Adherence to international guidelines in neurocritical care of cervical traumatic spinal cord injury-a retrospective study.

Introduction: The American Association of Neurologic Surgeons guidelines on the management of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), updated in 2013, focus on spinal cord perfusion, early decompressive surgery, and venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis to improve neurological outcome. Research question: How neurocritical care and initial management have changed with the implementation of updated management guidelines, focusing on guidelines adherence and neurological outcome. Material and methods: Systemic physiological variables, time to neurosurgical treatment and VTE prophylaxis, and neurological outcome, were retrospectively collected from adult patients treated for cervical SCI 2001-2021. Results: Fifty-two patients were included. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was significantly higher after 2013 (86±9.9 mmHg) when compared to before 2013 (79±9.9 mmHg), p = 0.041. Median time to surgery was 41 h before, and 20 h after 2013 (p = 0.029). Time to VTE prophylaxis was six days before and four days after 2013. Most neurocritical care complications were less commonly observed after 2013. Despite improved adherence to treatment goals, 44 % of MAP levels were below target, and 33% of patients were operated beyond 24h post-injury. Neurological outcome was not improved after implementation of the revised guidelines. Discussion and conclusion: While implementation of the revised 2013 guidelines improved most aspects of the acute SCI management, many guideline targets were not met in a large subset of patients. Strict adherence to the acute neurocritical management goals, and early surgical treatment, is likely crucial when aiming to improve SCI outcome.

Comparison of perimetric 24-2 and 30-2 test patterns in detecting visual field defects in patients with tumours in the pituitary region.

PURPOSE: Automated perimetry provides a standardized method of measuring the visual field. The Humphrey Field Analyser (HFA) uses the 24-2 test pattern to cover 24 degrees centrally or the 30-2 test pattern to cover a slightly broader region of 30 degrees. The aim of this study was to determine whether the 24-2 test pattern provides comparable information to the 30-2 test pattern in detecting visual field defects in patients with tumours in the pituitary region. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out on patients with tumours in the pituitary region and radiologically confirmed compression of the visual pathway. Included patients (79 of 133) had been examined using the Humphrey 30-2 visual field test, after which the 30-2 test patterns were reduced into corresponding 24-2 test patterns. The location of visual field defects, visual acuity and the perimetric parameters mean deviation (MD) and visual field index (VFI) were also recorded. RESULTS: No patient was classified differently when evaluated with the 24-2 test pattern, compared to the 30-2 test pattern. Interestingly, although the majority of patients had visual field defects located in the temporal visual field of each eye, a significant minority did not. In addition, it was found that a large proportion of patients had normal visual acuity (≥0.8). CONCLUSIONS: The use of the HFA 24-2 test pattern reliably detected visual field defects in patients with tumours in the pituitary region. The present study indicates that MD and VFI are not reliable parameters for evaluating visual field defects due to compression.

Ventriculostomy-Related Infections: Reduced Incidence by Terminating Cerebrospinal Fluid Screening.

BACKGROUND: The external ventricular drain (EVD) is an important instrument in managing patients in neurointensive care (NICU). A frequent and sometimes severe complication is ventriculostomy-related infection (VRI). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of biweekly VRI screening by CSF sampling on the clinical course and rate of VRI. METHODS: Patients with implanted EVDs were retrospectively identified and a cohort screened twice per week was compared with a cohort sampled only on clinical indication. VRI was defined either as a suspected case or a culture-confirmed case. Length of stay in the NICU and CSF shunt dependency were used as outcome parameters. RESULTS: A total of 562 patients were included. The overall proportion of patients treated for VRI was 22% and was not affected by screening (odds ratio [OR], 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57-1.54). Screening was associated with a higher proportion of patients with culture-confirmed VRI (OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.36-6.73). The main risk factor for VRI was the number of days with EVD. Positive bacterial culture was associated with both a longer time in the NICU (ß = 3.6; P < 0.01) and higher risk for shunt surgery (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.04-3.64). CONCLUSIONS: Screening was associated with a higher number of culture-confirmed VRI cases. In addition, screening did not detect VRI at an earlier stage and was not associated with a reduction in the rate of permanent hydrocephalus. No clinical benefit of screening was found. Frequent CSF sampling might contribute to infection. Based on these findings, CSF screening for VRI cannot be recommended.

Visual acuity in patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma: Prognostic factors and long-term outcome after surgery.

