Usefulness and Accuracy of Artificial Intelligence Chatbot Responses to Patient Questions for Neurosurgical Procedures.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Internet has become a primary source of health information, leading patients to seek answers online before consulting health care providers. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT) in neurosurgery by assessing the accuracy and helpfulness of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated responses to common postsurgical questions. METHODS: A list of 60 commonly asked questions regarding neurosurgical procedures was developed. ChatGPT-3.0, ChatGPT-3.5, and ChatGPT-4.0 responses to these questions were recorded and graded by numerous practitioners for accuracy and helpfulness. The understandability and actionability of the answers were assessed using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool. Readability analysis was conducted using established scales. RESULTS: A total of 1080 responses were evaluated, equally divided among ChatGPT-3.0, 3.5, and 4.0, each contributing 360 responses. The mean helpfulness score across the 3 subsections was 3.511 ± 0.647 while the accuracy score was 4.165 ± 0.567. The Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool analysis revealed that the AI-generated responses had higher actionability scores than understandability. This indicates that the answers provided practical guidance and recommendations that patients could apply effectively. On the other hand, the mean Flesch Reading Ease score was 33.5, suggesting that the readability level of the responses was relatively complex. The Raygor Readability Estimate scores ranged within the graduate level, with an average score of the 15th grade. CONCLUSION: The artificial intelligence chatbot's responses, although factually accurate, were not rated highly beneficial, with only marginal differences in perceived helpfulness and accuracy between ChatGPT-3.0 and ChatGPT-3.5 versions. Despite this, the responses from ChatGPT-4.0 showed a notable improvement in understandability, indicating enhanced readability over earlier versions.

Readability of cerebrovascular diseases online educational material from major cerebrovascular organizations.

INTRODUCTION: The internet is an essential resource for patients and their loved ones to understand their medical conditions, and professional medical organizations have taken great strides to develop educational material targeting patients. The average American reads at a seventh to eighth grade reading level, hence it is important to understand the readability of this medical information to ensure patients comprehend what is being presented. METHODS: In January 2023, online patient education material was downloaded from major cerebrovascular healthcare organizations and assessed using eight assessments, including Bormuth Cloze Mean, Bormuth Grade Placement, Coleman-Liau (grade levels), Coleman-Liau (predictive cloze scores), Flesch Reading Ease (FRE), and Fry. RESULTS: A total of 32 files were extracted from six organizations and analyzed across 15 readability measures. None of the organizations met the federal government guidelines for grade-level readability. This held constant across all measured tests. Two organizations had above a postgraduate level. The FRE graphs do not identify any organizations with material below a ninth grade reading level, while the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) have a postgraduate readability level. The Fry graphs show similar results, with AANS/CNS Cerebrovascular Section, Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS), SIR, and AANS having college-level readability. The lowest readability across all measures is only at an early seventh grade reading level. CONCLUSIONS: Current health literacy content for cerebrovascular patients is far above the recommended readability level. We provide straightforward suggestions for how major professional organizations should improve their informational material on cerebrovascular diseases to improve patient understanding.

Utilization and reimbursement of diagnostic cerebral angiograms: A Medicare trends analysis from 2013 to 2020.

INTRODUCTION: Increasing life expectancy has caused growing concern about maintaining viable neurointerventional practices due to altered Medicare payment structures. This study analyzes the financial trends of three common diagnostic tests for cerebrovascular disease: cerebral digital subtraction angiography (DSA), computed tomography angiography (CTA), and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). METHODS: Medicare Part B National Summary Data files from 2013 to 2020 were queried by Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for DSA (36221-36228), CTA (70496, 70498), and MRA (70544-70547, 70549). Inflation-adjusted charges and reimbursement were calculated using the U.S. City Average Consumer Price Index for Medical Services. Regression analysis was performed on charges, reimbursement, and volume. RESULTS: A total of 1,519,245 diagnostic procedures were conducted between 2013 and 2020 (782,370 angiograms, 246,603 CTAs, and 490,272 MRAs). A total of $41.005 million was reimbursed by Medicare in 2020 for these diagnostic procedures. The annual percent change in volume for all procedures was -2.90%. From 2013 to 2020, inflation-adjusted: Medicare total physician reimbursement decreased for cerebral angiograms (-4.12%, p = 0.007), CTAs (-2.77%, p = 0.458), and MRAs (-9.06%, p < 0.001). Procedural volume billed to Medicare decreased for cerebral angiograms (-4.63%, p = 0.007) and MRAs (-2.94%, p = 0.0.81) and increased for CTAs (+3.15%, p = 0.004). The greatest increase in Medicare reimbursement (+66.75%) came from CPT code 36224, "place catheter carotid artery", and the greatest decrease in Medicare reimbursement (-8.66%) came from CPT code 36226, "place catheter vertebral artery." CONCLUSIONS: This study provides an analysis of Medicare reimbursement trends for routine cerebrovascular angiogram techniques. The findings highlight a decline in Medicare reimbursements for neurointerventionalists.

