RESUMO
We have previously proposed a radical change in the current strategy to clear pathogenic proteins from the central nervous system (CNS) based on the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-sink therapeutic strategy, whereby pathogenic proteins can be removed directly from the CNS via CSF. To this aim, we designed and manufactured an implantable device for selective and continuous apheresis of CSF enabling, in combination with anti-amyloid-beta (Aß) monoclonal antibodies (mAb), the clearance of Aß from the CSF. Here, we provide the first proof of concept in the APP/PS1 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Devices were implanted in twenty-four mice (seventeen APP/PS1 and seven Wt) with low rates of complications. We confirmed that the apheresis module is permeable to the Aß peptide and impermeable to mAb. Moreover, our results showed that continuous clearance of soluble Aß from the CSF for a few weeks decreases cortical Aß plaques. Thus, we conclude that this intervention is feasible and may provide important advantages in terms of safety and efficacy.
Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer , Doença de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/metabolismo , Precursor de Proteína beta-Amiloide/metabolismo , Animais , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Camundongos , Camundongos Transgênicos , Placa Amiloide/metabolismoRESUMO
Lung adenocarcinoma (LA) is the most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Despite the advances over last decade in new targeted therapies, cancer genetics, diagnostics, staging, and surgical techniques as well as new chemotherapy and radiotherapy protocols, the death rate from LA remains high. The tumour microenvironment is composed of several cytokines, one of which is transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1), which modulates and mediates the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), correlated with invasive growth in LAs, and exhibits its pleiotropic effects through binding to transmembrane receptors TßR-1 (also termed activin receptor-like kinases - ALKs) and TßR-2. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to elucidate the molecular mechanisms associated with the tumoural spreading process and therapeutic resistance of this serious pathology. In this review, we briefly discuss the current role of contextual signal TGF-ß1 inducer of epithelial mesenchymal transition in metastatic lung adenocarcinoma patients with brain metastases, and give an overview of our current mechanistic understanding of the TGF-ß1-related pathways in brain metastases progression, TGF-ß1 pathway inhibitors that could be used for clinical treatment, and examination of models used to study these processes. Finally, we summarise the current progress in the therapeutic approaches targeting TGF-ß1.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) and the proper target for chronic cluster headache (CCH) are still subjects of controversy. OBJECTIVES: We present our long-term results of analysis of the target and its structural connectivity. METHODS: Fifteen patients with drug-resistant CCH underwent DBS in coordinates 4 mm lateral to the III ventricular wall and 2 mm behind and 5 mm below the intercommissural point. The clinical parameters recorded were the number of weekly attacks, pain intensity, and duration of the headache. Structural connectivity was studied using 3-T MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). RESULTS: All of our patients improved from a mean of 39 attacks/week to 2; pain intensity decreased from 9 to 3 out of 10, and the mean cephalalgia duration decreased from 53 to 8 min. The mean stereotactic coordinates of the effective contact location were 6.1 mm lateral to the midcommissural point and 1.2 mm behind and 4.0 mm below the intercommissural point. DTI analysis showed that this target was connected to tracts and nuclei of the posterior mesencephalic tegmentum, specifically the dorsal longitudinal and mamillotegmental fasciculi. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed DBS to be a safe and useful procedure for the treatment of drug-resistant CCH; the rate of improvement was higher than those found in other series. Although these are promising results, larger series targeting those fasciculi with a longer follow-up are needed.
