Assessing the impact of mixed reality-assisted informed consent: A study protocol.

Background: Informed consent is a crucial aspect of modern medicine, but it can be challenging due to the complexity of the information involved. Mixed reality (MR) has emerged as a promising technology to improve communication. However, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the impact of MR on medical informed consent. The proposed research protocol provides a solid foundation for conducting future investigations and developing MR-based protocols that can enhance patients' understanding and engagement in the decision-making process. Methods: This study will employ a randomized controlled trial design. Two arms will be defined: MR-assisted informed consent (MRaIC) as the experimental arm and conventional informed consent (CIC) as the control arm consent, with 52 patients in each group. The protocol includes the use of questionnaires to analyze the anxiety levels and the awareness of the procedure that the patient is going to perform to study the impact of MRaIC versus CIC before medical procedures. Results: The study will evaluate the impact of MR on patients' information comprehension, engagement during the process of obtaining informed consent, emotional reactions, and consent decisions. Ethical concerns will be addressed. Conclusion: This study protocol provides a comprehensive approach to investigate the impact of MR on medical informed consent. The findings may contribute to a better understanding of the effects of MR on information comprehension, engagement during the process of obtaining informed consent, psychological experience, consent decisions, and ethical considerations. The integration of MR technology has the potential to enhance surgical communication practices and improve the informed consent process.

Venous spot sign: Indicator of rapid hematoma expansion in venous thrombosis type of submission: Case reports.

BACKGROUND: The term "spot sign" was coined by Wada et al in 2007 and thought to be due to ongoing arterial bleeding in primary intraparenchymal haemorrhage (IPH).1 Spot sign has also been described in the context of intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH).2 Over the years arterial spot signs have been found to correlate with intraparenchymal hematoma expansion, worse clinical outcomes and increased risk of surgical intervention.3 We are describing a unique instance of a spot sign in venous sinus thrombosis that initially misled the clinical diagnosis. CASE PRESENTATION: An 83-year-old woman on dual antiplatelet therapy, with a history of minor stroke, presented with sudden right-sided weakness and dysarthria. Serial CT brain imaging revealed rapidly enlarging intraparenchymal haemorrhage (IPH). Contrast enhanced CT displayed multiple spot signs typically associated with arterial bleeding pattern. Initially possibility of antithrombotic related IPH was kept, however venogram confirmed venous pathology with focal superior sagittal sinus thrombosis (SSS). Unfortunately, the patient deteriorated and eventually succumbed to the illness before the diagnosis could be made. CONCLUSION: The case exemplifies the potential of venous sinus thrombosis to manifest as a spot sign, thereby emphasizing the need for a broader differential diagnosis. The rarity of venous spot signs may be attributed to patient-specific venous anatomy and poor collateralization in the occluded sinus territory.

Endoscopic Endonasal Pituitary Surgery For Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas: Long-Term Outcomes and Management of Recurrent Tumors.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic endonasal approaches (EEAs) provide improved access and operative visualization for resection of pituitary adenomas. Although the technique has gained wide acceptance, there is a paucity of data regarding late recurrence. OBJECTIVE: We aim to assess long-term outcomes of patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) who underwent EEA. METHODS: We reviewed 269 patients operated on for an NFPA between 2005 and 2015. Clinical and radiologic factors including those potentially related to higher chances of recurrence were analyzed. Progression-free survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and univariate and multivariate survival were analyzed using a Cox regression model. RESULTS: The study included 269 patients. The gross total resection rate was 46.0% (n = 124) but cavernous sinus involvement was present in almost half the patients (n = 115). The probability of recurrence at 5 years and 10 years was 22.0% and 47.2%, respectively. The median time to recurrence was 10 years for patients without cavernous sinus involvement and 6 years for those with cavernous sinus involvement. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that tumor size, cavernous sinus invasion, anterior skull base extensions, and residual tumor were significantly associated with recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrence rate of NFPA remains high despite the better visualization offered by EEA, especially in those tumors involving the cavernous sinus and/or previously operated on. Repeat surgery is adequate for tumor debulking and decompression of the optic apparatus but is unlikely to achieve gross total resection if a successful previous EEA has been performed. Radiation therapy is an effective option for management of recurrent tumors.

