Smartphone-assisted minimally invasive neurosurgery.

OBJECTIVE: Advances in video and fiber optics since the 1990s have led to the development of several commercially available high-definition neuroendoscopes. This technological improvement, however, has been surpassed by the smartphone revolution. With the increasing integration of smartphone technology into medical care, the introduction of these high-quality computerized communication devices with built-in digital cameras offers new possibilities in neuroendoscopy. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of smartphone-endoscope integration in performing different types of minimally invasive neurosurgery. METHODS: The authors present a new surgical tool that integrates a smartphone with an endoscope by use of a specially designed adapter, thus eliminating the need for the video system customarily used for endoscopy. The authors used this novel combined system to perform minimally invasive surgery on patients with various neuropathological disorders, including cavernomas, cerebral aneurysms, hydrocephalus, subdural hematomas, contusional hematomas, and spontaneous intracerebral hematomas. RESULTS: The new endoscopic system featuring smartphone-endoscope integration was used by the authors in the minimally invasive surgical treatment of 42 patients. All procedures were successfully performed, and no complications related to the use of the new method were observed. The quality of the images obtained with the smartphone was high enough to provide adequate information to the neurosurgeons, as smartphone cameras can record images in high definition or 4K resolution. Moreover, because the smartphone screen moves along with the endoscope, surgical mobility was enhanced with the use of this method, facilitating more intuitive use. In fact, this increased mobility was identified as the greatest benefit of the use of the smartphone-endoscope system compared with the use of the neuroendoscope with the standard video set. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive approaches are the new frontier in neurosurgery, and technological innovation and integration are crucial to ongoing progress in the application of these techniques. The use of smartphones with endoscopes is a safe and efficient new method of performing endoscope-assisted neurosurgery that may increase surgeon mobility and reduce equipment costs.

Transcranial Doppler in the evaluation of infants treated with retrograde ventriculosinus shunt.

INTRODUCTION: Hydrocephalus is a prevalent condition among infants. Retrograde ventriculosinus shunt (RVSS) proposes a feasible option to treat hydrocephalus according to the principles presented by El-Shafei. In this essay, we analyze nuances and application of transcranial Doppler (TCD) in patients submitted to RVSS. METHODS: We consecutively enrolled patients diagnosed with hydrocephalus after surgical repair of myelomeningocele from January 2010 to January 2012, users of Hospital das Clinicas, University of Sao Paulo. They were treated with RVSS. Patients enrolled to the study were consecutively evaluated in an outpatient basis with TCD in preoperative, immediate postoperative period, and late postoperative period (1 year). RESULTS: Except for patient 3, there was an increase in mean flow velocity, decreased pulsatility index, and decreased resistance index in all vessels analyzed. DISCUSSION: In our sample, transcranial Doppler could be used as a diagnostic and follow-up tool to evaluate hemodynamics and hydrodynamics in the preoperative and postoperative phases of RVSS. It was technically feasible in all patients, had close relation with other clinical and image parameters, and was sensitive to identify system malfunction.

Failed Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt: Is Retrograde Ventriculosinus Shunt a Reliable Option?

BACKGROUND: Currently, the treatment of hydrocephalus is mainly carried out through a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) insertion. However, in some cases, there may be surgical revisions and requirement of an alternative distal site for shunting. There are several described distal sites, and secondary options after VPS include ventriculopleural and ventriculoatrial shunt, which have technical difficulties and harmful complications. OBJECTIVES: In this preliminary report we describe our initial experience with retrograde ventriculosinus shunt (RVSS) after failed VPS. RESULTS: In 3 consecutive cases we applied RVSS to treat hydrocephalus in shunt-dependent patients who had previously undergone VPS revision and in which peritoneal space was full of adhesions and fibrosis. RVSS was performed as described by Shafei et al., with some modifications to each case. All 3 patients kept the same clinical profile after RVSS, with no perioperative or postoperative complications. However, revision surgery was performed in the first operative day in 1 out of 3 patients, in which the catheter was not positioned in the superior sagittal sinus. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that in cases where VPS is not feasible, RVSS may be a safe and applicable second option. Nevertheless, the long-term follow-up of patients and further learning curve must bring stronger evidence.