48-hour video-EEG monitoring for epilepsy presurgical evaluation is cost-effective and safe in resource-limited setting.

INTRODUCTION: Video-EEG monitoring is one of the key investigations in epilepsy pre-surgical evaluation but limited by cost. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of a 48-hour (3-day) video EEG monitoring, with rapid pre-monitoring antiepileptic drugs withdrawal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of epilepsy cases with VEM performed in University Malaya Medical Center (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, from January 2012 till August 2016. RESULTS: A total of 137 cases were included. The mean age was 34.5 years old (range 15-62) and 76 (55.8 %) were male. On the first 24 -h of recording (D1), 81 cases (59.1 %) had seizure occurrence, and 109 (79.6 %) by day 2 (D2). One-hundred and nine VEMs (79.6 %) were diagnostic, in guiding surgical decision or further investigations. Of these, 21 had less than 2 seizures recorded in the first 48 h but were considered as diagnostic because of concordant interictal ± ictal activities, or a diagnosis such as psychogenic non-epileptic seizure was made. Twenty-eight patients had extension of VEM for another 24-48 h, and 11 developed seizures during the extension period. Extra-temporal lobe epilepsy and seizure frequency were significant predictors for diagnostic 48 -h VEM. Three patients developed complications, including status epilepticus required anaesthetic agents (1), seizure clusters (2) with postictal psychosis or dysphasia, and all recovered subsequently. CONCLUSIONS: 48-h video EEG monitoring is cost-effective in resource limited setting.

After-hours elective spine deformity corrective surgery for patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Is it safe?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of after-hours electively planned Posterior Spinal Fusion surgeries for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) patients with daytime surgeries. METHODS: This was a retrospective propensity score-matched study using prospectively collected data. Surgeries performed between 08:00 and 16:59 h were labeled as daytime surgeries (group 1) and surgeries performed between 17:00 and 06:00 h were labeled as after-hours surgeries (group 2). The perioperative outcome parameters were average operation time in and out, operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, blood transfusion, intraoperative hemodynamic parameters, preoperative hemoglobin, postoperative hemoglobin, and total patient-controlled anesthesia (PCA) morphine usage. Radiological variables assessed were Lenke subtypes, preoperative Cobb angle, number of fusion levels, number of screws used, postoperative Cobb angle, correction rate, side bending flexibility, side bending correction index, complications rate, and length of hospitalization. RESULTS: Average operation time in for daytime group was 11:32 ± 2:33 h versus 18:20 ± 1:05 h in after-hours group. Comparing daytime surgeries with after-hours surgeries, there were no significant differences ( p > 0.05) in the operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative pH, bicarbonate, lactate, postoperative hemoglobin, hemoglobin drift, blood transfusion, postoperative Cobb angle, correction rate, side bending flexibility, side bending correction index, length of hospitalization, and complications rate. Total PCA morphine usage was significantly lesser in the after-hours group (18.2 ± 15.3 mg) compared with the daytime group (24.6 ± 16.6 mg; p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: After-hours elective spine deformity corrective surgeries for healthy ambulatory patients with AIS were as safe as when they were done during daytime.

Differentiating Extensor Plantar Response in Pathological and Normal Population.

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 5%-11% of neurologically normal population has extensor plantar response (EPR). METHOD: This study is aimed to identify differentiating features of EPR between physiological and pathological population. RESULTS: A total of 43 patients with pyramidal lesions and 113 normal controls were recruited for this study. The pathological EPRs were more reproducible, with 89.4% having at least two positive Babinski responses and 91.5% having two positive Chaddock responses (vs. 14.3% and 4.8% in controls, P < 0.001). The pathological EPR was more sensitive to stimulation, in which 89.1% were elicited when the stimulation reached mid-lateral sole (vs. 11.9% in controls, P < 0.001). Most (93.6%) pathological cases had sustained big toe extension throughout stimulation (vs. 73.8% in controls, P < 0.001). As compared to those with brain lesion, the plantar responses in those with spinal lesion are less likely to have ankle dorsiflexion (5.3% vs. 25%, P < 0.05) more likely to have sustained extensor response with Babinski (94.7% vs. 71.4%, P < 0.05), Chaddock (89.5% vs. 64.3%, P < 0.05), and Schaefer (26.3% vs. 3.6%, P < 0.05) methods. A scoring system was computed using four variables, i.e., two consecutive positive Babinski or Chaddock responses, extensor response at mid-lateral sole, and sustained extension throughout stimulation. A score ≥3 is predictive of pathological origin, with sensitivity and specificity of 78.7% and 95.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The pathological EPR is more reproducible, sensitive to stimulation, and sustainable compared to physiological extensor response.

Feasibility and Outcome of an Accelerated Recovery Protocol in Asian Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of an accelerated recovery protocol for Asian adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion (PSF). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There has been successful implementation of an accelerated recovery protocol for AIS patients undergoing PSF in the western population. No similar studies have been reported in the Asian population. METHODS: Seventy-four AIS (65 F, 9 M) patients scheduled for PSF surgery were recruited. The accelerated protocol encompasses preoperative regime, preoperative day of surgery counseling, intraoperative strategies, an accelerated postoperative rehabilitation and pain management regime. All patients were operated using a dual attending surgeon strategy. Outcome measures included pain scores at five time intervals, length of stay, and detailed recovery milestones. Any complications or readmissions during the first 4 months postoperative period were recorded. RESULTS: Mean duration of operation was 2.2 ±â€Š0.3 hours with a mean blood loss of 824.3 ±â€Š418.2 mL. No patients received allogenic blood transfusion. The mean length of stay was 3.6 ±â€Š0.6 days. Surgical wound pain score was 6.4 ±â€Š2.1 at 12 hours, which reduced to 5.0 ±â€Š2.0 at 60 hours. Abdominal pain peaked at 36 hours with pain scores 2.4 ±â€Š2.9. First liquid intake was at 5.2 ±â€Š7.5 hours, urinary catheter removal at 18.7 ±â€Š4.8 hours, sitting up at 20.6 ±â€Š9.1 hours, ambulation at 27.2 ±â€Š0.5 hours, consumption of solid food at 32.2 ±â€Š0.5 hours, first flatus at 39.0 ±â€Š0.7 hours, and first bowel movement at 122.1 ±â€Š2.0 hours. The complication rate was 1.4% due to superficial wound infection with one patient failed to comply with the accelerated protocol. CONCLUSION: An accelerated recovery protocol following PSF for AIS is feasible without increasing the complication or readmission rates. The total length of stay was 3.6 days and this is comparable with the outcome in western population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.