Unilateral microscopic approach for lumbar spinal stenosis decompression: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Microscopic unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression (ULBD) is a minimally invasive technique used in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis and could limit spinal instability and be associated with better clinical outcomes. However, there is ongoing debate regarding its utility compared to conventional laminectomy (CL). The primary objective was to collate and describe the current evidence base for ULBD, including perioperative parameters, functional outcomes, and complications. The secondary objective was to identify operative techniques. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted between January 1990 and August 2022 according to the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Major databases were searched for full text English articles reporting on outcomes following microscopic unilateral laminotomy in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. RESULTS: Seventeen articles met the inclusion criteria. Two studies were randomised controlled trials. Two studies were prospective data collection and the rest were retrospective analysis. Three studies compared ULBD with CL. ULBD preserves the osteoligamentous complex and may be associated with shorter operative time, less blood loss, and similar clinical outcomes when compared to CL. CONCLUSION: This review highlights that ULBD aims to minimise disruption to the normal posterior spinal anatomy and may have acceptable clinical outcomes. It also highlights that it is difficult to draw valid conclusions given there are limited data available as most studies identified were retrospective or did not have a comparator group.

Natural history of post-operative non-functioning pituitary adenomas - a single centre cohort analysis.

PURPOSE: To study behaviour of endonasally operated non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) and propose a cost-effective stratified follow-up regimen. METHODS: A single centre retrospective cohort analysis from June 2009 till December 2019. All endonasally operated pituitary adenomas were identified with sub-analysis of the NFPA's. Patients of all age groups with radiological follow-up more than 30 months were included. Patients with any kind of cranial intervention performed < within 30 months of surgery were excluded. The post-operative MRI for this cohort was evaluated until either any intervention was performed or until the last follow-up. The maximal tumour diameter in any plane (mm) was measured from the MRI scans. The annual growth rate and the statistical relationship between age, sex, IHC, Ki-67, resection %, residual tumour was calculated. RESULTS: Out of 610 pituitary adenomas identified in the dataset, 116 patients met the inclusion criteria. Follow-up period ranged from 30 to 142 months (mean 78.5 months). A strong relationship existed between predicting tumour progression with first post-operative residue size (p = .001). A statistically significant relationship was found to be present between tumour growth and a residue of less than 10 mm diameter and 11-20 mm in diameter (Log rank p value .0216). On average, each patient with a residue < 5mm had MRI scans costing 976 £. CONCLUSION: Based on statistical analysis and internal validation of the growth rate of the residue, we have proposed MRI follow-up scans. These recommendations have the potential to save more than 300 £per patient towards MRI costs and can lay down a marker for defining time interval of serial scans for post-operative NFPA's.

Simple Things Are Not Simple: Pulsatile Tinnitus due to Tortuous Occipital Artery.

BACKGROUND: Pulsatile tinnitus is often a chronic and debilitating condition and normally has a vascular origin. We describe a case of pulsatile tinnitus due to an aberrant branch of the external carotid artery (ECA), which has not been reported previously. METHOD: A 67-year-old female with chronic unilateral pulsatile tinnitus, which could be controlled completely with direct pressure on a small tortuous superficial branch behind her left ear. This was confirmed with doppler to be an unusually tortuous occipital branch of the ECA. Under local anesthesia, this vessel was identified with intraoperative doppler and ligated. RESULT: Complete resolution of tinnitus immediately, with consistent results 3 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Pulsatile tinnitus due to aberrances in the occipital ECA branch is rare, and in this case, was successfully treated with minor surgery.

A large UK single-centre experience in the long-term safety and efficacy of Woven Endobridge in the treatment of wide-neck intracranial aneurysms and risk factors associated with re-bleeding and re-treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Endovascular treatment of wide neck aneurysms remains complicated with a determined and continuous technological effort towards treatment options that can offer safer and efficacious outcomes. The Woven Endobridge device was introduced in 2010 and has become a mainstay endovascular treatment for wide neck and large intracranial aneurysms. A recent review of the Woven Endobridge Clinical Assessment of Intrasaccular Aneurysm Therapy (WEBCAST) and WEBCAST2 trials and the five-year follow-up of patients was published. Our aim is to demonstrate real-life experience of aneurysms and patients treated with Woven Endobridge from a large high-volume specialist centre. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of patients treated with Woven Endobridge from March 2013 to March 2018. Primary efficacy outcomes were defined as per Raymond-Roy Occlusion Criteria (RROC) resulting in long-term complete occlusion (RROC1) and adequate occlusion (RROC1 and RROC2). Primary Safety outcomes were defined as procedure-related morbidity, rate of re-bleeding and rate of re-treatment. RESULTS: Seventy-nine aneurysms were treated during the five-year period. Adequate aneurysm occlusion (RROC1 and RROC2) achieved was 81%. Retreatment was required in 18% of patients (14/79). Greater retreatment rate was demonstrated in partially thrombosed aneurysms, aneurysms with larger neck and dome diameter and dome heights. CONCLUSION: Woven Endobridge treatment of wide-neck intracranial aneurysms offers a safe and efficacious outcome. This large UK single-centre experience demonstrates congruity with recent five-year outcomes of WEBCAST and WEBCAST2 trials.