Background: Visual acuity (VA) and visual field defects (VF) are evaluated in the preoperative management of non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA). The former is less studied than the latter. Research question: To analyze preoperative factors, including adenoma volumetry, associated with reduced VA and postoperative improvement of VA over five years after surgery. Methods: Eighty-seven patients who had primary surgery for NFPA were retrospectively reviewed. Eyes were categorized by best/worse preoperative VA. Ophthalmology review was performed before surgery, at three months, one to two years, and five years post-surgery. Results: Reduced VA in any eye was present in 55%. VA of the worse eye improved in 77% and normalized in 54%. The majority improved within three months. Additional cases with VA improvement were seen at 1-2 years after surgery. No further improvement was seen five years after surgery. Fifty percent of patients with, per definition, normal preoperative VA showed improved VA postoperatively. Tumor height above the sella in the sagittal plane was the best radiological predictor of reduced VA. Volumetry did not add to accuracy. Age, sagittal tumor height and visual field defects were risk factors of preoperative reduced VA. No predictors of postoperative recovery were identified. Conclusion: Half of patients with reduced VA recover fully. All patients, independent of age and degree of VA reduction, may improve. No predictors of recovery were found. Early improvement is common and improvement beyond two years is unlikely. The frequency of reduced VA is underestimated. The present results could be of value in pre- and postoperative counseling.

Endoscopic Fenestration of Cavum Septum Pellucidum Cysts to the Third Ventricle: Technical Note.

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) and cavum vergae (CV) cysts are common incidental findings on imaging studies. However, they may rarely present with symptoms related to the obstruction of the foramen of Monro by the cyst leaflets. There is no consensus regarding the management of symptomatic CSP and CV cysts. We present an original transcavum interforniceal endoscopic fenestration technique. The step-by-step surgical procedure and two illustrative cases are presented. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 31-yr-old male and a 24-yr-old woman presented with symptomatic CSP and CV cysts. For both patients, neuronavigation was used to plan the procedure. An endoscope was introduced into the cyst through a right frontal burr-hole. After an examination of the endoscopic anatomy, a communication between the cyst and the third ventricle was performed using an endoscopic forceps. In both cases, directly after the fenestration, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) passed through the communication, and the collapse of the cyst was appreciated. Symptoms were relieved in both patients, and neuropsychological assessment improved. Postoperative imaging showed a reduction in the cyst bulge, and patent foramen of Monro. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic fenestration of CSP and CV cysts to the third ventricle through an interforniceal navigated approach is a feasible and efficient surgical procedure. Theoretical advantages include a single tract through noneloquent brain, a perpendicular trajectory to the membrane for fenestration, and a large CSF space beyond the fenestration point.

3-D endoscopy in surgery of pituitary adenomas, prospective evaluation of patient gain using basic outcome parameters.

The present prospective cohort study evaluates the effect of three-dimensional (3-D) endoscopy on outcome in transphenoidal endoscopic surgery of pituitary adenomas compared to conventional two-dimensional (2-D) endoscopy. Prospective data was collected from patients undergoing endoscopic surgery for pituitary adenomas before and after the introduction of 3-D endoscopy. Patients, grouped by having 2-D or 3-D endoscopic surgery, were compared in regard to procedure time, intraoperative blood loss, complications, hospital stay, grade of resection and quality of life (QoL). Twenty-six patients having surgery with 2-D endoscopy were compared with 29 patients having surgery with 3-D endoscope. Only primary procedures were included. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups. No statistically significant differences in outcome were noted with 3-D endoscopy. Procedure time, complication rate, hospital stay, rate of gross total resection and post-operative QoL were unaffected by surgical technique though there were non-significant increases in new pituitary insufficiency with 3-D endoscopy and diabetes insipidus with 2-D endoscopy. This prospective cohort study fails to show obvious outcome advantages with 3-D endoscopy in pituitary surgery using basic parameters including post-operative QoL. To our knowledge this is the first prospective study published on the matter, thus corroborating results from previous retrospective studies with similar results on 3-D neuroendoscopy and 3-D endoscopy in general. The main advantage of increased depth perception is more likely found in more complex extended transphenoidal skull base procedure.

An early post-operative ACTH suppression test can safely predict short- and long-term remission after surgery of Cushing's disease.

