BACKGROUND: Based on earlier studies, we aimed to determine the quality of life of patients with intracranial aneurysm after their treatment by surgery or embolization and to compare the quality of life of these two groups. METHODS: The SF-36 health questionnaire was retrospectively applied to 93 patients with intracranial aneurysm treated with surgery (n=56) or embolization (n=37). RESULTS: The quality of life of some patients was impaired but 50% of patients treated with surgery and 40.5% of patients treated with embolization showed no impairment in any SF-36 domain. The quality of life in the Physical Functioning domain was higher in embolization-treated than in surgery-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Some patients with intracranial aneurysms treated with surgery or endovascular embolization have an impaired quality of life. Endovascular treatment may cause less limitation in physical function. The quality of life of these patients is affected by numerous factors, in addition to the type of treatment.
Embolization, Therapeutic/adverse effects , Intracranial Aneurysm , Neurosurgical Procedures/adverse effects , Quality of Life , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Intracranial Aneurysm/surgery , Intracranial Aneurysm/therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires
INTRODUCTION: The effectiveness of stimulating the subthalamic nucleus (DBS-STN) in advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) largely depends on the correct placement of the electrodes. Since the sensory-motor region of the STN lies beside the internal capsule (IC), we believe that the motor effectiveness of DBS-STN could be related to the stimulation threshold in which IC signs appear (IC threshold). PATIENTS AND METHODS: An examination of 17 consecutive patients with advanced PD who had been submitted to bilateral DBS-STN (one case was unilateral) was carried out to determine the motor improvement on each side of the body (n = 33) and the energy consumption one year after surgery according to the IC threshold obtained during the programming. RESULTS: A 45% improvement was observed in the UPDRS III in off and there was a 24% reduction in the equivalent dose of levodopa with bilateral DBS-STN. When the electrodes were considered, there was a statistically significant improvement that depended on the IC threshold. Energy consumption differed significantly between electrodes with an IC threshold of 3-7 V (1.5 +/- 1.2 microW) and those with an IC threshold > 7 V (8.3 +/- 9.4 microW). CONCLUSIONS: During the stimulation phase and following the correct location of the STN, which was achieved by neurophysiological recording, the IC threshold has prognostic implications in medium-long term motor effectiveness and in the consumption of the battery in the generator.
Deep Brain Stimulation , Parkinson Disease/therapy , Subthalamic Nucleus/physiology , Aged , Antiparkinson Agents/therapeutic use , Deep Brain Stimulation/instrumentation , Deep Brain Stimulation/methods , Electrodes, Implanted , Female , Humans , Internal Capsule/physiology , Levodopa/therapeutic use , Male , Middle Aged , Parkinson Disease/physiopathology , Treatment Outcome
Introducción. La eficacia de la estimulación del núcleo subtalámico (ECP-NST) en la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP) avanzada depende en gran medida de la correcta implantación de los electrodos. Como la región sensitivomotora del NST está junto a la cápsula interna (CI), pensamos que la eficacia motora de ECP-NST podría relacionarse con el umbral de estimulación en el que aparecen signos de CI (umbral de CI). Pacientes y métodos. En 17 pacientes consecutivos con EP avanzada intervenidos mediante ECP-NST bilateral (uno unilateral) determinamos la mejoría motora en cada lado del cuerpo (n = 33) y el consumo de energía un año después de la cirugía en función del umbral de CI obtenido durante la programación. Resultados. Hubo una mejoría de un 45% en la UPDRS III en off y un 24% de descenso en la dosis equivalente de levodopa con la ECP-NST bilateral. Cuando consideramos los electrodos hubo una mejoría estadísticamente significativa que era dependiente del umbral de CI. El consumo energético difirió significativamente entre los electrodos con un umbral de CI 3-7 voltios (1,5 ± 1,2 mW) y aquéllos con un umbral de CI > 7 voltios (8,3 ± 9,4 mW). Conclusión. Durante la fase de estimulación y tras una correcta localización del NST, mediante registro neurofisiológico, el umbral de CI tiene implicaciones pronósticas en la eficacia motora a medio-largo plazo y en el consumo de la batería del generador (AU)
The effectiveness of stimulating the subthalamic nucleus (DBS-STN) in advanced Parkinsons disease (PD) largely depends on the correct placement of the electrodes. Since the sensory-motor region of the STN lies beside the internal capsule (IC), we believe that the motor effectiveness of DBS-STN could be related to the stimulation threshold in which IC signs appear (IC threshold). Patients and methods. An examination of 17 consecutive patients with advanced PD who had been submitted to bilateral DBS-STN (one case was unilateral) was carried out to determine the motor improvement on each side of the body (n = 33) and the energy consumption one year after surgery according to the IC threshold obtained during the programming. Results. A 45% improvement was observed in the UPDRS III in off and there was a 24% reduction in the equivalent dose of levodopa with bilateral DBS-STN. When the electrodes were considered, there was a statistically significant improvement that depended on the IC threshold. Energy consumption differed significantly between electrodes with an IC threshold of 3-7 V (1.5 ± 1.2 μW) and those with an IC threshold > 7 V (8.3 ± 9.4 μW). Conclusions. During the stimulation phase and following the correct location of the STN, which was achieved by neurophysiological recording, the IC threshold has prognostic implications in mediumlong term motor effectiveness and in the consumption of the battery in the generator (AU)