Patient and Caregiver Perception of Adenoidectomies: A Non-Real-World Social Media Analysis.

Objective: To survey the social media outlets Twitter and Instagram for public posts related to adenoidectomy surgery. This study aims to investigate the attitudes and perceptions of patients and caregivers on social media, through thematic content-analysis of social media posts regarding adenoidectomy. Study Design: Non-real world qualitative study. Setting: Twitter and Instagram social media platforms. Methods: Public posts uploaded between February, 2021 and February, 2023 using the hashtags "#adenoidectomy," and "#adenoidectomyrecovery" were searched. Posts were excluded if they were unrelated to adenoidectomy or were in a non-English language. Relevant posts were stratified demographically as patient or caregiver and pre- or postoperative, and categorized into relevant themes for analysis. Outcomes were measured as the total number of posts. Results: A total of 394 relevant posts were analyzed. A significance threshold of P < 0.05 was used. Patients posted significantly more posts regarding procedure pain (P = 0.002) and concern for appearance (P = 0.048) compared to caregivers. Caregivers posted significantly (P < 0.001) more posts regarding condition awareness and were significantly (P < 0.001) more likely to spread positivity in their posts compared to patients themselves. Posts made by female caregivers were more likely to reference fear, while those made by male caregivers were more likely to provide education (P = 0.002). Conclusion: Patients may worry about appearance and mental health while caregivers are more likely to spread information and positivity. Male and female caregivers may also use social media differently. A better understanding of patient and caregiver concerns may optimize physician interaction and involvement.

Cerebral Cavernous Malformations Patient Perception Analysis via Social Media.

BACKGROUND: The rise of social media has allowed for individuals and patients to connect with each other and influence patient behavior. This study aimed to improve our understanding of the patients' experience with cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) via social media. METHODS: Instagram and Twitter were searched using terms of ("cavernoma," "cavernous malformations," "cavernous angioma," or "cav mal"). Public Instagram posts tagged with "#cavernoma" and "@cavernoma" identified 327 posts that directly included a patient's own experience. Twitter posts that included "#cavernoma" and "@cavernoma" were searched, yielding 75 after eliminating those that did not pertain to the patient's own experience. The posts and tweets were coded for relevant themes related to their experience with the disease. RESULTS: Overall, more patients are using Instagram (n = 327) over Twitter (n = 84) to share their personal experience with CCM with a trend for male patients to use Twitter more compared to females with a female predominance in Instagram. A total of 277 of 327 (84.7%) Instagram posts and 67 of 84 (89.3%) Twitter posts were made after the patient's surgery. The most common theme on Instagram was focused on the postoperative rehabilitation process and mobility support (52.0 and 24.5%, respectively). Other common themes present on Twitter and Instagram were recounting symptoms and complications and life satisfaction (26.0 and 24.2%, respectively). Cavernoma patients prior to surgery were more likely to discuss on Instagram their symptoms (p = 0.001), fear of bleeding (p < 0.001), and mental health (p = 0.014). Postoperatively, cavernoma patients were more likely to discuss disability than they were preoperatively (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Social media platforms offer a communication tool for patients with CCM patients to share their experience with other patients and the general public and portrays their personal experience with CCM. These platforms allow for physicians to better understand the patient experience following cavernoma surgery.

Art and Neurosurgery: The Importance of Medical Illustration.

