Infecção relacionada à derivação ventricular externa em hospital de neurocirurgia / Infección relacionada con derivación ventricular externa en hospital de neurocirugía / Infection related to the external ventricular shunt in a neurosurgery hospital

Objective: Identify the factors co-responsible for infection related to external ventricular shunt (EVS). Method: This is a retrospective study with quantitative data analysis developed at the Medical Archive Service of a public hospital which is a reference in neurosurgery in Pernambuco, Brazil. The sample consisted of 140 patients who underwent the insertion of external ventricular shunt. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using the software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 13.0. Results: Predominance of males (39.7%); age between 20 and 39 years (52%); length of hospital stay over 60 days (72.7%); multiple EVS placed (100%); length of EVS use over 30 days (96.2%). Conclusion: Statistical significance for the factors: prolonged length of hospital stay; number of EVS placed; length of EVS use; and the development of infection. Nursing actions are emerging and they're aimed at ensuring patient safety in the hospital environment

Objetivo: Identificar os fatores corresponsáveis de infecção relacionada à derivação ventricular externa (DVE). Método: Trata-se de estudo retrospectivo com análise quantitativa dos dados desenvolvido no Serviço de Arquivo Médico de um hospital público que é referência em neurocirurgia em Pernambuco. A amostra foi constituída por 140 pacientes submetidos a inserção de derivação ventricular externa. Os dados foram coletados por meio de um questionário semiestruturado e analisados com o programa Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), versão 13.0. Resultados: Predominância do sexo masculino (39,7%); idade entre 20 e 39 anos (52%); tempo de internamento acima de 60 dias (72,7%); múltiplas DVEs colocadas (100%); tempo de uso da DVE acima de 30 dias (96,2%). Conclusão: Significância estatística para os fatores: tempo de internação prolongado; número de DVEs colocadas; tempo de uso da DVE; e o desenvolvimento de infecção. As ações de enfermagem são emergentes e visam a garantir a segurança do paciente no ambiente hospitalar

Objetivo: Identificar los factores co-responsables de infección relacionada con la derivación ventricular externa (DVE). Método: Esto es un estudio retrospectivo con análisis cuantitativo de datos desarrollado en el Servicio de Archivo Médico de un hospital público que es referencia en neurocirugía en Pernambuco, Brasil. La muestra consistió de 140 pacientes que se sometieron a inserción de una derivación ventricular externa. Los datos fueron recogidos por medio de un cuestionario semi-estructurado y analizados con el programa Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), versión 13.0. Resultados: Predominio del sexo masculino (39,7%); edad entre 20 y 39 años (52%); tiempo de hospitalización mayor que 60 días (72,7%); múltiples DVEs colocadas (100%); tiempo de utilización de la DVE mayor que 30 días (96,2%). Conclusión: Significancia estadística para los factores: tiempo prolongado de hospitalización; número de DVEs colocadas; tiempo de utilización de la DVE; y el desarrollo de infección. Las acciones de enfermería están surgiendo y tienen el fin de garantizar la seguridad del paciente en el entorno hospitalario

Manejo del drenaje ventricular externo en la unidad de cuidados intensivos: guía práctica / Managment of external ventricular drainage in Intensive Care Units. Guidelines

La utilización de catéteres intracraneanos, fundamentalmente los drenajes ventriculares externos, es una práctica de relativa frecuencia en el manejo de pacientes con neuroinjuria grave en las unidades de cuidados intensivos. Debido a que se asocian con un aumento significativo del riesgo de infecciones del sistema nervioso central (SNC) posneuroquirúrgicas, es necesario estandarizar su manejo para lograr mejores resultados. Se consensuaron pautas de manejo de estos dispositivos mediante revisión de la bibliografía y discusión entre las cátedras de Medicina Intensiva y Neurocirugía de la Facultad de Medicina. Se establecieron las indicaciones y técnica para su inserción, la descripción detallada del sistema de derivación y drenaje de líquido cefalorraquídeo, así como el manejo del mismo contemplando las eventuales complicaciones. Se determinaron, también, los criterios diagnósticos de infecciones del SNC posneuroquirúrgicas más relevantes, como meningitis y ventriculitis.(AU)

Pure pineal germinomas: analysis of gender incidence.

OBJECTIVE: Pure pineal germinomas have been rarely reported in girls. Gender incidence and differences of pure pineal germinomas are not well known. The authors report a series of pure pineal germinoma and its gender characteristic is reviewed. METHODS AND RESULTS: Of a total of 50 germ cell tumors operated on between 1988 and 2004 we found 26 cases (median age at diagnosis, 12 years) of pineal germ cell tumors. Of these, 14 cases (male/female ratio: 13/1) were pure pineal germinomas, and 12 cases (male/female ratio: 12/0) were non-germinoma germ cell tumors. In pure pineal germinomas, the main clinical presentations were intracranial hypertension and cranial nerve dysfunction. Imaging studies disclosed a homogeneous type of tumor (n = 10) and associated hydrocephalus (n = 6). Cases were managed with biopsy and subsequent radiation therapy and chemotherapy. After a follow up of 10 years, pure germinoma cases have no neurological deficits and tumor recurrence. The literature on gender incidence of pure pineal germinomas is analyzed and possible causes are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, pure pineal germinoma can be found in female subjects. On the basis of the literature review, the male/female ratio in cases of pure pineal germinoma is between 5:1 and 22:1 (mean 14:1). In our series, the male/female ratio was 13:1.