Humans , Parkinson Disease/pathology , Electric Stimulation Therapy , Electric Stimulation Therapy/methods , Electrodes , Internal Capsule/pathology , Treatment Outcome , Telencephalon/physiopathology
BACKGROUND: Bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) is favoured over bilateral globus pallidus internus (Gpi) DBS for symptomatic treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) due to the possibility of reducing medication, despite lack of definitive comparative evidence. OBJECTIVE: To analyse outcomes after one year of bilateral Gpi or STN DBS, with consideration of influence of selection bias on the pattern of postsurgical medication change. METHODS: The first patients to undergo bilateral Gpi (n = 10) or STN (n = 10) DBS at our centre were studied. They were assessed presurgically and one year after surgery (CAPIT protocol). RESULTS: Before surgery the Gpi DBS group had more dyskinesias and received lower doses of medication. At one year, mean reduction in UPDRS off medication score was 35% and 39% in the Gpi and STN groups, respectively (non-significant difference). Dyskinesias reduced in proportion to presurgical severity. The levodopa equivalent dose was significantly reduced only in the STN group (24%). This study high-lights the absence of significant differences between the groups in clinical scales and medication dose at one year. In the multivariate analysis of predictive factors for off-state motor improvement, the presurgical levodopa equivalent dose showed a direct relation in the STN and an inverse relation in the Gpi group. CONCLUSION: Differences in the patterns of medication change after Gpi and STN DBS may be partly due to a patient selection bias. Both procedures may be equally useful for different subgroups of patients with advanced PD, Gpi DBS especially for patients with lower threshold for dyskinesia.
Antiparkinson Agents/administration & dosage , Deep Brain Stimulation , Globus Pallidus , Parkinson Disease/therapy , Subthalamic Nucleus , Aged , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Selection Bias
INTRODUCTION: Bilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) or globus pallidus internus (GPi) have demonstrated efficacy in advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). We aimed to assess the clinical utility of these procedures in terms of the quality of life, and to determine the pre and postsurgical characteristics related to the outcome. METHOD: A prospective study was conducted on a cohort of 20 patients with advanced PD who underwent bilateral DBS: 14 in STN and 6 in GPi. They were assessed according to the CAPSIT-PD protocol before and after surgery, with a mean follow-up of 9 and 11 months, respectively. The main outcome variables were change in the UPDRS III score in off efficacy and the PDQ-39 quality of life questionnaire score (clinical utility). RESULTS: The STN group improved their UPDRS III in off by a mean of 35% (p = 0.001) and their PDQ-39 by 21% (p = 0.026). The GPi group improved their UPDRS III in off by 21% (p = 0.028) and their PDQ-39 by 37% (p = 0.116). The presurgical levodopa-equivalent dose was a positive predictor of the efficacy and clinical utility of STN DBS and a negative predictor of the efficacy of GPi DBS. In both groups, the clinical utility was determined by improvement in functional disability in off scales. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral DBS demonstrated middle-term efficacy and clinical utility in the treatment of advanced PD. The presurgical levodopa-equivalent dose was a predictor of the efficacy and clinical utility of DBS.
Deep Brain Stimulation , Parkinson Disease/therapy , Disease Progression , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies
INTRODUCTION: Metastases are an infrequent (though possible) cause of cerebral calcifications due to the speed with which they grow. We report the case of a patient in whom some metastatic looking calcified cerebral lesions led to the discovery that she was suffering from lung cancer. CASE REPORT: Woman, aged 60, with no antecedents of interest except hyperlipaemia who came to clinic after suffering from alterations of her higher functions for three weeks. Nothing abnormal was found during the general exploration. Neurologically, she was found to have sensory aphasia together with impaired gnosia and praxis. A brain CAT scan revealed several calcified cerebral lesions throughout both hemispheres, associated with perilesional edema and mass effect with contrast enhancement. Cerebral MRI confirmed these findings. X ray of the thorax was normal but the thoracic CAT scan revealed a spiculated lesion that suggested a malign primary lung neoplasia. CONCLUSION: The presence of cerebral calcifications with perilesional edema and contrast enhancement forces us to rule out a metastatic origin. Although no respiratory clinical features are present, a study of the lungs should be performed as they are the most probable source of the aetiology.
Brain Diseases/diagnosis , Brain Neoplasms/diagnosis , Brain Neoplasms/secondary , Calcinosis/etiology , Calcinosis/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Middle Aged , Tomography, X-Ray Computed
We report the case of a 54-year-old woman with cephalea of five months duration caused by a chronic subdural hematoma that appeared after epidural anesthesia and accidental dural puncture for bilateral saphenectomy. Computed tomography of the brain revealed an intracranial hematoma. After surgical evacuation, the patient's headaches resolved and she recovered fully. The appearance of cephalea after dural puncture is a relatively frequent complication of spinal anesthesia, but its persistence over time, as well as changes in its initial characteristics, should lead to a suspicion of life-threatening subdural hematoma.
Anesthesia, Epidural/adverse effects , Dura Mater/injuries , Headache/etiology , Hematoma, Subdural/complications , Wounds, Penetrating/complications , Chronic Disease , Female , Hematoma, Subdural/etiology , Humans , Middle Aged , Wounds, Penetrating/etiology