Art in neurosurgery has been a critical part of the discipline for centuries. Numerous cultures, such as ancient India, China, and Egypt, and more contemporary scientists, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Max Brödel, and Norman Dott, have significantly contributed to medical illustration. Today, advancements in three-dimensional technology have allowed for the creation of detailed neuroanatomy models for surgical planning and education. Medical illustrations are also used for research and outcome documentation as they help visualize anatomy and surgical procedures. Its use in education, surgical planning, and navigation remains integral to the advancement of neurosurgery. This review demonstrates the invaluable contribution of art in neurosurgery and how it has enabled continuous progress in the field.

Patient perception of spinal cord injury through social media: An analysis of 703 Instagram and 117 Twitter posts.

Introduction: Social media has developed exponentially over the last decade as a means for individuals and patients to connect to others and has provided a unique opportunity for physicians to provide broader information to the general public to attempt to positively modify health behavior. The purpose of this study was to assess the patient's perception of spinal cord injury (SCI) on social media. Methods: Instagram and Twitter social media platforms were analyzed to determine posts written by patients with SCI. The initial search for Instagram posts tagged with "#spinalcordinjury" yielded over 270,000 posts in April 2021. Posts pertaining to the patient's experience were retrospectively collected from January 2020 to April 2021. Twitter posts that included "#spinalcordinjury," "@spinalcordinjury," and "spinal cord injury" were retrospectively collected in April 2021. One hundred seventeen tweets were found that were directly from a patient with SCI. Themes associated with patients' experiences living with SCI were coded. Results: The most common theme on Instagram was spreading positivity and on Twitter was the appearance of the wheelchair (75.8% and 37.3%, respectively). Other common themes on Instagram were the appearance of a wheelchair (71.8%), recovery or rehabilitation (29.9%), and life satisfaction (29.0%). Prevalent themes on Twitter included spreading positivity (23.2%) and recovery or rehabilitation (21.3%). Conclusion: The prevalence of themes of positivity and awareness may indicate the utilization of social media as a support mechanism for patients living with SCI. Identification of prevalent themes is important for the holistic treatment of SCI survivors.

Patient sentiment regarding stroke: Analysis of 2,992 social media posts.

INTRODUCTION: Social media reflects personalized sentiment toward disease and increasingly impacts perceptions of treatment options. This study aims to assess patients experience with and perception of stroke through an analysis of social media posts. METHODS: A variety of terms ("stroke", "stroke survivor", "stroke rehab", "stroke recovery") were used to search for possible qualified posts on Twitter and Instagram. Twitter posts containing "#stroke" and "@stroke" were identified, yielding 2,506 Twitter posts relating to the patient's own experience. Four hundred sixty-eight public Instagram posts marked under "#stroke" and "@stroke," including direct references to the patient's own experience, were analyzed. First vs. recurrent stroke was identified when possible. The posts were coded for themes relating to patient experience with the disease. RESULTS: The most common Twitter theme was raising stroke awareness (23.4 %), while spreading positivity was the most common Instagram theme (66.7 %). Most Twitter posts (93.9 %) were from patients experiencing their first stroke, with only 6.1 % of the posts being about recurrent strokes. Women created the majority of Instagram (75.7 %) and Twitter (77.3 %) posts. Men were more likely to discuss mobility/functional outcomes (p = 0.001) and survival/death (p = 0.014), while women were more likely to recount symptoms (p = 0.014), depression (p = 0.002), fear (p<0.001), and mental health (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Stroke patients most often describe their quality of life and discuss raising awareness via social media. Men and women differ in the most commonly shared aspects of their stroke experience. Gauging social media sentiment may guide physicians toward better counseling and psychosocial management of stroke patients.

Post-operative weight loss in venous sinus stenting patients: A multi-center review, systematic review, and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) can result in headaches, pulsatile tinnitus, papilledema, and other neurological symptoms. Weight loss can alleviate some symptoms of IIH. This study aims to investigate the effect of venous sinus stenting on post-operative weight and body mass index (BMI) changes among IIH patients. The secondary objective is to investigate the relationship between post-operative weight changes and papilledema resolution. METHODS: Patients with papilledema undergoing venous sinus stenting for IIH were retrospectively reviewed from two comprehensive North American cerebrovascular centers. Patient demographics, surgical course, post-operative outcomes, and weight were analyzed. A systematic review and meta-analysis of post-operative weight in stented IIH patients was conducted. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients with a diagnosis of IIH and papilledema who underwent venous sinus stenting were identified across two institutions. Patients had a mean pre-operative weight of 103.2 kg, which decreased to 101.5 kg at 3-month follow up (p = 0.0757). Patients at 6-month follow-up saw a weight decrease to 97.4 kg (p = 0.0066). Patients who saw papilledema resolution saw a mean greater decrease in weight (-4.5%) at 6-month follow up than those whose papilledema did not resolve (-1.7%), although this was insignificant (p = 0.1091). A total of 41 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Patients had an average of 1.1 increase in BMI at 3-month follow up. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that venous sinus stenting leads to modest weight reduction in IIH patients, and those with resolved papilledema experience slightly greater weight loss. Further research is necessary to determine the clinical significance of these findings.