Assuntos
Cefaleia Histamínica/terapia , Estimulação Encefálica Profunda/métodos , Subtálamo/fisiopatologia , Adulto , Cefaleia Histamínica/diagnóstico por imagem , Cefaleia Histamínica/fisiopatologia , Imagem de Tensor de Difusão , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Subtálamo/diagnóstico por imagem , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Background Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant primary brain tumour in adults. Due to the ageing of the population, diagnosis in the elderly is becoming more common. The aim of this study was to analyse different combinations of treatments and to identify preoperative factors, including O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase status, that may be associated with decreased survival among patients older than 70 years. Methods and materials We retrospectively included all patients over 70 years of age, who underwent surgery at the Department of Neurosurgery (HUCA and HUMV) and were diagnosed of GBM by pathological criteria from January 2007 to September 2014. Results Eighty-one patients were analysed, whose mean age was 75 (SD 4) and 48 were male. Karnofsky performance status (KPS) was over 70 in 61 patients and 38.3% presented with motor deficit. Sixty-three patients underwent resection, and 18 had only a diagnostic biopsy. The complication rate was 17.28% and mortality rate was 7.4%. Survival was increased in patients who received radiotherapy (n = 41) or additional chemotherapy (n = 26) (p < 0.001). KPS < 70 was an independent factor associated with low-rate survival. Patients with optimal treatment had a median survival of 8 months compared to patients with suboptimal treatment who had a median survival of 4 months (p < 0.001). Conclusions This study suggests that KPS is the most important preoperative prognostic factor. Maximal safe resection followed by radical radiotherapy and temozolomide might be the optimal treatment of choice since glioblastoma-diagnosed patients over 70 years of age showed a statistically significant survival benefit.
Assuntos
Neoplasias Encefálicas/patologia , Neoplasias Encefálicas/terapia , Glioma/terapia , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Antineoplásicos Alquilantes/uso terapêutico , Neoplasias Encefálicas/diagnóstico , Terapia Combinada , Dacarbazina/análogos & derivados , Dacarbazina/uso terapêutico , Feminino , Glioma/diagnóstico , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Gradação de Tumores , Procedimentos Neurocirúrgicos/métodos , Prognóstico , Análise de Sobrevida , Temozolomida , Resultado do TratamentoAssuntos
Infecções por Acinetobacter , Acinetobacter baumannii , Acinetobacter , Meningites Bacterianas , Meningite , Infecções por Acinetobacter/tratamento farmacológico , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Catéteres , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana Múltipla , Humanos , Meningites Bacterianas/tratamento farmacológicoRESUMO
Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are a family of H(+)-gated voltage-insensitive ion channels that respond to extracellular acidification by regulating transmembrane Ca(2+) flux. Moreover, ASICs can also be gated by mechanical forces and may function as mechanosensors. The cells of the intervertebral disc (IVD) have an unusual acidic and hyperosmotic microenvironment. Changes in the pH and osmolarity determine the viability of IVD cells and the composition of the extracellular matrix, and both are the basis of IVD degeneration. In this study, the expression of ASICs (ASIC1, ASIC2, ASIC3 and ASIC4) mRNAs and proteins in human healthy and degenerated IVD was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. The distribution of ASIC proteins was determined by immunohistochemistry. The mRNAs for all ASICs were detected in normal human IVD, and significantly increased levels were found in degenerated IVD. Western blots demonstrated the presence of proteins with estimated molecular weights of approximately 68-72 kDa. In both the annulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) of normal IVD, ASIC2 is the most frequently expressed ASIC followed by ASIC3, ASIC1 and ASIC4. In the AF of degenerated IVD, there was a significant increase in the number of ASIC1 and ASIC4 positive cells, whereas in the NP, we found significant increase of expression of ASIC1, ASIC2 and ASIC3. These results describe the occurrence and localization of different ASICs in human healthy IVD, and their increased expression in degenerated IVD, thus suggesting that ASICs may be involved in IVD degeneration.
Assuntos
Canais Iônicos Sensíveis a Ácido/metabolismo , Degeneração do Disco Intervertebral/metabolismo , Disco Intervertebral/metabolismo , Proteínas do Tecido Nervoso/metabolismo , Adulto , Idoso , Cálcio/metabolismo , Matriz Extracelular/metabolismo , Feminino , Humanos , Imuno-Histoquímica/métodos , Disco Intervertebral/patologia , Masculino , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
Glioblastoma-initiating cells (GICs) represent a stem cell-like subpopulation within malignant glioblastomas responsible for tumor development, progression, therapeutic resistance, and tumor relapse. Thus, eradication of this subpopulation is essential to achieve stable, long-lasting remission. We have previously reported that melatonin decreases cell proliferation of glioblastoma cells both in vitro and in vivo and synergistically increases effectiveness of drugs in glioblastoma cells and also in GICs. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the indolamine alone in GICs and found that melatonin treatment reduces GICs proliferation and induces a decrease in self-renewal and clonogenic ability accompanied by a reduction in the expression of stem cell markers. Moreover, our results also indicate that melatonin treatment, by modulating stem cell properties, induces cell death with ultrastructural features of autophagy. Thus, data reported here reinforce the therapeutic potential of melatonin as a treatment of malignant glioblastoma both by inhibiting tumor bulk proliferation or killing GICs, and simultaneously enhancing the effect of chemotherapy.