PURPOSE: The present study evaluates the usefulness of an ACTH suppression test shortly after surgery, and to determine optimal cut-off values of included laboratory analyses, in predicting short- and long-term remission after surgery of Cushing's disease. METHODS: A 48 h suppression test with betamethasone 2 mg/day applied after 45 transphenoidal adenomectomies in 28 patients was evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC)-curves were created for the included assays: plasma cortisol, plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and urinary free cortisol (UFC). Plasma levels of cortisol and ACTH were measured both at 24 and 48 h. Youden's index was used to determine cut-off with the highest sensitivity and specificity in predicting short- (3 months) and long-term (5 years or longer) remission. The area under curve (AUC) illustrated the clinical accuracy of the different assays. RESULTS: Plasma cortisol after 24 h with betamethasone was most accurate in predicting both short- and long-term remission. 3 months remission with cut-off 107 nmol/L: sensitivity 0.85, specificity 0.94, positive predictive value (PPV) 0.96 and AUC 0.92 (95% CI 0.85-1). 5 years remission with cut-off 49 nmol/L: sensitivity: 0.94, specificity 0.93, PPV 0.88, AUC 0.98 (95% CI 0.95-1). Analyses of ACTH or UFC did not improve diagnostic accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: A 48 h, 2 mg/day betamethasone suppression test after transphenoidal surgery of Cushing's disease could predict short- and long-term remission with a high accuracy. Suppression of plasma cortisol after 24 h with betamethasone to values excluding Cushings disease in the diagnostic setting yielded the highest accuracy in predicting long-term remission.

Silver-Coated Ventriculostomy Catheters Do Not Reduce Rates of Clinically Diagnosed Ventriculitis.

BACKGROUND: Ventriculitis is a serious complication when using external ventricular drains (EVDs). Bactericidal silver coating has been reported to reduce risk of infection. In the clinical setting, the diagnosis is often made based on symptoms and analyses of cerebrospinal fluid, with treatment initiated before infection is verified by culture. The bactericidal effect might not correlate with a reduced rate of clinically diagnosed infections. This retrospective study aimed to analyze if use of silver-coated EVDs is associated with a reduced rate of ventriculitis. METHODS: During 1 year, clinical routine was changed from inserting noncoated catheters to silver-coated catheters. Rate of ventriculitis was compared between patient groups based on catheter type. To examine the clinical impact of silver coating, ventriculitis was defined as cases where antibiotic treatment was initiated on clinical suspicion. RESULTS: Among 296 patients (186 noncoated and 110 silver-coated catheters), 18.9% were treated for ventriculitis, with 21.0% in the noncoated group and 15.5% in the silver-coated group (P = 0.242). Silver coating did not reduce the rate of positive cultures. Duration of EVD treatment was the single significant risk factor for ventriculitis. Silver-coated catheters did not reduce the need for cerebrospinal fluid shunt placement, days with antibiotics, days with EVD, or days in the intensive care unit. CONCLUSIONS: The previously reported bactericidal effect of silver-coated EVDs did not alter the clinical course to significantly reduce the number of treated cases of ventriculitis. The introduction of silver-coated EVDs cannot be motivated by reduced use of antibiotics or shorter hospital stay.

Quality of Life and Work Capacity Are Unrelated to Approach or Complications After Pituitary Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic pituitary surgery has shown favorable clinical outcomes. Less is known about the impact of surgical approaches on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and work capacity. The present study was undertaken to compare transsphenoidal microscope-assisted surgery with endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery regarding preoperative and surgical factors for the final outcome of HRQoL and work capacity. METHODS: In a retrospective study of patients operated on for pituitary adenoma, outcome was compared between those operated on before and after transition with endoscopic surgery at our department. Data were gathered via patient questionnaires and patients' files. RESULTS: After exclusions, 235 patients were included (99 microsurgical and 136 endoscopic). Frequency of complications was similar but tumor size was significantly larger in the endoscopic group. Complications did not affect HRQoL or work capacity. HRQoL was not affected by surgical technique but showed an overall trend toward lower values compared with the general population. Sick leave, return to work frequency, and permanent sick leave were not affected by surgical technique. Female gender was a factor for lower ratings in all outcome variables. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical technique does not influence HRQoL or work capacity in this long-term follow-up although both are decreased compared with the general population. We conclude that fully endoscopic pituitary surgery, despite including larger tumors, bears the same risk for complications as microsurgery. In addition, females have a greater risk for decrease in HRQoL and work ability. This factor should be taken into account when informing patients and appreciating expectations of treatment.