Percutaneous fetal endoscopic third ventriculostomy for severe isolated cerebral ventriculomegaly.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the feasibility and preliminary results of percutaneous fetal endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in human fetuses (pfETV) with isolated progressive and/or severe bilateral cerebral ventriculomegaly (IPSBV). METHODS: The initial results of pfETV for IPSBV were described. Perioperative, perinatal and postnatal variables were described. The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3), 3rd edition (ASQ-3) was used for follow-up of all infants. RESULTS: Successful pfETV was performed in 10/11 (91%) fetuses, at a median gestational age (GA) of 28.7 weeks (25.3-30.7). There were no perioperative complications. After pfETV, 70% (7/10) of the fetuses had a decreased or stabilized lateral ventricle atria|lateral ventricle's atria. The median GA at delivery was 38.2 weeks (35.9-39.3). There were no perinatal complications. The postnatal ventriculoperitoneal shunt rate was 80% (8/10). Among neonates/infants who had prenatal stabilization or a decrease in the LVAs, 4 (4/7: 57.1%) had abnormal scores on the ASQ-3. Among neonates/infants that experienced prenatal increases in the LVAs, all of them (3/3: 100%) had abnormal scores on the ASQ-3. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous ETV is feasible in human fetuses with progressive and/or severe cerebral ventriculomegaly and seems to be a safe procedure for both the mother and the fetus.

Fetal open spinal dysraphism repair through a mini-hysterotomy: Influence of gestational age at surgery on children's ability to walk.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of gestational age (GA) at the time of fetal open spinal dysraphism (OSD) repair through a mini-hysterotomy on the ability of children to walk. METHODS: Children who underwent in utero repair of OSD and had formal neurological assessment after 2.5 years of age were compared regarding their ability to walk in relation to pre-surgical predictors. RESULTS: Sixty-nine children fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Among them, 63.7% (44/69) were able to walk with or without orthesis. Fetal OSD correction performed earlier in gestation (from 19.7 to 26.9 weeks) was associated with a higher probability of walking with or without orthesis (p = 0.033). The median GA at delivery was 35.3 weeks. Multivariate binary logistic regression showed that the upper anatomical level of the OSD ( L5) (p < 0.004; OR: 10.31 [95% CI: 2.07-51.28]) and GA at the time of fetal surgery (p = 0.026; OR = 0.68 [95% CI: 0.48-0.95]) were independent predictors of the postnatal ability to walk with or without orthesis. CONCLUSION: Fetuses with OSD who were operated on earlier in pregnancy (range: 19.7-26.9 weeks), were more likely to walk with or without orthesis.

Fetal open spinal dysraphism repair through a mini-hysterotomy: Influence of gestational age at surgery on the perinatal outcomes and postnatal shunt rates.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of gestational age (GA) at the time of fetal open spinal dysraphism (OSD) repair through a mini-hysterotomy on the perinatal outcomes and the infants' ventriculoperitoneal shunt rates. METHODS: Retrospective study of cases of fetal OSD correction performed from 2014 and 2019. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety women underwent fetal surgery for OSD through a mini-hysterotomy, and 176 (176/190:92.6%) have since delivered. Fetal OSD correction performed earlier in the gestational period, ranging from 19.7 to 26.9 weeks, was associated with lower rates of postnatal ventriculoperitoneal shunting (P: .049). Earlier fetal surgeries were associated with shorter surgical times (P: .01), smaller hysterotomy lengths (P < .001), higher frequencies of hindbrain herniation reversal (P: .003), and longer latencies from surgery to delivery (P < .001). Median GA at delivery was 35.3 weeks. Multivariate binary logistic regression showed that both fetal lateral ventricle-to-hemisphere ratio (%; P < .001; OR: 1.14 [95% CI: 1.09-1.21]) and GA at the time of fetal surgery (P: .016; OR: 1.37 [95% CI: 1.07-1.77]) were independent predictors of postnatal ventriculoperitoneal shunting. CONCLUSION: Fetuses with OSD who were operated on earlier in the gestational interval, which ranged from 19.7 to 26.9 weeks, were less prone to receiving postnatal ventriculoperitoneal shunts.