Assuntos
Autofagia/fisiologia , Neoplasias Encefálicas/patologia , Glioma/patologia , Melatonina/fisiologia , Sequência de Bases , Citometria de Fluxo , Humanos , Melatonina/farmacologia , Microscopia Eletrônica , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo RealRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Several surgical adverse events (SAEs) have been associated with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients, leading to certain confusion about the risk/benefit ratio of this technique, and giving rise to the need of more and more extensive control studies over longer periods. The aim of this article is to identify and quantify the factors associated with the most frequent AEs from STN DBS in PD-diagnosed patients. METHODS: The following variables were studied: aborted procedure, misplaced leads, intracranial haemorrhage, and seizures. This study was carried out in 233 patients diagnosed with PD, with 455 STN electrodes implanted and follow-up after 7 (8-14) years follow up. RESULTS: A total amount of 56 SAEs occurred in 49 patients (11.76 % of total procedures, 12.31 % of implanted leads, 21.03 % of patients). SAEs were: five aborted procedures, 26 misplaced leads, ten intracranial haemorrhages, and 15 seizures. Of all the SAEs, long-term effects only happened in two cases of hemiparesis caused by intracranial haemorrhage; the other SAEs were reversible and didn't leave any long-term clinical consequences (0.42 % of procedures, 0.44 % of leads, and 0.86 % of patients). CONCLUSIONS: STN DBS in PD patients is a safe surgical procedure, with good risk/benefit ratios: procedure reliability/correct lead implantation in 95.59 %, 0 mortality/implanted lead, 0.12 morbidity/implanted lead, and 0.0043 neurological sequelae/implanted lead.
Assuntos
Estimulação Encefálica Profunda/efeitos adversos , Hemorragias Intracranianas/etiologia , Doença de Parkinson/cirurgia , Convulsões/etiologia , Núcleo Subtalâmico/cirurgia , Adulto , Idoso , Estimulação Encefálica Profunda/métodos , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Reprodutibilidade dos TestesRESUMO
Acute fulminant cerebral edema is a type of rapidly progressive encephalitis that occurs in children and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We present a clinical case with seizures, rapid neurological deterioration and the early appearance of cerebral herniation signs. Although the radiological tests were initially normal and there are no established parameters that predict the evolution of encephalitis to a rapidly progressive subtype, the clinical evolution forced to consider the decompressive craniectomy due to the lack of response to the medical management of the cerebral edema. It may be necessary take a brain biopsy to confirm the etiology of the encephalitis origin of acute fulminant cerebral edema. The objective of surgery should be not only to increase survival, but also to reduce subsequent neurological sequelae.
RESUMO
Stereotaxic surgeries enable precise access to specific brain regions, being of particular interest for chronic intracerebroventricular drug delivery. However, the challenge of long-term studies at this level is to allow the implantation of drug storage devices and their correct intrathecal connection while guaranteeing animal welfare during the entire study period. In this study, we propose an optimized method for safe intrathecal device implantation, focusing on preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative procedures, following the 3Rs principle and animal welfare regulations. Our optimized protocol introduces three main refinements. Firstly, we modify the dimensions of the implantable devices, notably diminishing the device-to-mouse weight ratio. Secondly, we use a combination of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive and UV light-curing resin, which decreases surgery time, improves healing, and notably minimizes cannula detachment or adverse effects. Thirdly, we develop a customized welfare assessment scoresheet to accurately monitor animal well-being during long-term implantations. Taken together, these refinements positively impacted animal welfare by minimizing the negative effects on body weight, surgery-related complications, and anxiety-like behaviors. Overall, the proposed refinements have the potential to reduce animal use, enhance experimental data quality, and improve reproducibility. Additionally, these improvements can be extended to other neurosurgical techniques, thereby advancing neuroscience research, and benefiting the scientific community.