Cross-Sectional Analysis of Neurosurgical Residency Websites During the Virtual Interview Cycle.

BACKGROUND: The loss of in-person interviews during the COVID-19 pandemic warrants an investigation into what information is provided to applicants through neurosurgery residency program websites (NRPWs). This study examines NRPWs across the United States and Canada to determine what details are provided to applicants through their respective websites. METHODS: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredited neurologic surgery residency programs were identified through the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) website. NRPWs were searched for 48 criteria, including program overview, application requirements, and curriculum information. Small programs were defined as 1-2 residents per class, while large programs were classified as those with 3-4 residents per year. Content differences were analyzed between the top 20 and remaining programs per the Doximity Residency Navigator Rankings. RESULTS: The most prevalent information among 122 NRPWs was the neurosurgery residency overview (95%), names of faculty members (95%), and names of current residents (94%). Top-20 NRPWs were more likely to include post PGY-7 fellowships (90% vs. 61% P = 0.0108), operating room virtual reality experience (35% vs. 12% P = 0.0160), and faculty research (90% vs. 62% P = 0.0182) than the remainder of the programs. CONCLUSIONS: This study investigates NRPW content after the COVID-19 pandemic. We report broad variability in content provided by various neurosurgical training programs. Higher-ranked neurosurgery programs are more likely to include fellowship information, operating room virtual reality experience, and faculty research than lower-ranked programs.

Comparison of pipeline embolization device, flow re-direction endoluminal device and surpass flow diverters in the treatment of intracerebral aneurysms.

OBJECTIVES: The use of flow diversion for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms has gained broad acceptance. Three flow-diverting stents are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States. We sought to compare the outcomes and safety profiles between the three devices at our institution. METHODS: A retrospective review of aneurysms treated with pipeline embolization device (PED), flow re-direction endoluminal device (FRED), and SURPASS was performed for aneurysms treated between 2018 and 2022 at our institution. RESULTS: The study cohort consisted of 142 patients. Precisely, 86 aneurysms were treated with a pipeline, 33 aneurysms were treated with FRED, and 23 aneurysms were treated with SURPASS. The 1-year complete occlusion rates were 59.4%, 60%, and 65%, respectively (0.91). Linear regression models found that only adjunctive coiling predicted aneurysm occlusion at 6 months (p = 0.02), but this effect was lost at 1 year and beyond. There was no significant difference in acute thrombotic or acute hemorrhagic complications between the three cohorts. There was a higher rate of delayed hemorrhagic complications in the SURPASS cohort (10%) compared to the PED (1.3%) and FRED (0%) cohorts (p = 0.04). There was also a higher rate of in-stent stenosis in the SURPASS cohort (20%) compared to the PED (5%) and FRED (3.1%) cohorts (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with PED, FRED, and SURPASS all resulted in similar complete occlusion rates at 6 months and 1 year. SURPASS was associated with higher in-stent stenosis as well as delayed hemorrhagic complications. Additional future studies evaluating the newest generation of flow-diverting stents with long-term follow-up will be necessary to make any definitive conclusions.

Incidence of mechanical thrombectomy among stroke patients brought directly to a comprehensive stroke center versus transfer from a primary stroke center in upstate New York.

