Predictive factors for pre-intervention rebleeding in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Rebleeding before intervention is a devastating complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH). It often occurs early and is associated with poor outcomes. We present a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify potential predictors of rebleeding in aSAH. A database search identified studies detailing the occurrence of pre-intervention rebleeding in aSAH, and 809 studies were screened. The association between rebleeding and a variety of demographic, clinical, and radiological factors was examined using random effects meta-analyses. Fifty-six studies totalling 33,268 patients were included. Rebleeding occurred in 3,223/33,268 patients (11.1%, 95%CI 9.4-13), with risk decreasing by approximately 0.2% per year since 1981. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) during admission was higher in patients who rebled compared with those who did not (MD 7.4 mmHg, 95%CI 2.2 - 12.7), with increased risk in cohorts with SBP > 160 mmHg (RR 2.12, 95%CI 1.35-3.34), but not SBP > 140 mmHg. WFNS Grades IV-V (RR 2.05, 95%CI 1.13-3.74) and Hunt-Hess grades III-V (RR 2.12, 95%CI 1.38-3.28) were strongly associated with rebleeding. Fisher grades IV (RR 2.24, 95%CI 1.45-3.49) and III-IV (RR 2.05, 95%CI 1.17-3.6) were also associated with an increased risk. Awareness of potential risk factors for rebleeding is important when assessing patients with aSAH to ensure timely management in high-risk cases. Increased SBP during admission, especially > 160 mmHg, poorer clinical grades, and higher radiological grades are associated with an increased risk. These results may also aid in designing future studies assessing interventions aimed at reducing the risk of rebleeding.

Internal maxillary artery to middle cerebral artery bypass for a complex recurrent middle cerebral artery aneurysm: case report and technical considerations.

We report the case of a 41-year-old male who presented with an enlarging aneurysm neck one year after clipping. The patient underwent an IMAX-MCA bypass followed by endovascular coil occlusion of the aneurysm neck incorporating an MCA branch origin. To our knowledge, this case represents the first documented IMAX-MCA bypass from a European centre. This case demonstrates that for neurosurgeons experienced in EC-IC bypass surgery, IMAX-MCA bypass is feasible and can be performed safely as long as careful attention is paid to anatomical landmarks and vascular anastomosis principles. CTA-based neuronavigation and micro-Doppler are essential intraoperative tools for identifying the IMAX.

Elective intervention for unruptured cranial arteriovenous malformations in relation to ARUBA trial: a National Inpatient Sample study.

BACKGROUND: In 2014, A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations (ARUBA) concluded that medical management alone for cranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) had better clinical outcomes than interventional treatment. The impact of the ARUBA study on changes in the rates of intervention and outcomes is unknown. Thus, we investigated whether the conclusions from ARUBA may have influenced treatment modalities and outcomes of unruptured AVMs. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was queried between 2006 and 2018, for adult patients with an AVM who were admitted on an elective basis. Interventions included open, endovascular, and stereotactic surgeries. Join-point regression was used to assess differences in slopes of treatment rate for each modality before and after the time-point. Logistic regression was used to assess the odds of non-routine discharge and hemorrhage between the two time-points for each treatment modality. Linear regression was used to assess the mean length of stay (LOS) for each treatment modality between the two time-points. RESULTS: A total of 40,285 elective admissions for AVMs were identified between 2006 and 2018. The rate of intervention was higher pre-ARUBA (n = 15,848; 63.8%) compared to post-ARUBA (n = 6985; 45.2%; difference in slope - 8.24%, p < 0.001). The rate of open surgery decreased, while endovascular and stereotactic surgeries remained the same, after the ARUBA trial time-point (difference in slopes - 8.24%, p < 0.001; - 1.74%, p = 0.055; 0.20%, p = 0.22, respectively). For admissions involving interventions, the odds of non-routine discharge were higher post-ARUBA (OR 1.24; p = 0.043); the odds of hemorrhage were lower post-ARUBA (OR 0.69; p = 0.025). There was no statistical difference in length of stay between the two time-points (p = 0.22). CONCLUSION: The rate of intervention decreased, the rate of non-routine discharge increased, and rate of hemorrhage decreased post-ARUBA, suggesting that it may have influenced treatment practices for unruptured AVMs.

Determining the Difference in Clinical and Radiologic Outcomes Between Expandable and Nonexpandable Titanium Cages in Cervical Fusion Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Expandable cages have been increasingly used in cervical and lumbar reconstructions; however, there is a paucity in the literature on how they compare with traditional nonexpandable cages in the cervical spine. We present a systematic review and meta-analysis, comparing the clinical and radiologic outcomes of expandable versus nonexpandable corpectomy cage use in the cervical spine. METHODS: A database search identified studies detailing the outcomes of expandable and nonexpandable titanium cage use in the cervical spine. These studies were screened using the PRISMA protocol. Fixed-effects and random-effects models were used with a 95% confidence interval. Two analyses were carried out for each outcome: one including all studies and the other including only studies reporting on exclusively 1-level and 2-level cases. RESULTS: Forty-one studies were included. The mean change in segmental lordosis was significantly greater in expandable cages (all, 6.72 vs. 3.69°, P < 0.001; 1-level and 2-level, 6.81° vs. 4.31°, P < 0.001). The mean change in cervical lordosis was also significantly greater in expandable cages (all, 5.71° vs. 3.11°, P = 0.027; 1-level and 2-level, 5.71° vs. 2.07°, P = 0.002). No significant difference was found between the complication rates (all, P = 0.43; 1-level and 2-level, P = 0.94); however, the proportion of revisions was significantly greater in expandable cages (all, 0.06 vs. 0.02, P = 0.03; 1-level and 2-level, 0.08 vs. 0.01, P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: The use of expandable cages may carry a modest improvement in radiologic outcomes compared with nonexpandable cages in the cervical spine; however, they may also lead to a higher rate of revisions based on our analyses.