Minimally Invasive Approach for the Removal of a Ruptured Radiculomedullary Artery Aneurysm: Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Radiculomedullary arteries aneurysms are rare, with only few cases so far reported. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report the case of a 54-year-old woman with sudden onset of upper thoracic back pain. Magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance angiography of the spine showed a cervico-thoraco-lumbar hematoma, with no evidence of underlying vascular malformations. Using Phantom retractors, a unilateral laminectomy was performed at the level of T3, in proximity of the thickest part of the epidural hematoma. No epidural blood was detected. The dura was opened, and subdural and subarachnoid blood was found. After its removal, a fusiform aneurysm of the right radiculomedullary artery was found. The parental vessel was temporarily clipped and the aneurysm removed after ligation of both proximal and distal vessels. No postoperative complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Rupture of radiculomedullary artery aneurysm always should be considered as differential diagnosis in patients with sudden onset of isolated back pain, headache, and spinal epidural/subdural bleeding. Among different possible treatments, surgery represents a valid option. The use of microsurgical techniques is crucial to achieve a good clinical outcome. A minimally invasive approach can be used to minimize muscle disruption, with minimal blood loss, and faster recovery.

A Pilot Study of Percutaneous Interlaminar Endoscopic Lumbar Sequestrectomy: A Modern Strategy to Tackle Medically-Refractory Radiculopathies and Restore Spinal Function.

OBJECTIVE: Angled scopes allow 360° visualization, which makes percutaneous endoscopic techniques (percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy, PELD) particularly attractive for sequestrectomies, which entail the removal of extruded lumbar disc fragments that have migrated caudally or cranially between the ligaments, foramina, and neural structures, while preserving the disc. Although many different PELD techniques are currently available, not all of them are suitable for sequestrectomies; furthermore, long-term follow-up data are unfortunately lacking. METHODS: A pilot study was conducted on a cohort of 270 patients with lumbar radiculopathy undergoing minimally invasive spine surgery (PELD or microdiscectomy), of whom only 7 were eligible for endoscopic interlaminar sequestrectomy with disc preservation. The patients' baseline conditions and clinical outcomes were measured with the Oswestry Disability Index and a visual analogue scale. Long-term follow-up was conducted using satisfaction questionnaires that were based on the MacNab criteria and administered by medical/nursing personnel not involved in their primary surgical management. RESULTS: EasyGo system was eventually used in 5 PELD cases. No dural tears, infections, or nerve root injuries were recorded in patients undergoing sequestrectomy. Surgical events, including blood loss and overall length of hospital stay, did not differ significantly among the 270 patients. In the group treated with endoscopic sequestrectomy, no recurrences or complications were noted during a follow-up of 3 years, and an excellent degree of satisfaction was reported. CONCLUSION: We provide OCEBM (Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine) level 3 evidence that interlaminar endoscopic sequestrectomy is a tailored and well-tolerated surgical option; nonetheless, a cost-effectiveness analysis assessing the interval until return to working activities and long-term benefits is warranted.

Exoscope-Guided (VITOM 3D) Single-Stage Removal of Supratentorial Cavernous Angioma and Hemangioblastoma: 3-Dimensional Operative Video.

This video shows an exoscope-guided single-stage resection with 3-dimensional technology of a supratentorial cavernoma and a supratentorial hemangioblastoma during the same surgical procedure. The patient is a 42-yr-old man with a history of generalized tonico-clonic seizures. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) revealed the presence of a left frontal cavernoma and a left T1 non-enhancing hypointese temporal lesion (hemangioblastoma). The operation was carried out in the lateral position with the sole use of a 3D-exoscope (VITOM-3D, Karl Storz GmbH&Co, Tuttlingen, Germany). The operating room set-up included the surgeons standing at the head of the patients with the operating and navigator screens in the front of them and the exoscope arm entering from the left side. As recently highlighted, the 3D-exoscope carries several advantages: (1) it allows neurosurgeons to operate in a confortable and stable position; (2) it is less space-occupying in comparison to the microscope; (3) the optics and 3D-screen offer an optimal stereoscopic view in comparison to the 2D-exoscope, important for both surgical and training purposes; (4) although sharing with the endoscope, the image quality and confortable surgeon's position, there is no conflict between the surgical instruments and the scope in the surgical field. The adopted strategy enabled a complete resection of both lesions. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was seizure-free; the antiepileptic drugs were discontinued 3 mo after surgery. The 3D-exoscope represents a promising surgical tool, which may become part of the neurosurgical armamentarium. Nevertheless, the conceivable capability to improve neurosurgical results will have to be explored. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The patient has consented to the submission of the surgical video for submission to the journal.