Ischaemic monomelic neuropathy of the lower limb.

Background: Ischaemic mononeuropathy (IMN) is a rarely reported type of peripheral neuropathy secondary to an ischaemic injury, due to a complication of haemodialysis access. Although underreported, this phenomenon typically occurs in diabetic patients and may reflect the predisposition to neuropathic injury on a background of chronic deleterious changes in the microvasculature in diabetes. It is characterised by mononeuropathic features such as paraesthesia, pain and motor weakness and usually is reported as a rare complication of brachiocephalic fistula. We report a case of IMN which occurred in a patient with end-stage diabetic nephropathy following polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft placement in the groin as vascular access for haemodialysis.

Hypertensive posterior reversible encephalopathy causing obstructive hydrocephalus.

Background: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) can occur due to the detrimental effect of malignant hypertension on cerebral autoregulation. Most reported cases describe involvement of the supratentorial areas. Involvement of the posterior fossa structures in conjunction with supratentorial involvement has also been reported; however, PRES affecting the infratentorial structures without supratentorial involvement is a rare phenomenon. Clinical manifestations can involve severe headache, seizures, and reduced consciousness with treatment focused primarily on blood pressure control. Case Description: We report a case of PRES with isolated involvement of the infratentorial structures leading to obstructive hydrocephalus. The patient was managed with aggressive control of blood pressure and avoided ventriculostomy or posterior fossa decompression with a good outcome. Conclusion: Medical management in the absence of neurological deficit can be associated with a good outcome.

Strokectomy for malignant middle cerebral artery infarction: experience and meta-analysis of current evidence.

Strokectomy means surgical excision of infarcted brain tissue post-stroke with preservation of skull integrity, distinguishing it from decompressive hemicraniectomy. Both can mitigate malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) syndrome but evidence regarding strokectomy is sparse. Here, we report our data and meta-analysis of strokectomy compared to hemicraniectomy for malignant MCA infarction. All malignant MCA stroke cases requiring surgical intervention in a large tertiary centre (January 2012-December 2017, N = 24) were analysed for craniotomy diameter, complications, length of follow-up and outcome measured using the modified Rankin score (mRS). Good outcome was defined as mRS 0-3 at 12 months. In a meta-analysis, outcome from strokectomy (pooled from our cohort and published strokectomy studies) was compared with hemicraniectomy (our cohort pooled with published DECIMAL, DESTINY and HAMLET clinical trial data). In our series (N = 24, 12/12 F/M; mean age: 45.83 ± 8.91, range 29-63 years), 4 patients underwent strokectomy (SC) and 20 hemicraniectomy (HC). Among SC patients, craniotomy diameter was smaller, relative to HC patients (86 ± 13.10 mm, 120 ± 4.10 mm, respectively; p = 0.003), complications were less common (25%, 55%) and poor outcomes were less common (25%, 70%). In the pooled data (N = 41 SC, 71 HC), strokectomy tended towards good outcome more than hemicraniectomy (OR 2.2, 95% CI 0.99-4.7; p = 0.051). In conclusion, strokectomy may be non-inferior, lower risk and cost saving relative to hemicraniectomy sufficiently to be worthy of further investigation and maybe a randomised trial.

Malignant middle cerebral artery infarction following subacute subdural hematoma: A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Subacute subdural hematomas (ASDH) are only treated surgically when they cause mass effect significant enough to give symptoms. Rarely, sub-ASDH may cause enough pressure to result in a malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory infarction. Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is the last resort to reduce intracranial pressure following malignant MCA infarction. Herein, we review the literature and describe a case of MCA/posterior cerebral artery (PCA) territories infarction following drainage of a sub-ASDH that was treated with DC with good outcome. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a case of malignant right-sided MCA/PCA infarction in a 62-year-old man who presented with progressive headache following a cycling incident leading to a head injury. Initial CT head demonstrated a small right ASDH. He had no neurological deficit, headache settled on analgesia, and there was no expansion of the SDH on the repeat CT; therefore, he was managed conservatively. He was admitted 6-days later with worsening headaches and hyponatremia. Repeat CT revealed an increase in size of the hematoma and mass effect leading to a mini-craniotomy and evacuation of hematoma. He developed left-sided hemiplegia, slurred speech and hyponatremia, and CT head demonstrated a right-sided MCA/PCA infarction with significant mass effect. He underwent emergent DC and subsequent cranioplasty and ultimately recovered to mRS of 2. CONCLUSION: SDH are frequent neurosurgical entities. Malignant MCA/PCA strokes following mini-craniotomies are rare but need to be considered especially during the consent process.