BACKGROUND: Faster time to treatment for stroke is associated with improved outcomes. In cases of large vessel occlusion (LVO), standard of care treatment with thrombectomy can only be provided at a comprehensive stroke center (CSC). We examine the outcomes of patients who are directly brought to our center, a CSC, compared to those seen at a primary stroke center (PSC) and then transferred. METHODS: Patients with LVO presenting to our center from 1/1/2019 to 12/31/2019 were included. Cohorts of patients presenting first to a PSC and presenting first to a CSC were compared. Demographics and outcome metrics (Discharge Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and National Institute of Health Stroke Severity Scale (NIHSS) scores) were obtained for all LVO patients. Imaging was also assessed. RESULTS: Of 864 stroke admissions, 346 had LVO (40%) with 183 (53%) transferring from a PSC and 163 (47%) presenting directly. Similar percentages of each cohort were taken for thrombectomy (25.1% transfer and 31.3% direct). However, as distance between PSC and CSC increased, likelihood of thrombectomy decreased. Transfer patients were more likely to be excluded from thrombectomy secondary to a large volume of complete stroke (p = 0.0001). Direct presenters had lower discharge mRS scores than transfer patients (p < 0.01), however, severity of stroke upon admission was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Patients transferred from a PSC were more likely to have a worse outcome at time of discharge than those presenting directly to our center. Large volume of completed stroke was a frequent reason for exclusion from thrombectomy. Optimizing stroke protocols to CSC in cases of LVOs may result in better outcomes.

Removal of a Floating and Migrated Plate Screw in a Patient with a Failed Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

BACKGROUND: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a commonly performed procedure for degenerative cervical spine disease. Rare complications of ACDF surgery include hardware failure, in the form of screw loosening and migration, or rod breakage. We present a case in which we removed a migrated screw lodged in the esophagus from a patient with a failed anterior cervical fusion. OBJECTIVE: To present a surgical technique and considerations to remove a migrated screw. METHODS: The previous ACDF incision was reopened and exposure was gained under the guidance of a head and neck surgeon. Longus coli were mobilized off the spine bilaterally with electrocautery. After dissection, the screw was found lodged in the longitudinal muscle of the esophageal wall and excised with the use of a 15-blade. The integrity of the esophageal mucosa and submucosa was maintained and subsequently checked with rigid esophagoscopy. Fluoroscopy was used to confirm that all hardware was removed, with the exception of the anterior cages. RESULTS: The dislodged screw, which was embedded in the esophagus, was successfully removed. CONCLUSIONS: Failure of an ACDF carries a risk of screw migration, which may be asymptomatic even if the screw is lodged in the esophagus. Additional considerations are required with potential violations of the adjacent viscera.

Surgical Outcomes of Awake Craniotomy for Treatment of Arteriovenous Malformations in Eloquent Cortex: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) located in eloquent brain regions are historically associated with a poor prognosis. Awake craniotomy (AC) with the adjunct of brain mapping has the potential of identifying non-eloquent gyri to maximize resection, thereby theoretically decreasing the risk of neurologic deficits. With limited evidence regarding the efficacy of AC in treatment of eloquent AVMs, this review aims to investigate its surgical outcomes. METHODS: A systematic search in the PubMed database was performed to identify all relevant studies up to February 2022. RESULTS: A total of 13 studies were extracted for quantitative analysis, yielding a total of 46 patients. The mean age was 34.1 years, and most patients were female (54.8%). Seizures were the most frequently reported presenting symptom (41%, 19 of 46 cases). Spetzler-Martin Grade III was the most prevalent (45.9%, 17 cases) with a mean nidus size of 32.6 mm. Seventy-four percent of AVMs were located on the left side, with the frontal lobe being the most common location (30%, 14 of 46 cases). The most common eloquent regions were language (47.8%, 22 of 46 cases), motor (17.4%, 8 of 46 cases), and language + motor cortices (13.1%, 6 of 46 cases). Complete resection of AVM was achieved in 41 patients (89%). Intraoperative complications occurred in 14 of 46 cases (30.4%) with transient postoperative neurologic deficits in 14 patients (30.4%). CONCLUSIONS: AC may enable precise microsurgical excision of eloquent AVMs with preservation of critical brain functions. Risk factors for poor outcomes include eloquent AVMs located in the language + motor regions and the occurrence of intraoperative complications such as seizures/hemorrhage.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) for craniotomies in the treatment of brain tumors: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative complications after craniotomy for brain tumors include pain, nausea/vomiting, and infection. A standardized enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol is not widely accepted for this common neurosurgical procedure. Few studies have explored its application. METHODS: A literature search of PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases was performed between January 1992 and March 2023. Original studies that implemented an ERAS protocol for patients that underwent craniotomy for brain tumors were included. The following variables were evaluated: hospital length of stay (LOS), postoperative pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) prophylaxis, non-opioid analgesia, and quality of life (QOL). RESULTS: Twelve studies with a total of 1309 patients met inclusion criteria, including ten randomized controlled trials, one nonrandomized controlled trial, and one quality control study. Most frequently assessed metrics included hospital LOS, PONV prophylaxis, and non-opioid analgesia. A significant reduction in postoperative LOS was observed in 7 studies with ERAS or ERAS components. ERAS was significantly associated with pain reduction on the visual analog scale and verbal numerical rating scale (n=8). Non-opioid analgesia in ERAS improved postoperative pain control (n=4) and decreased the duration of pain (n=1). Three of six studies found no difference in PONV in ERAS vs. control. No studies reported an increase in postoperative complications using ERAS vs. control. One study showed greater patient satisfaction at 30-day follow-up with improved QOL. CONCLUSION: Implementing ERAS protocol may enhance outcomes and quality of life in patients with moderate evidence for improved recovery in those undergoing craniotomy for brain tumors.

