Hearing preservation outcomes using direct cranial nerve eight and auditory brainstem response neuromonitoring in the resection of vestibular schwannomas.

OBJECTIVE: Advancements in microsurgical technique and technology continue to improve outcomes in patients with skull base tumor. The primary cranial nerve eight monitoring systems used in hearing preservation surgery for vestibular schwannomas (VSs) are direct cranial nerve eight monitoring (DCNEM) and auditory brainstem response (ABR), although current guidelines are unable to definitively recommend one over the other due to limited literature on the topic. Thus, further research is needed to determine the utility of DCNEM and ABR. The authors performed a retrospective cohort study and created an interactive model that compares hearing preservation outcomes based on tumor size in patients receiving ABR+DCNEM and ABR-only monitoring. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients received ABR+DCNEM and 72 patients received ABR-only monitoring during VS hearing preservation surgery at a single tertiary academic medical center between January 2008 and November 2022. Inclusion criteria consisted of adult patients with a preoperative American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) hearing classification of A or B. Tumor size was measured as the maximal medial to lateral length, including the internal auditory canal component. RESULTS: Overall hearing preservation (word recognition score [WRS] > 0%) was achieved in 31 patients with ABR-only monitoring (43.1%) and in 18 patients with ABR+DCNEM (64.3%). Serviceable hearing preservation (AAO-HNS class A or B) was attained in 19 patients with ABR-only monitoring (26.4%) and in 11 patients with ABR+DCNEM (39.3%). There was no difference in overall hearing preservation between the two groups (p = 0.13). Change in tumor size was not associated with the odds of serviceable hearing preservation for the ABR-only group (p = 0.89); however, for ABR+DCNEM, there was some indication of an interaction between tumor size and the association of ABR+DCNEM versus ABR-only monitoring, with the odds of serviceable hearing preservation at p = 0.089. Furthermore, with ABR+DCNEM, every 0.5-cm increase in tumor size was associated with a decreased odds of serviceable hearing preservation on multivariable analysis (p = 0.05). For both overall and serviceable hearing preservation, a worse preoperative AAO-HNS classification was associated with a decreased odds of preservation (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.19-0.97, p = 0.042; OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.053-0.55, p = 0.0031, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The result of this interactive model study proposes that there may be a higher chance of hearing preservation when using ABR+DCNEM rather than ABR alone for smaller tumors, with that relationship reversing as tumor size increases.

Stenting for Traumatic Pseudoaneurysms of the Cervical Internal Carotid Artery: Case Report and Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The optimal stenting approach for traumatic pseudoaneurysms (PSA) of the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) remains underinvestigated. We present a case of a traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the extracranial ICA managed with stenting and review of prior published similar cases. METHODS: The systematic review followed PRISMA-S guidelines and included studies that investigated traumatic pseudoaneurysms of the extracranial ICA managed by stent placement. Statistical analysis assessed the association between the type of injury and stent type, dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) duration, and clinical presentation, and the association between stent type and DAPT duration. RESULTS: Our search yielded 82 publications with 135 patients with extracranial ICA PSA treated with stenting. The odds of neck hematoma presentation was 12.2 times greater for patients with penetrating rather than blunt injuries (P = 0.000002). Covered stents had 2.02 times higher odds of use for penetrating rather than blunt injuries compared to bare metal stents. (P = 0.0029). Shorter duration DAPT was seen with bare metal stents having 1.25 higher odds of DAPT duration less than one month compared to covered (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In traumatic extracranial ICA pseudoaneurysms, covered stents are used more commonly for penetrating injuries compared to blunt injuries. Penetrating injuries are more strongly associated with the presentation of a hematoma compared to blunt injuries. Stent type may influence the recommended DAPT duration. Surgeons should consider these findings when selecting stent type and DAPT duration with patients presenting with traumatic extracranial ICA pseudoaneurysm.

Cerebral arterial vasospasm complicating supratentorial meningioma resection: illustrative cases.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral arterial vasospasm is a rare complication after supratentorial meningioma resection. The pathophysiology of this condition may be similar to vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, and treatment options may be similar. OBSERVATIONS: The authors present two cases of cerebral vasospasm after supratentorial meningioma resection and perform a systematic literature review of similar cases. LESSONS: Cerebral arterial vasospasm after supratentorial meningioma resection may be associated with significant morbidity due to cerebral ischemia if not addressed in a timely manner. Treatment paradigms may be adopted from the management of arterial vasospasm associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Posters Presented at North American Skull Base Society 2016-2018: What Factors Influence Their Publication?

