1 revealed three amino acid substitutions: S51N, V263I, and N545I. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that the N545I frameshift mutation was responsible for the K7ERC1 phenotype. These results indicate that K7ERC1 contributes to SAM accumulation in sake yeast strains.

Is Endovascular Aneurysm Repair a Relative Contraindication for Patients with Preoperative Renal Dysfunction?

UNLABELLED: Whether endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a relative contraindication in patients with preoperative renal dysfunction (Pre-RD), remains controversial because the contrast medium may induce nephrotoxicity. In this study 1658 patients were treated at ten Japanese medical centers between January 2005 and March 2011 (Open surgery (OS) vs. EVAR: n = 1270 vs. n = 388). They were retrospectively analyzed. Multiple logistic regression analysis (MLRA) with pre- and intra-operative variables was applied to all patients. The endpoints induced onset of new dialysis and postoperative renal dysfunction (Post-RD), were defined as a 50% decrease or more from the preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) level. RESULTS: Early mortality, Post-RD, incidence of new dialysis in all patients were 1.6% (OS: EVAR = 1.9%:0.8%), 6% (OS: EVAR = 8%:2.3%) and 1.4% (OS: EVAR = 1.5%:1.0%) respectively. MLRA identified operation time, clamp of renal artery as risk factors for Post-RD, and operation time and Pre-eGFR level as risk factors for new dialysis. CONCLUSION: Although Post-RD was more frequently observed in the OS group, MLRA showed that the choice of OS or EVAR was not a risk factor for Post-RD and new dialysis. It was strongly suggested that using contrast medium during EVAR is not a contraindication to AAA repair in patients with Pre-RD. (This article is a translation of J Jpn Coll Angiol 2014; 54: 13-18.).

The long-term outcomes of physiologic repair for ccTGA (congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries).

PURPOSE: The short-term outcome of physiologic repair for congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) is generally considered favorable; however, the long-term outcome is the greatest problem, especially with regard to right ventricular (RV) function and tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Although tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) appears to be a realistic choice for treating severe TR, determining the timing of TVR may be difficult. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective analysis of the long-term outcomes of physiologic repair for ccTGA focusing on patients with TVR. The study involved 23 patients after physiologic repair 10 or more years prior. There were 9 TVR cases in 5 pediatric patients (before age 18) and 4 adult patients. RESULTS: There were two late deaths; however, there was no case related with cardiac events. Overall survival at 10 and 20 years were 95.5 and 90.2 %, respectively, and 7 of 8 patients after TVR were NYHA class I or II. No patient has presented postoperative complications in the form of bleeding or embolism after TVR with mechanical valve. CONCLUSIONS: An analysis of the results of physiologic repair for ccTGA showed that the long-term outcome was overall favorable. To maintain RV function, early TVR may be a reasonable option, even in the management of patients during childhood.

Impact of introducing endovascular aneurysm repair on treatment strategy for repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm--National Hospital Organization network study in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the present study was to assess the hypothesis that the introduction of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) into Japan has expanded the indication of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair without increasing surgical mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 10 national hospitals, we registered a total of 2,154 consecutive patients (Open surgery [OS]: n=1,577, EVAR: n=577) over 8 years, divided into 4 time periods: Group I (2005-2006: n=522), Group II (2007-2008: n=475), Group III (2009-2010: n=551), Group IV, (2011-2012: n=606). Mean age increased over the 4 time periods (P<0.0001). The incidences of COPD, smoking history, history of abdominal surgery and concomitant malignancy significantly increased as well, while the numbers of patients with preoperative shock or high ASA status reduced over time. The proportion of EVAR in AAA repair increased from: 0% in Group I, 11.6% in Group II, 41.0% in Group III, to 48.8% in Group IV (P<0.0001). Early mortality was 0.8% in the EVAR and 3.4% in the OS (P<0.001) groups. Survival rates among the 4 groups free of all-cause death and aneurysm-related death at 1 year were 92.1-96.3% (P=0.1555) and 95.5-96.8% (P=0.9891), respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis for surgical death failed to demonstrate survival advantage of EVAR over OS. CONCLUSIONS: Introduction of EVAR expanded the indication of AAA repair without increasing mortality, while high risk for anesthesia and emergency cases reduced over time. UMIN-CTR (UMIN000008345).

[Total aortic arch replacement for severe atherosclerotic aortic aneurysms;consecutive 135 cases study].

OBJECTIVE: We study the validity of surgical procedure for total aortic arch replacement according to the atherosclerosis in the aortic arch. METHODS: From 2007 to June 2013, Consecutive 185 patients underwent total aortic arch replacement for thoracic aortic anuerysm. We studied 135 patients[96 males 72.1 year(38~89year)]except emergency operation. We assessed the atherosclerosis in the aortic arch by preoperative enhanced computed tomography (CT)scan and intraoperative epiaortic echocardiography. Based on the degree of atherosclerosis in the aortic arch, we divided into 2 groups:group 1(G1)included 97 patients with mild or moderate atherosclerosis and group 2 (G2) 38 patients with severe atherosclerosis. We used ascending aorta as arterial cannulation site in G1 and axillary artery with 8 mm graft in G2 .We compared with both groups for preoperative comorbidities and outcomes( mortality and stroke). RESULTS: Three patients died in the hospital (2%). In-hospital neurological events occurred in 12 patients, including major stroke in 4 patients, minor stroke in 4 patients and asymptomatic convulsion in 4 patients, although they were transient and clear before discharge except major stroke. There were no statistically significant differences in preoperative characteristics, cardiopulmonary bypass, brain protection, mortality, and neurological events between the 2 groups. There was a statistically difference in operation time( 388.8 minutes vs 448.5 minutes, p<0.01), intensive care unit( ICU) stay( 3.1 day vs 6.5 days, p<0.05) and hospital stay( 19.2 days vs 28.0 days, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We selected surgical procedure for total aortic arch replacement (TAR) according to atherosclerosis in the aortic arch. Although the rate of stroke was largely acceptable, we much need to be improved in prevention of stroke.

Surgical treatment for infected thrombus in the superior vena cava using an off-pump venoatrial shunt.

We report a septic patient who had an infected thrombus that extended from the right internal jugular vein to the right atrium 1 cm below the superior venocaval junction. The thrombus was successfully removed using an off-pump shunt placed between the innominate vein and the right atrium.

Translocation of dilated pulmonary artery for relief of bronchial compression associated with ventricular septal defect.

Bronchial compression due to a dilated pulmonary artery is a troublesome problem in the surgical management of infants or children with congenital heart disease. We experienced an infantile case of ventricular septal defect and prolonged respiratory insufficiency caused by right bronchial compression and left pulmonary hypoplasia. Anterior translocation of the dilated right pulmonary artery and intracardiac repair succeeded in relieving the bronchial compression and improving left pulmonary function. We advocate that this procedure is useful for bronchial compression with congenital heart disease and maldevelopment of the lung.

Reconstruction of the right heart in an elderly woman with Ebstein's anomaly and severe heart failure.

We report the case of a 53-year-old woman with Ebstein's anomaly and intractable heart failure who had undergone only tricuspid valve replacement 30 years earlier. She was treated conservatively for 1 month; however, she was placed in the New York Heart Association functional class IV. Therefore, we operated on her with the objective of improving her quality of life and cardiac function. One-and-a-half repair and a second tricuspid valve replacement with right ventriculoplasty were quite effective in ameliorating her critical condition.