What matters most to cerebral aneurysms patients: A digital analysis of 1127 social media posts.

INTRODUCTION: Social media serves as a way for patients to post about their condition online, as well as for healthcare providers to disseminate information. Intrinsic bias exists exist when patients are given surveys by physicians or healthcare providers. We aim to investigate patient-centered social media posts regarding cerebral aneurysms on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. METHODS: Posts that included "brain aneurysm", "#brainaneurysm", "#brainaneurysmsurvivor", and "#aneurysmsurvivor" were queried on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Any posts unrelated to the patient experience were excluded. Five hundred and fourteen Instagram posts, fourty tweets, and five hundred seventy three TikTok posts about the patient experience were identified. Posts were coded for the relevant themes related to their experience with the disease. RESULTS: Most posts made online were by women (892, 82.1%). Patients made the post most of the time (776, 67.5%), while other individuals posted less often (420, 36.5%). The most common themes on Instagram were survival (475, 87.3%), spreading positivity (385, 70.77%), and recovery/rehabilitation (329, 60.5%). TikTok users most often referred to survival (573, 97.1%), raising awareness (464. 78.6%), and spreading positivity (414, 70.2%). Patients were more likely to discuss pre-operative pain (p = 0.0382), postoperative pain (p < 0.0001), invisible illness (p = 0.0130), humor (p = 0.0028), recovery (p < 0.0001), angiograms (p < 0.0001), and resiliency (p < 0.0001) when compared to other individuals posting about a patients' experience. CONCLUSION: Patients often focus on different aspects of their care than do other individuals. This may be useful for physicians discussing treatment plans and prognoses with the patient and their families.

Mapping the geographic migration of United States neurosurgeons across training and current practice regions: associations with academic productivity.

OBJECTIVE: Characterizing changes in the geographic distribution of neurosurgeons in the United States (US) may inform efforts to provide a more equitable distribution of neurosurgical care. Herein, the authors performed a comprehensive analysis of the geographic movement and distribution of the neurosurgical workforce. METHODS: A list containing all board-certified neurosurgeons practicing in the US in 2019 was obtained from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons membership database. Chi-square analysis and a post hoc comparison with Bonferroni correction were performed to assess differences in demographics and geographic movement throughout neurosurgeon careers. Three multinomial logistic regression models were performed to further evaluate relationships among training location, current practice location, neurosurgeon characteristics, and academic productivity. RESULTS: The study cohort included 4075 (3830 male, 245 female) neurosurgeons practicing in the US. Seven hundred eighty-one neurosurgeons practice in the Northeast, 810 in the Midwest, 1562 in the South, 906 in the West, and 16 in a US territory. States with the lowest density of neurosurgeons included Vermont and Rhode Island in the Northeast; Arkansas, Hawaii, and Wyoming in the West; North Dakota in the Midwest; and Delaware in the South. Overall, the effect size, as measured by Cramér's V statistic, between training stage and training region is relatively modest at 0.27 (1.0 is complete dependence); this finding was reflected in the similarly modest pseudo R2 values of the multinomial logit models, which ranged from 0.197 to 0.246. Multinomial logistic regression with L1 regularization revealed significant associations between current practice region and residency region, medical school region, age, academic status, sex, or race (p < 0.05). On subanalysis of the academic neurosurgeons, the region of residency training correlated with an advanced degree type in the overall neurosurgeon cohort, with more neurosurgeons than expected holding Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in the West (p = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Female neurosurgeons were less likely to practice in the South, and neurosurgeons in the South and West had reduced odds of holding academic rather than private positions. The Northeast was the most likely region to contain neurosurgeons who had completed their training in the same locality, particularly among academic neurosurgeons who did their residency in the Northeast.