Moyamoya disease and moyamoya syndrome in Ireland: patient demographics, mode of presentation and outcomes of EC-IC bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: There are no previously published reports regarding the epidemiology and characteristics of moyamoya disease or syndrome in Ireland. AIMS: To examine patient demographics, mode of presentation and the outcomes of extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery in the treatment of moyamoya disease and syndrome in Ireland. METHODS: All patients with moyamoya disease and syndrome referred to the National Neurosurgical Centre during January 2012-January 2019 were identified through a prospective database. Demographics, clinical presentation, radiological findings, surgical procedures, postoperative complications and any strokes during follow-up were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were identified. Sixteen underwent surgery. Median age at diagnosis was 19 years. Fifteen were female. Mode of presentation was ischaemic stroke in nine, haemodynamic TIAs in eight, haemorrhage in three and incidental in one. Sixteen patients had Moyamoya disease, whereas five patients had moyamoya syndrome. Surgery was performed on 19 hemispheres in 16 patients. The surgical procedures consisted of ten direct (STA-MCA) bypasses, five indirect bypasses and four multiple burr holes. Postoperative complications included ischaemic stroke in one patient and subdural haematoma in one patient. The median follow-up period in the surgical group was 52 months; there was one new stroke during this period. Two patients required further revascularisation following recurrent TIAs. One patient died during follow-up secondary to tumour progression associated with neurofibromatosis type 1. CONCLUSIONS: Moyamoya is rare but occurs in Caucasians in Ireland. It most commonly presents with ischaemic symptoms. Surgical intervention in the form of direct and indirect bypass is an effective treatment in the majority of cases.

Is postoperative atelectasis following lumbar fusion more prevalent among patients with chronic opioid use?

OBJECTIVE: Chronic opioid use (COU) remains on the rise globally, acting as a marker for patient morbidity and a risk factor for adverse health outcomes. Opioid use is a risk factor for respiratory depression, which may lead to dysfunctional breathing, a known cause of atelectasis. The objective of this study was to determine whether COU is associated with increased rates of postoperative atelectasis among patients undergoing lumbar fusion. MATERIALS & METHODS: Three State Inpatient Databases were used to identify patients who underwent an elective lumbar fusion through an anterior, posterior or circumferential approach in Florida, Kentucky and New York between 2013-2015. Patients with COU and those with postoperative atelectasis were identified using ICD diagnosis codes. Three operative groups were created and subsequently matched using propensity scores in order to provide comparable cohorts for analysis. Three-to-one propensity score matching was conducted using the variables of age, sex, race, number of chronic diagnoses and geographic state of admission. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to examine the relationship between COU and postoperative atelectasis. RESULTS: A total of 3618 lumbar fusions were identified. Atelectasis was noted in 1.33 % of NCOU patients and 2.32 % of COU patients. On multivariable analysis, while controlling for the Elixhauser Mortality Index and patient insurance status, COU was significantly associated with atelectasis in posterior lumbar fusion (OR = 2.27; CI: 1.09-4.72; p = 0.028) and circumferential lumbar fusion (OR = 4.68; CI: 1.52-14.45; p = 0.007). The Elixhauser Mortality Index was also significantly associated with atelectasis in posterior lumbar fusion (OR = 1.08; CI: 1.04-1.11; p < 0.001) and circumferential lumbar fusion (OR = 1.09; CI: 1.03-1.16; p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Higher rates of postoperative atelectasis were found among patients with COU following posterior and circumferential lumbar fusions. The Elixhauser Mortality Index was also independently associated with atelectasis. Knowledge of these risks may allow for earlier identification and intervention in patients who are at risk.

Chronic opioid use is associated with increased postoperative urinary retention, length of stay and non-routine discharge following lumbar fusion surgery.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of chronic opioid use (COU) is increasing with health related complications impacting both patients and healthcare services. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the impact of COU on postoperative urinary retention (PUR) in patients following lumbar fusion surgery as well as its impact on length of stay (LOS) and non-routine discharges (NRD). MATERIALS & METHODS: The State Inpatient Databases were utilised to identify patients undergoing elective lumbar fusion procedures. Patients with and without COU were separated into groups and matched using 3:1 propensity score matching. PUR, LOS in the upper quartile and discharge to a location other than home were the outcomes of interest. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the impact of COU on the above outcomes and Wald chi-square tests were used to determine the factors with the most significant associations. RESULTS: COU was significant for PUR (p = 0.037), prolonged LOS (p < 0.001), and NRD (p < 0.001). Factors most significantly associated with PUR were Elixhauser Mortality Index and COU both with p < 0.05. Factors associated with prolonged LOS and NRD were Elixhauser Mortality Index, COU, and insurance status. CONCLUSION: COU has a notable impact on PUR, LOS, and NRD. The Elixhauser Mortality Index and insurance status of patients also showed predictive utility for these outcomes. This knowledge enables us to identify sources of pressure for health services and approach them strategically through increased awareness.