Acupuncture-Induced Cranial Epidural Abscess: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is a common form of alternative medicine that is used for pain control among other modalities of treatment. It is a relatively safe procedure, but complications, including those of infectious etiology, may still occur. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 47-year-old immunosuppressed woman presented with fever, altered level of consciousness, dysphasia, and a left occipital subgaleal fluctuant mass after acupuncture for headaches in the same area. Imaging demonstrated subgaleal and epidural collection localized in the left occipital region. She underwent urgent surgical evacuation of both collections. Cultures from intraoperative specimens grew Streptococcus anginosus. The patient started targeted antibiotic treatment leading to complete recovery. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first report of intracranial abscess after acupuncture. Given the worldwide application of this alternative treatment, physicians, acupuncturists, and the general public should be aware of the possibility of this rare but serious complication.

Treatment of Holocord Syringomyelia-Chiari Complex by Posterior Fossa Decompression and a Syringosubarachnoid Shunt in a Single-Stage Single Approach.

BACKGROUND: Posterior fossa decompression with expansive duraplasty is the first-line surgical approach for the treatment of symptomatic syringomyelia associated with Chiari malformation. Despite good decompression, the clinical failure rate is reported to be up to 26%. A syringosubarachnoid (S-S) shunt may be used as a secondary option. METHODS: In this paper we describe a single-institution experience of three cases of holocord syringomyelia-Chiari complex treated with foramen magnum decompression, expansive duraplasty and an S-S shunt carried out in a single-stage single approach. Following a standard suboccipital craniectomy, patients were submitted to syrinx fenestration and simultaneous insertion of an S-S shunt through a 1-mm posterior midline myelotomy at the C2 level prior to expansive dural reconstruction. RESULTS: Postoperative imaging showed immediate reduction of the holocord cavities. Preoperative neurological deficits rapidly improved significantly and were stabilized at follow-up. CONCLUSION: In our experience the positioning of the shunt catheter at a high level of the spinal cord (C2) did not add a significant risk of morbidity and obviated the need for a second operation and/or a separate incision in cases of clinical failure. This technique avoided the risk associated with a second surgery and its morbidity, and allowed prompt clinical recovery.

Recurrence of Anterior Skull Base Meningiomas After Endoscopic Endonasal Resection: 10 Years' Experience in a Series of 52 Endoscopic and Transcranial Cases.

INTRODUCTION: Although the indication of endoscopic approaches for anterior skull base meningiomas (ASBM) has been progressively refined, there remains a paucity of data on recurrence rates after resection. To analyze and compare recurrence rates of ASBM resected through endoscopic endonasal (EEE) versus transcranial (TCA) approaches. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients submitted to the EEE or TCA approach for ASBM resection from May 2006 to January 2016 in our center. Clinical, radiological, and pathology data were retrieved for analysis. Tumor size, location, surgical technique, extent of resection, and tumor grade were assessed. The 2 groups were compared to identify predictors and differences regarding tumor recurrence. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients (17 olfactory groove meningioma [OGM] and 35 tuberculum sellae meningioma [TSM]) were included; 26 (6 OGM and 20 TSM) underwent EEE and 26 (13 OGM and 13 TSM) TCA, with a mean follow-up of 41 months. Gross total resection was achieved in 38 (73%) patients (18 [69%] in EEE and 20 [77%] in TCA). Eight (15%) patients presented with recurrence: 5 (19%) in the EEE group and 3 (11.5%) in the TCA group without a statistical difference (P = 0.69). Among the recurrences, gross total resection had been achieved in 1 case of each group. In the EEE group, 1 patient underwent TCA for a recurrent tumor and another patient was referred for radiosurgery. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown an overall similar recurrence rate of ASBM regardless of the technique used. However, the analysis of larger series with longer follow-up is necessary to clearly define the indications and to fully validate the efficacy of EEE.