Low-Grade Oligodendroglioma of the Pineal Region: Case Report.

Background Although germ cell tumors and pineal cell tumors account for most of the histologic tumor subtypes, > 17 different tumors can arise in this location. We report a rare case of a low-grade oligodendroglioma that arose in the pineal region. Clinical Presentation A young woman complaining of a headache underwent magnetic resonance imaging that showed a mass in the pineal region and mild hydrocephalus. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was performed followed by a near-total tumor removal, due to tumor invasion of the tectal plate and thalamus. The histologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of a low-grade oligodendroglioma. The patient then underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy as adjuvant therapies. Conclusion Although the pineal region is a common place for a large number of tumoral lesions, low-grade oligodendrogliomas are extremely rare in this location. This case is only the second account of a benign oligodendroglioma of the pineal region reported in the literature.

Fusiform superior cerebellar artery aneurysm treated with STA-SCA bypass and trapping.

BACKGROUND: Fusiform aneurysms of cerebellar arteries are rare. Different surgical techniques to address these challenging lesions have been described, and their application depends on whether the goal is to maintain the flow in the parent vessel or to occlude it. CASE DESCRIPTION: The authors reported a case of a fusiform aneurysm located in the lateral pontomesencephalic segment of the superior cerebellar artery (SCA) in a 32-year-old man who presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage. The patient was subjected to aneurysm trapping followed by a bypass between the superficial temporal artery (STA) and SCA and had an uneventful recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Although only a few cases of fusiform aneurysms in the supracerebellar artery have been reported in the literature, the treatment strategies adopted were diverse. In selected cases of patients in good neurological condition with ruptured fusiform aneurysms at the proximal segments of SCA and who have poor evidence of collateral supply, the possibility of a STA-SCA bypass with aneurysm trapping must be considered. A review of the current treatment modalities of this pathology is also presented.

Hemorrhagic onset of spinal angiolipoma.

Spinal angiolipomas are rare benign tumors that generally induce slow progressive cord compression. Here, the authors describe a case of sudden-onset palsy of the lower extremities caused by hemorrhagic spinal angiolipoma. An emergent laminectomy was performed to achieve total lesion removal. Follow-up examinations indicated neurological improvement and the absence of recurrence.

Reversible Obstructive Hydrocephalus from Hypertensive Encephalopathy: A Condition that Neurosurgeons Must Know / Hidrocefalia obstrutiva reversível secundária a encefalopatia hipertensiva: uma condição que o neurocirurgião deve conhecer

The vasogenic edema in structures of posterior fossa secondary to elevated hydrostatic pressure can cause obstructive hydrocephalus, a condition called "reversible obstructive hydrocephalus from hypertensive encephalopathy." A case of a 27-year-old woman with arterial hypertension and sign of raised intracranial pressure is reported. Her radiologic studies have showed vasogenic cerebellar edema without structural lesion. This edema leads to obstruction of the cerebral aqueduct. We discuss the clinical and therapeutic aspects of this condition. In this clinical situation, the accurate control of blood pressure is themain goal on medical care, and the need of permanent ventricular shunt is quite infrequent.

O edema vasogênico secundário a elevação da pressão hidrostática capilar pode causar hidrocefalia obstrutiva, a chamada Hidrocefalia Obstrutiva Reversível secundária a Encefalopatia Hipertensiva. Nós apresentamos umcaso de umamulher de 27 anos com hipertensão arterial e sinais de hipertensão intracraniana. Sua investigação radiológica evidenciou sinais de edema vasogênico cerebelar bilateral sem lesão estrutural, determinando obstrução do aqueduto cerebral Nós discutimos os aspectos clínicos e terapêuticos deste caso. Nesta condição, o adequado controle da pressão arterial é a principal medida terapêutica, sendo a necessidade de derivação liquórica permanente infrequente.