Sellar floor reconstruction after transsphenoidal surgery using fibrin glue without grafting or implants: technical note.

BACKGROUND: Different techniques have already been described for reconstructing the sellar floor after transsphenoidal (TS) procedures. This paper reports on the use of fibrin glue alone without grafting or the use of implants in the reconstruction of the sellar floor after TS. METHODS: Five hundred sixty-seven patients who submitted to TS for pituitary and sellar region tumors were studied. No intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak occurred in 503 patients (group 1); in the remaining 64 patients (group 2), intraoperative CSF leak was noted. In group 1 patients, closure of the sellar floor consisted of packing the surgical bed with hemostatic material only. When CSF leak was noted, the surgical bed was covered with a layer of hemostatic material and the intrasellar space was filled up with fibrin glue. An additional layer of hemostatic material was added at the topography of the preexisting sellar floor, and a second amount of fibrin glue was applied over it. At the end of surgery, a continuous lumbar CSF drainage system was installed in group 2 patients and kept for 5 days. Prophylactic antibiotics were administered during this period. RESULTS: We did not observe delayed CSF leak, meningitis, or visual loss in group 1 patients. In group 2, 2 patients presented with complications: 1 patient got meningitis but no overt CSF leak, and the other disclosed a delayed postoperative leak treated by reoperation. DISCUSSION: Our results showed that closure of the sellar floor with hemostatic material and fibrin glue without grafting or the use of implants is a safe and efficient method to prevent postoperative complications after TS. Generally speaking, there is no need for grafting or the use of implants at the end of TS.

International survey on the management of Chiari I malformation and syringomyelia.

INTRODUCTION: The availability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has resulted in an increasing number of asymptomatic, minimally symptomatic, and doubtfully symptomatic patients being diagnosed with a Chiari I malformation with or without syringomyelia. In an attempt to clarify how neurosurgeons manage these clinical problems, an international survey on the Chiari I malformation and related syringomyelia was undertaken. METHOD: A questionnaire on the expected natural course of the disease and on aspects of the surgical technique for a number of hypothetical cases relating to Chiari I malformation with and without syringomyelia was used to survey Pediatric Neurosurgeons worldwide. RESULTS: Of 246 questionnaires distributed, 76 (30.8%) were completed and returned. There was a consensus that no operation should be carried out in asymptomatic patients with a Chiari I malformation, unless there is associated syringomyelia. There was a consensus that decompression of the Chiari malformation should be performed in patients with scoliosis when syringomyelia is present, and the majority decompressed the Chiari malformation in scoliotic patients even in the absence of syringomyelia. Suboccipital decompression was the standard surgical procedure for Chiari I malformations. The majority of respondents favored routine dural opening at surgery and closure with a pericranial or synthetic patch graft. In the case of a persistent or progressive syrinx after suboccipital decompression, the majority recommended shunting of the syrinx to the subarachnoid space or to the pleural cavity. CONCLUSION: There continues to be much variation in the management of the Chiari I malformation.

Infecciones de las derivativas del líquido cefalorraquídeo (LCR) / Cerebrospinal fluid shunt infections

Existe una disminución en la incidencia de infecciones de las derivativas asociadas con la instalación de válvulas en los últimos 20 años, probablemente por la mejoría de la técnica quirúrgica y de los materiales de confección. Sin embargo la infección permanece como un riesgo importante en la instalación de estas prótesis. La mayoría de las infecciones son secundarias a cocos gram positivo, especialmente estafilococo epidermidis, y se presentan frecuentemente a las pocas semanas o meses luego de la instalación. La presentación clínica puede ser muy variable, dependiendo de la naturaleza de las derivativas, la edad y las condiciones del paciente y el germen infectante. El diagnóstico y el tratamiento adecuado dependen de la demostración del germen, el cual es frecuentemente cultivado de las mismas derivativas. Generalmente el tratamiento efectivo requiere de la extracción de la derivativa infectada asociado a un tratamiento antimicrobiano adecuado. No se ha demostrado la eficacia de los antibióticos profilácticos en forma categórica. La tasa de infecciones postoperatorias se puede disminuir con un esfuerzo continuo. Las diferencias de las tasas reflejan las diferencias de los métodos de detección de las infecciones. Esto muestra la conveniencia de un comité de vigilancia, pues los reportes rutinarios tienden a disminuir los informes de las infecciones en el tiempo y lo importante no es la comparación con otros hospitales sino detectar los cambios dentro del propio hospital