Introducing a Realistic, Low-Cost Simulation Model for Clipping of Brain Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: The current trend toward endovascular treatment of brain aneurysms may have a negative impact on young neurosurgeons who are less exposed to these lesions, thus affecting the acquisition of surgical skills in the field. Different training models have emerged to help cope with this issue, but these have specific pitfalls. Training models based on live animals or cadaveric specimens face increasing restrictions as regulations become a barrier in accessibility for everyday skills development. We introduce a novel, realistic, and inexpensive simulation model using a fresh bovine brain, and we assess its face and content validity as a training tool. METHODS: A fresh bovine brain is used to simulate microsurgical fissure dissection. Arterial and aneurysmal components are created with arteries and veins harvested from chicken thigh. A 12-item questionnaire using the Likert numeric scale (grades 1 - 5) was used to assess the validity of model in 10 surgeons. RESULTS: Ten neurosurgeons performed the simulated clipping of the aneurysm and completed a questionnaire. All surgeons surveyed responded "agree" or "strongly agree" that the simulator, and the skills trained with it, are comparable to clipping brain aneurysms. All respondents believed that this simulator could improve patient safety. CONCLUSIONS: We present a novel, realistic, and inexpensive simulation model for the clipping of brain aneurysms. This model was partially validated by the opinion of field experts. We believe this model has the potential to become a useful training tool for young neurosurgeons who have little exposure to real aneurysm cases.

Flow recovery after posterior clinoidectomy for surgical clipping of anterior choroidal aneurysm

Inadvertent flow alterations in the parent artery during microsurgical clipping might produce postoperative ischemic complications. Intraoperative recognition of such alterations and its correction might improve operative outcomes in these patients. We present the case of a thirty-five-year-old male with an incidental small left anterior choroidal aneurysm. Microsurgical clipping induced an external compression of the anterior choroidal artery against the posterior clinoidal process which was identified in situ through surgical exploration and the loss of arterial doppler signal in the vessel. After failed attempts at clip repositioning, a posterior clinoidectomy was performed to decompress the artery. This resulted in arterial flow recovery. The aneurysm was successfully treated, and a severe ischemic complication was likely avoided. This intraoperative phenomenon has not yet been described in the literature.

Abordaje Quirúrgico a la Cisterna Interpeduncular / Surgical Approach to the Interpeduncular Cistern

Objetivo: Describir el acceso quirúrgico a la fosa interpeduncular para la resección de cavernomas ubicados en situación ventromedial del mesencéfalo. Introducción: El abordaje ¨Pretemporal¨ contralateral con resección orbitocigomatica utilizando la via transilviana, permite abordar la cara ventral de la fosa interpeduncular para lesiones comprendidas entre la union diencefalo-mesencefálica y el surco ponto-mesencefálico. Materiales y Métodos: Datos de historia clínica, fotografías y videos obtenidos de un caso quirúrgico operado en nuestro servicio. Disecciones cadavéricas en 14 piezas anatómicas de tronco cerebral (9 siguiendo la técnica de Klingler y 5 piezas sin congelar, de modo comparativo), 23 especímenes inyectados describiendose los corredores quirúrgicos a la región, mas estudios complementarios. Discusión: La bibliografía internacional consultada propone el abordaje orbitocigomatico homolateral para lesiones situadas en la fosa interpeduncular. En nuestro caso elegimos el abordaje ¨Pretemporal¨ con resección orbito-cigomática contralateral dada la localización alta de la lesión y la disposición de su eje mayor (antero-posterior) en sentido opuesto, ofreciendo de este modo un mejor ángulo de ataque por esta vía propuesta. Conclusión: En nuestra experiencia el abordaje ¨Pretemporal¨ contralateral con orbitotomia y en ¨particular¨ la resección cigomática mejoró el ángulo de trabajo, desde inferior a superior y de lateral a medial, para alcanzar de este modo lesiones mesencefálicas ventro-mediales ¨altas¨ en el plano sagital, versus un acceso ¨Orbitocigomatico¨ clásico homolateral.

A program to improve access to health care among Mexican immigrants in rural Colorado.

CONTEXT: Migration to the United States from Mexico is increasing every year. Mexican immigrants tend to be poor, uninsured, monolingual Spanish speakers without adequate access to appropriate medical care. As a further barrier, many are also undocumented. PURPOSE: This article describes a program developed to improve access to health care among Mexican immigrants in northern Colorado. METHODS: The program was implemented by a migrant/community health center in rural northern Colorado based on findings from an in-depth health needs survey of the target population. The program consists of community outreach services vertically integrated into the main medical clinics, which comprise Salud Family Health Centers. A mobile unit went to nontraditional areas identified by community workers as gathering places for Mexican immigrants. Services provided included preventive health care (screening for diabetes, hypertension, mental health problems, dental problems, and HIV); education; and primary care for acute problems. Patients were referred to a health care home for ongoing care. RESULTS: In the first 6 months, 1,553 Mexican immigrants were seen on the mobile unit. Hypertension and psychosocial problems were the most common problems in this population. Thirty-five percent of patients who received consultation in the mobile unit have visited any of the clinics for follow-up within the following year. CONCLUSIONS: A community-based mobile outreach program targeted toward Mexican immigrants can be effective in uncovering medical and mental illness and in directing patients to a health care home. This is an important first step in eliminating health disparities among this population.