RESUMO
Meningeal melanomatosis is an infrequent tumor originating from the melanocytes in the leptomeninges and one of the recognized primary melanocytic tumors of the central nervous system. The average survival has known to be about 5 months. It can be associated with solid tumors, such as meningeal melanocytomas. The patient we present was diagnosed of a meningeal melanomatosis that developed two solid tumors related to an in vitro fertilization. The clinical course was rapidly fatal. Although the use of comprehensive diagnostic procedures, usually the final diagnosis of primary diffuse meningeal melanomatosis is postmortem, it would be advisable for the appropriate management of the patient to make a differential diagnosis and to be aware of the behavior of the tumor.
Assuntos
Fertilização in vitro , Melanoma , Neoplasias Meníngeas , Neoplasias da Medula Espinal , Adulto , Humanos , Evolução Fatal , Fertilização in vitro/efeitos adversos , Melanoma/diagnóstico , Melanoma/etiologia , Neoplasias Meníngeas/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Meníngeas/etiologia , Neoplasias da Medula Espinal/diagnóstico , Neoplasias da Medula Espinal/etiologiaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Cerebral swelling often occurs during craniotomy for cerebral tumors. Poor brain relaxation can increase the risk of cerebral ischemia, possibly worsening the outcome. The surgical team should identify any risk factors that could cause perioperative brain swelling and decide which therapies are indicated for improving it. The present investigation aimed to elucidate the risk factors associated with brain swelling during elective craniotomy for supratentorial brain tumors. METHODS: This prospective, nonrandomized, observational study included 52 patients scheduled for elective supratentorial tumor surgery. The degree of brain relaxation was classified upon the opening of the dura according to a four-point scale (brain relaxation score: 1, perfectly relaxed; 2, satisfactorily relaxed; 3, firm brain; and 4, bulging brain). Moreover, hemodynamic and respiratory parameters, arterial blood gas, and plasma osmolality were recorded after the removal of the bone flap. RESULTS: This study showed that the use of preoperative dexamethasone was associated with a brain relaxation score of ≤2 (p = 0.005). The median midline shift of 6 (3-0) mm and median hemoglobin level of >13 g/dL were associated with a brain relaxation score of ≥3 (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01, respectively). The dosage of mannitol (0.25 g/kg versus 0.5 g/kg), physical status, intraoperative position, tumor diameter and volume, peritumoral edema and mass effect, World Health Organization (WHO) grading, mean arterial pressure, PaCO2, osmolality, and core temperature were not identified as risk factors associated with poor relaxation. CONCLUSION: The use of preoperative dexamethasone was associated with improved brain relaxation, whereas the presence of a preoperative midline shift and a higher level of hemoglobin were associated with poor brain relaxation.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas aeruginosa neurosurgical meningitis is a rare entity, usually related with intraventricular catheters and associated with high mortality rates. We describe the clinical characteristics, treatment and outcomes of a series of neurosurgical meningitis caused by P. aeruginosa along 1990-2016. METHODS: Descriptive, retrospective study of all postsurgical meningitis due to P. aeruginosa related to intraventricular catheters in Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, between 1990 and 2016. Clinical features, therapeutic approaches and prognostic factors were analyzed statistically. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors influencing the infection mortality. RESULT: 51 episodes from 51 different patients with CSF culture positive for P. aeruginosa were reviewed. Seventeen patients (33.3%) died as a direct consequence of the infection. Univariate analysis showed that mortality was higher in the group of patients treated with ceftazidime (12 vs. 15, p=0.068, OR 3.040 [0.877-10.544]) and lower in patients whom had received intrathecal therapy (2 vs. 13, p=0.050, OR 4.64 [0.80-34.93]), without differences observed between those patients treated with aminoglycosides or with colistin. Any patient treated with colistin died (0 vs. 6, p=0.067, OR: not defined). In the multivariate analysis mortality was only significant higher for patients without catheter withdrawal (p=0.014) and lower for those patients who received intrathecal therapy (p=0.05) or adequate empirical treatment (p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: The mortality of P. aeruginosa meningitis is high especially in infections without catheter withdrawal and in patients for whom the intrathecal route of administration was not used. Catheter withdrawal was an independent factor of good outcome in our series.