Co-administration of Ketamine in Pediatric Patients with Neurologic Conditions at Risk for Intracranial Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Ketamine has traditionally been avoided as an induction agent for tracheal intubation in patients with neurologic conditions at risk for intracranial hypertension due to conflicting data in the literature. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of ketamine versus other medications as the primary induction agent on peri-intubation neurologic, hemodynamic and respiratory associated events in pediatric patients with neurologic conditions at risk for intracranial hypertension. METHODS: This retrospective observational study enrolled patients < 18 years of age at risk for intracranial hypertension who were admitted to a quaternary children's hospital between 2015 and 2020. Associated events included neurologic, hemodynamic and respiratory outcomes comparing primary induction agents of ketamine versus non-ketamine for tracheal intubation. RESULTS: Of 143 children, 70 received ketamine as the primary induction agent prior to tracheal intubation. Subsequently after tracheal intubation, all the patients received adjunct analgesic and sedative medications (fentanyl, midazolam, and/or propofol) at doses that were inadequate to induce general anesthesia but would keep them comfortable for further diagnostic workup. There were no significant differences between associated neurologic events in the ketamine versus non-ketamine groups (p = 0.42). This included obtaining an emergent computed tomography scan (p = 0.28), an emergent trip to the operating room within 5 h of tracheal intubation (p = 0.6), and the need for hypertonic saline administration within 15 min of induction drug administration for tracheal intubation (p = 0.51). There were two patients who had clinical and imaging evidence of herniation, which was not more adversely affected by ketamine compared with other medications (p = 0.49). Of the 143 patients, 23 had pre-intubation and post-intubation intracranial pressure values recorded; 11 received ketamine, and 3 of these patients had intracranial hypertension that resolved or improved, whereas the remaining 8 children had intracranial pressure within the normal range that was not exacerbated by ketamine. There were no significant differences in overall associated hemodynamic or respiratory events during tracheal intubation and no 24-h mortality in either group. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of ketamine as the primary induction agent prior to tracheal intubation in combination with other agents after tracheal intubation in children at risk for intracranial hypertension was not associated with an increased risk of peri-intubation associated neurologic, hemodynamic or respiratory events compared with those who received other induction agents.

A Pilot Study Comparing Algorithmic Adaptive Conventional Stimulation with High-Dose Stimulation in Chronic Pain Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Spinal cord stimulation is an effective method of treatment for chronic pain. We previously showed that programming using accelerometry was advantageous for paresthesia-based stimulation. However, programming can be labor intensive. OBJECTIVE: Here we focus on standardized programming for both accelerometer-based paresthesia-induced programming (termed "shuffle") and high-dose (HD) subthreshold programming with stimulation delivered over the T9-10 interspace. METHODS: In this prospective cross-over study, patients received 4 weeks of shuffle programming and 4 weeks of HD programming in a randomized order. In both intervals, contacts overlying T9-10 were programmed. Pain scales with measurements of activity and sleep were collected at the end of each study arm and compared with preoperative baseline scores. RESULTS: Twelve patients were enrolled, with 10 patients completing this study. Compared with baseline, during the HD study period, significant improvements were seen in worst pain of week (P = 0.03) and current pain (P = 0.04) as rated on Numeric Rating Scale scores and walking on the Activity Test (P = 0.012). No difference was seen from baseline compared with shuffle stimulation or in shuffle stimulation compared with HD stimulation. CONCLUSION: In this pilot study, we demonstrated that HD stimulation at T9-10 is superior to algorithmic programming of paresthesia-based stimulation. These results compared with our previous work with shuffle suggest that paresthesia-based stimulation may necessitate stimulation of additional contact locations and additional programming to optimize. This algorithmic programming of paresthesia-based stimulation continues to warrant exploration.