Objective Research productivity impacts an individual's academic credentials and serves to advance the field of neurosurgery at large. Poster presentations allow researchers to share preliminary results with respected colleagues; however, more critical is the ability to publish peer-reviewed articles. Key factors that lead posters to journal publication are not well understood and difficult to quantify. This study investigates the association between bibliometrics of authors who presented posters at the North American Skull Base Society (NASBS) meeting and odds of journal publication. Methods Posters from the 2016 to 2018 NASBS archive were reviewed. Hirsch-index (h-index) of first (FH) and senior (SH) authors, research type, research topic, and number of poster authors (nAuthPost) were collected. For posters published as journal articles, number of days from poster presentation to publication (nDays), number of authors in published articles (nAuthArt), and journal impact factor (JIF) were recorded. Results One-hundred sixty-nine of 481 posters (35.1%) were published as articles. Median FH and SH for published versus unpublished posters were 7 versus 5 ( p = 0.01) and 29 versus 19 ( p < 0.001), respectively. When adjusted with multivariate regression, only SH ( p < 0.001) and nAuthPost ( p = 0.001) were significantly associated with odds of publication. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) nDays was 361 (394). Increased authors from poster to article ( p = 0.017) and lower FH ( p = 0.08) were correlated with increased time to publication. Median (IQR) JIF for all publications was 1.723 (1.068). Conclusions Bibliometrics such as h-index and number of authors from posters can help objectively characterize and predict future success in research productivity.

Effect of Stent Porosity, Platelet Function Test Usage, and Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Duration on Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes After Stenting for Cerebral Aneurysms: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The use of stents with various porosities for treating cerebral aneurysms requires dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) without clear guidelines on the utility of platelet function tests (PFTs) and the duration of DAPT. We sought to determine the effects of stent porosity, PFT usage, and DAPT duration on the radiographic and clinical outcomes after stenting of cerebral aneurysms. METHODS: PubMed was searched on March 29, 2021 for studies of cerebral aneurysm stenting that had specified the stent type and DAPT duration. A random effects meta-analysis was used to measure the prevalence of nonprocedural thrombotic and hemorrhagic events, clinical outcomes, aneurysm occlusion, and in-stent stenosis stratified by stent porosity, PFT usage, and DAPT duration. RESULTS: The review yielded 105 studies (89 retrospective and 16 prospective) with 117 stenting cohorts (50 high porosity, 17 intermediate porosity, and 50 low porosity). In the high-, intermediate-, and low-porosity stenting cohorts, PFT usage was 26.0%, 47.1%, and 62.0% and the mean DAPT duration was 3.51 ± 2.33, 3.97 ± 1.92, and 5.18 ± 2.27 months, respectively. The intermediate-porosity stents showed a reduced incidence of hemorrhagic events (π = 0.32%) compared with low-porosity stents (π = 1.36%; P = 0.01) and improved aneurysm occlusion (π = 6.18%) compared with high-porosity stents (π = 14.42%; P = 0.001) and low-porosity stents (π = 11.71%; P = 0.04). The prevalence of in-stent stenosis was lower for the intermediate-porosity (π = 0.57%) and high-porosity (π = 1.51%) stents than for the low-porosity stents (π = 3.30%; P < 0.05). PFT use had resulted in fewer poor clinical outcomes (π = 3.54%) compared with those without PFT use (π = 5.94%; P = 0.04). The DAPT duration had no effect on the outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In the present meta-analysis, which had selected for studies of cerebral aneurysm stenting that had reported the DAPT duration, intermediate-porosity stents and PFT use had resulted significantly improved outcomes. No effect of DAPT duration could be detected.

Case report and review of literature: Isolated intramedullary spinal neurocysticercosis.

Background: Cases of isolated intramedullary spinal neurocysticercosis are extremely rare. Only 25 cases have been reported before 2022. Due to its rarity, the diagnosis of spinal neurocysticercosis may be missed. Case presentation: We describe a 37-year-old female patient who developed back pain and lower extremity weakness and was found to have an intramedullary thoracic spine cystic lesion. She was taken to the operating room for resection of the lesion. Pathology revealed a larval cyst wall consistent with neurocysticercosis. The patient was started on albendazole and dexamethasone. Her exam improved post-operatively, and she was able to ambulate with minimal difficulty at the time of follow up. Conclusion: The case provides insights on the diagnosis and treatment of isolated intramedullary spinal neurocysticercosis. Review of the literature suggests that combined surgical and medical intervention results in significant improvement in the patient's neurological exam, and decreases morbidity associated with the disease. We propose a treatment paradigm for this rare manifestation of neurocysticercosis.

Rathke's cleft cyst marsupialization and repair with a free mucosal graft - Video case report and literature review.