Assuntos
Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Cateteres Cardíacos/microbiologia , Infecção Hospitalar , Meningites Bacterianas/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções por Pseudomonas/tratamento farmacológico , Infecção Hospitalar/tratamento farmacológico , Infecção Hospitalar/mortalidade , Hospitais , Humanos , Meningites Bacterianas/mortalidade , Procedimentos Neurocirúrgicos , Infecções por Pseudomonas/mortalidade , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
Introduction The use of orthopedic implants is a cause for concern for the release of its integrating metals and the systemic complications that may occur. Instrumented spine arthrodesis is the recommended treatment for many spine diseases. Different segmental fixation devices, commonly made of titanium and its alloys, are used in these surgeries. The use of this metal for spinal fusion has introduced the possibility of generating microscopic metal particles that are present in the tissues of the surrounding implants (peri-implant environment). In fact, metal debris has been found in the paraspinal soft tissues of patients with posterior lumbar instrumentation and showed to be particularly high in patients undergoing revision procedures of pseudoarthrosis. In addition, part of the metals might also dissolve (either from the released particles or directly from the implant surface) and circulate in the body fluids, accumulating (eventually) in remote organs. Material and methods A prospective study was designed with patients who were to be operated by the pathology of the lumbar spine to perform a vertebral arthrodesis composed of a titanium alloy (n=32). Two subgroups were differentiated according to the type of surgery performed: a) Posterolateral arthrodesis (N=5); b) Circumferential arthrodesis intervertebral implant of polyester-ether ketone (PEEK) (N=8) or titanium (N=19). The blood sample was taken before surgery and one year later. The samples were analyzed by mass spectrophotometry with a double focus inductive coupling plasma source (DF-ICP-MS). Results Blood titanium levels prior to surgery were similar to those in other publications (0.7449 micrograms per liter-1 (µgL-1), Standard Deviation (SD)=0.562). The average titanium concentration levels found after surgery was 2.5406 µgL-1 (SD=3,69), near 3.5-fold increase. After surgery, there was a significant mean increase in serum titanium levels of 1.7957 µgL-1 (SD=3.5765, Range=-0.57 µgL-1; 14.60 µgL-1). There is a statistically significant increment (p=0.00049) of the titanium concentration in the serum of the patients after surgery. If we analyze the patients in three groups according to the type of implants used (posterolateral, circumferential with PEEK, and circumferential with titanium), there are no differences between those who did not have an intersomatic device implanted and those in which PEEK implants were implanted, but with those in which it was titanium it was p=0.006 and p=0.018, respectively. Conclusions Patients undergoing vertebral instrumentation experience a significant increase in serum titanium levels compared to before surgery levels. The use of an intersomatic device did not show differences in titanium release with not using it when it was PEEK. There are significant differences between patients without intersomatic implants or those who had a PEEK implant with those in whom it was titanium, with a significant increase in blood titanium levels.
RESUMO
The occurrence of brain tumors together with aneurysms has been considered as an uncommon phenomenon. However, its incidence may be underestimated. This coexistence is a diagnostic challenge, but also a therapeutic one as no consensus has been reached. We report two cases of a 71 and 67 years old patient with a meningioma and aneurysm: one noticed and treated before with good outcome and the other without treatment before surgery with fatal outcome. The different outcome of these patients shows the importance of vascular study in surgical planning. Treatments options are changing and although some authors think the pathology that causes symptoms should be treated first, endovascular treatment of the aneurysm is a safe option to prevent aneurysm rupture during surgery.