Correlation of intracranial and aortic aneurysms: current trends and evidence.

The correlation between intracranial and aortic aneurysms remains elusive. Data in the literature are scattered, and outcome reporting is swamped with heterogeneity and single-center bias. This calamity is adding to confusion on decision-making and delays the instigation of appropriate clinical applications. This literature review delves into the abyss of the lack of clinically driven scientific input, and highlights the trends explored thus far.

Immunological therapeutics in acute aortic syndrome.

Acute aortic syndrome is a group of interlinked conditions with common presenting symptoms, including aortic dissection, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer, and intramural hematoma. Pharmacological management of acute aortic syndrome is a growing area, with key themes to address the underlying inflammatory pathways believed to be the cause. Research into interleukins, matrix metalloproteinases, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor are just some of the many immunological properties being investigated and translated into medical therapies. Stem cell experiments may indicate further advances in the pathologies of acute aortic syndrome. The study of pharmacogenomics to improve treatment across different genomes is also a novel area outlined in this paper.

Frozen elephant trunk with straight vascular prosthesis: single-center experience with a review of current trends.

BACKGROUND: We aim to reflect on our experience utilizing the frozen elephant trunk (FET) and straight vascular prostheses. METHODS: Three hundred patients from 2005 to 2018 were identified from our prospectively collected data stratifying the patients who underwent aortic surgery including the arch and distal aortic stream. We examined the pre-operative and operative characteristics of these patients along with in-hospital outcomes and follow-up survival. Continuous and categorical variables were analyzed using two-sided unpaired t-test and Fischer's Exact test, respectively. Kaplan Meier analysis was used to evaluate survival. RESULTS: Three hundred patients (mean age 59) underwent one stage surgery utilizing our FET for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD, 55%), chronic aortic dissection (CAD, 23%) and thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA, 22%). 30-day mortality was 12%, highest amongst the ATAAD group (12.8%). Neurological deficit stratified into permanent stoke and paraplegia was 7% and 2% respectively. Freedom from aortic related death at 10 years was 91%. Survival probability at 5 years for ATAAD, CAD & TAA was 91%, 98% and 92% respectively. Freedom from reintervention in ATAAD proximal repair vs. FET was 68% vs. 87% at 5 years and 48% vs. 74% at 10 years respectively. Patients were separated according to distal anastomosis level in zone 2 (Z2, 237) and zone 3 (Z3, 105). Conceptual zone 2 versus zone 3 aortic arch replacement survival analysis at 5 years was Z2 - 75% vs Z3 - 60% (P=0.034); and at 8 years was Z2 - 74% vs. Z3 - 52% (P=0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Frozen elephant trunk using EVITA Hybrid Open Plus stent graft and other devices in the family of device technology attain optimal outcomes to treat complex thoracic aortic lesions in elective and non-elective settings.

A review into the management of May-Thurner syndrome in adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presentation, etiology, management and outcomes of May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) in adolescents aged under 18. METHODS: We searched electronic bibliographic databases to identify published reports of MTS in patients under 18 years of age. We conducted our review according to the PRISMA statement standards. RESULTS: Ten studies encompassing 22 patients treated for MTS in adolescent cases were identified. The mean age of patients was 15 years (range, 10-18 years). Of the 22 patients, 12 (55%) were confirmed to have proximal deep vein thrombosis as the primary indication for intervention. Treatment methods included catheter-directed thrombolysis and iliac vein stenting (41%), pharmacomechanical thrombolysis and iliac vein stenting (18%), iliac vein stenting alone (27%), open surgery (14%), catheter-directed thrombolysis (5%), and anticoagulation alone (5%). Complications were infrequent. All studies reported subjective improvements in clinical symptoms with only two studies using validate outcome measures. In total, 9 of 22 patients (41%) had addition risk factors that may precipitate thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: As in adults, the most common form of treatment seen in the literature is a combination of catheter direct thrombolysis, followed by iliac vein stenting with subsequent anticoagulation. Complications from interventions were low. It is unclear how these interventions affect symptomology and the long-term sequalae associated endovascular surgery and stenting in adolescents. Further research is needed in well-designed studies with adequate follow-up.