Rathke's cleft cysts (RCCs) are sellar or suprasellar cystic lesions arising from the remnants of the embryological Rathke's pouch. When symptomatic, RCCs are usually treated surgically via marsupialization. Free mucosal graft (FMG) repair has shown promise in decreasing recurrence versus marsupialization alone. The authors present a case report with operative video of a patient with visual and endocrinological symptoms with a RCC treated with FMG following marsupialization. A search of the PubMed database from July 1997 through April 2022 was conducted using the terms 'Rathke's cleft cyst', 'Rathke's cleft cyst management', 'Rathke's cleft cyst repair', 'mucosal graft', 'mucosal coupling', 'transsphenoidal', and 'endoscopic endonasal'. Clinical and pathological aspects of the case presented were compared with information obtained from literature review. A 25-year-old female presented with a six-year history of amenorrhea, one-year history of anemia, headaches, and progressive visual loss. Imaging revealed an RCC. The patient underwent surgical treatment via an endoscopic endonasal approach. Marsupialization was achieved with placement of an FMG to help prevent restenosis. Post-operative examination revealed that the patient's OD vision returned to normal, although her OS vision was only slightly improved. Our review of the English literature resulted in 35 full-length articles that were published between 1997 and 2022. The literature suggests that FMG prevents scar formation by allowing for adequate epithelialization, thus decreasing the recurrence rate and being well tolerated by patients. Our findings support the utility of the FMG as a superior surgical treatment option for RCC management.

Lower-dose perioperative steroid protocol during endoscopic endonasal pituitary adenoma resection.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative steroid management for pituitary adenoma resections is multifaceted due to possible hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis disruption. Although many different strategies have been proposed, there is no standard protocol for prophylaxis of potential hypocortisolemia. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive endoscopic endonasal pituitary adenoma resections. Before March 2016, patients received ≥100 mg of hydrocortisone intraoperatively followed by 2 mg of dexamethasone immediately postoperatively in most of the patients. Subsequently, patients received only 50 mg of hydrocortisone intraoperatively. A morning cortisol level was checked on postoperative day (POD) 2, and if it was <10 mcg/dL, patients remained on maintenance hydrocortisone. At 6 weeks, serum cortisol was redrawn and low-dose therapy was weaned when indicated. RESULTS: Of those who received ≥100 mg of hydrocortisone, 8 of 24 (33.3%) were discharged on hydrocortisone compared to 1 of 14 (7.1%) who received 50 mg. 18 of 24 (75%) of ≥100 mg group received dexamethasone on POD 1, and of those, 8 (44.4%) were discharged on hydrocortisone. Of those who received ≥100 mg and were on outpatient steroid therapy initially, 3 of 8 (37.5%) required continuation after 6 weeks compared to none who received 50 mg. There was an association between patient's intraoperative/immediate postoperative steroid use and steroid continuation at discharge. CONCLUSION: Through our experience, we hypothesize that ≥100 mg of hydrocortisone intraoperatively followed by postoperative dexamethasone may be overly suppressive in patients with otherwise normally functioning HPA. A 50 mg intraoperative dose alone may be considered to lower rates of unnecessary steroid regimens postoperatively.

Outcomes of Surgical Correction of Atlantoaxial Instability in Patients with Down Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Atlantoaxial instability (AAI) is a common cause of neurologic dysfunction and pain in patients with Down syndrome (DS), frequently requiring instrumented fusion of the upper cervical spine. Despite this, optimal treatment strategy is controversial. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement to identify patients with AAI and DS were treated with upper cervical spine fusion. Patient demographics, preoperative symptoms, fixation type, and outcome measures including complications, neurologic outcomes, and bony fusion status were gathered for patients in the included publications. Meta-analysis was performed to compare outcomes of different types of fixation constructs. RESULTS: Of the 1191 publications retrieved, 51 met inclusion criteria, yielding 137 patients. Six fixation strategies were identified: noninstrumented (n = 6), wiring (n = 77), wiring with rods (n = 14), screw fixation (n = 33), hook and rod fixation (n = 2), and screw and wire fixation (n = 5). Constructs with screws and rods had greater bony union (P = 0.003) and a lower rate of revision surgery (P = 0.047), loss of reduction or pseudoarthrosis (P = 0.009), halo utilization (P < 0.001), and early neurologic decline (P = 0.004) compared with wiring alone. Constructs with wires and rods had greater bony union (P = 0.036) than wiring alone. CONCLUSIONS: Numerous fixation strategies exist for AAI in patients with DS. Using a combination of screws, rods, and wiring in appropriately selected patients may help reduce the high rate of surgical complications in these patients.

Intra-Arterial Alteplase Thrombolysis during Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Intra-arterial alteplase (IA tPA) is commonly used during mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke in patients with large-vessel occlusion, but specific indications and applications for its use remain undefined. METHODS: We analyzed 40 patients who underwent stent-retriever mechanical thrombectomy, 28 of whom received adjunctive IA tPA. To our knowledge, this is the largest cohort with this concomitant treatment reported in the literature in the post-mechanical thrombectomy trial era. RESULTS: Between patients with and without IA tPA, rates of hemorrhagic conversion, neurologic outcome, and mortality were equivalent, with a trend toward improved angiographic revascularization observed in the IA tPA group. CONCLUSIONS: IA tPA is a safe adjunct to mechanical thrombectomy, and more investigation is warranted to understand ideal indications and dosage methodologies.