Chronic subdural collection overlying an intra-axial hemorrhagic lesion in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia: special report and review of the literature.

Introduction: Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) is a clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorder characterized by the presence of an absolute monocytosis in the peripheral blood (>1 x 109/L) and the presence of myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative features in the bone marrow. Involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) is uncommon in CMML.Areas covered: Herein described is a case report of a CMML patient who presents with symptomatic chronic subdural collection overlying a haemorrhagic brain lesion, along with diffuse dural infiltration, after two cycles of azacytidine. Surgical intervention was performed to alleviate the mass effect on the brain, and obtain a tissue sample for diagnosis. Histopathological report confirmed brain infiltration with myeloid leukemic cells.Expert commentary: Despite its rarity, cerebral dissemination should be considered even in patients with CMML. A multidisciplinary approach, lead by a hematologist, is mandatory in order to correct the underlying haematological disorder, with specific attention to the coagulation profile. Surgical intervention is necessary for symptomatic patients, and should be performed once an improvement of clinical conditions has been achieved. Despite appropriate surgical and medical therapy, the prognosis remains poor with high risk of perioperative complications, such as rebleeding, and progressive systemic involvement.

Resting-state fMR evidence of network reorganization induced by navigated transcranial magnetic repetitive stimulation in phantom limb pain.

Objectives Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a promising tool for treatment of chronic pain. We describe the use of navigated rTMS to treat a patient affected by phantom limb pain (PLP) and to modulate brain functional connectivity. We reviewed the literature on the use of rTMS as a tool for relieving central pain by promoting brain plasticity. Methods A 69-year-old patient came to our observation blaming severe pain (Visual Analog scale, VAS, score 9) to a phantom right lower limb. We mapped left primary motor area (PMA) by navigated TMS and assessed connectivity with resting-state functional MR (rsfMR). The patient underwent 30-days navigated rTMS treatment. We applied low-frequency stimulation (1 Hz) over the primary somatosensory area (PSA) and high-frequency stimulation (10 Hz) over PMA and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of the left hemisphere. Results This strategy allowed a pain relief with a reduction of 5 points of the VAS score after 1 month. Post-treatment rsfMR showed increased connectivity, mainly in the sensory-motor network and the unaffected hemisphere (P < 0.05). Discussion This report represents a proof-of-concept that navigated rTMS can be effectively used to stimulate selected brain areas in PLP patients in order to promote brain connectivity, and that rsfMR is a useful tool able to analyze functional results. In the literature, we found data supporting the assumption that, in patients affected by PLP, a reduced connectivity in interhemispherical and sensory-motor network plays a role in generating pain and that rTMS has the potential to restore impaired connectivity.

Fully Endoscopic Freehand Evacuation of Spontaneous Supratentorial Intraparenchymal Hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: A modification of other reported endoscopic techniques for intracerebral clot evacuation is described and illustrated. METHODS: From January 2014 to December 2014, we operated on 6 patients harboring a spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage using a fully endoscopic freehand technique. Clinical chart and surgical videos were analyzed. Volumetric evaluation of the clot preoperatively and the residual hematoma postoperatively was performed. Clinical outcome was measured using the modified Rankin Scale and Glasgow Outcome Scale. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 96 minutes (range, 72-125 minutes). Clot evacuation was >90% in all patients. No patient experienced rebleeding after surgery. Two patients died. The Glasgow Outcome Scale score at 6 months was 4 in 2 patients, 3 in 2 patients, and 1 (death) in 2 patients. The modified Rankin Scale score at 6 months was 6 (death) in 2 patients, 4 in 2 patients, 3 in 1 patient and 2 in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed minimally invasive technique allows a good rate of hematoma evacuation and intraoperative bleeding control. Further studies in large series are needed to confirm the role of this freehand endoscopic technique.