Assuntos
Aneurisma Roto/diagnóstico , Aneurisma Intracraniano/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Meníngeas/diagnóstico , Meningioma/diagnóstico , Idoso , Aneurisma Roto/terapia , Evolução Fatal , Feminino , Humanos , Aneurisma Intracraniano/terapia , Neoplasias Meníngeas/cirurgia , Meningioma/cirurgia , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Little work has been published on the capacity to adapt to the disease of patients with malignant middle cerebral artery infarction who have undergone decompressive surgery. The purpose of this study is to analyse the final quality of life and the degree of satisfaction of patients and their relatives. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analysed 21 patients one year after their operation. The quality of life was evaluated using the Spanish version of the Sickness Impact Profile. In order to determine the degree of retrospective satisfaction, we asked relatives and patients whether, now that the patient's current sequelae are known, they would have still agreed to a decompressive craniectomy. RESULTS: The physical sphere is felt to be more disrupted than that concerning emotional aspects. There are no differences in the quality of life between patients who have the right or the left hemisphere affected. Patients with a better functional situation report a better quality of life. Altogether, 81% of patients said they were satisfied. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the fact that all the patients show a loss of quality of life after a decompressive craniectomy, most of them seem to be satisfied with the treatment they have received, even in cases in which the dominant hemisphere is compromised or in those with a moderate-severe disability.
Assuntos
Infarto da Artéria Cerebral Média/cirurgia , Satisfação do Paciente , Qualidade de Vida , Feminino , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMO
Rosai-Dorfman disease is a rare, benign, idiopathic histio-proliferative disorder. Only 5% of cases involve the central nervous system. We describe a 10-year-old girl with pain in her lower limbs and back. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intradural extramedullary lesion at T9-T10. We decided on surgical treatment. An anatomic/pathologic examination revealed histiocytic-like cells and extensive fibrosis. Immunohistochemistry revealed positivity for CD68 protein and negativity for CD1a protein. Craniospinal magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an extra-axial lesion in the right frontal region, a small nodule in the left middle cerebellar peduncle, and another small lesion in the right ventral pons. We performed a complete removal of the frontal lesion. The histologic examination produced results compatible with Rosai-Dorfman disease. Most lesions in intracranial Rosai-Dorfman disease mimic meningioma. The definitive diagnosis relies on pathologic and immunohistochemical characteristics. Surgical removal is generally regarded as the treatment of choice. Disease progression after surgical resection is uncommon. Surgical treatment is not recommended until clear disease progression is detected, or focal disease causes neurologic compression. This disease must be included in the differential diagnosis of lesions that mimic meningioma.
Assuntos
Sistema Nervoso Central/patologia , Sistema Nervoso Central/fisiopatologia , Histiocitose Sinusal/patologia , Antígenos CD/metabolismo , Antígenos CD1/metabolismo , Antígenos de Diferenciação Mielomonocítica/metabolismo , Sistema Nervoso Central/metabolismo , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Imageamento por Ressonância MagnéticaRESUMO
The purpose was to determine the incidence of lead fracture in patients with DBS over a long period of time. We present a retrospective study of 208 patients who received 387 DBS electrodes. Fourteen patients had sixteen lead fractures (4% of the implanted leads) and two patients suffered from 2 lead fractures. Of all lead fractures, five patients had the connection between the leads and the extension cables located in mastoids region, ten in cervical area and one in thoracic region. The mean distance from the connection between the electrode and the extension cable and the lead fracture was 10.7 mm. The lead fracture is a common, although long-term complication in DBS surgery. In our experience, the most common site of electrode cable breakage is approximately between 9 and 13 mm from the junction between the lead and the extension cable. The most important cause of lead fracture is the rotational movement of the lead-extension cable system. If we suspect lead fracture, we must check the impedance of the electrode and to evaluate the side effects of voltage. Finally, we must conduct a radiological screening.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: We report our experience and results with extradural cortical stimulation (ECS) in the surgical treatment of Parkinson's Disease (PD). Besides, we review the literature supporting the use of this technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six patients with advanced PD and exclusion criteria for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) were included in our ECS protocol. With the aid of functional MRI and somato-sensory evoked potentials monitoring, the motor cortex projection over the scalp was drawn. Finally, under local anesthesia a stimulation lead was placed in the epidural space overlying the central sulcus. RESULTS: Patients showed mild daily life activities improvement with a slightly lower levodopa equivalent dose, but UPDRS part III scores showed no significant modification. CONCLUSIONS: Despite ECS is a minimally invasive surgical technique, our results only support its use in selected patients with advanced PD, in whom this therapy may be modestly effective. More experimental studies regarding the neuromodulation of the basal ganglia-cortex loops are required to optimize its clinical application.