Factors Influencing Intraoperative Rupture of Intracranial Aneurysms.

AIM: The study deals with intraoperative rupture of intracranial aneurysms (IOR) during microsurgery, analyzing factors that may be connected with IOR. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During the three-year period (2006-2008), 934 patients were operated for aneurysms at the Institute of Neurosurgery, CCS, Belgrade. In total, 536 patients were observed. RESULTS: IOR occurred in 14.7%. Male gender, seizures and timing of surgery proved to be risk factors for IOR. All other tested features had no significance. Localization {IOR rate 11.93% in ACM, 17.06% in ACA and 17.26% in ACI) and size (small: IOR in 68/439 (15.49%), large: 8/74 (10.8%), and very large: 3/23 (13.04%)} of aneurysm seemed to have an influence, but this could not be proved. The majority of IORs (58.23%) occurred in early surgery. Early operated patients: IOR occurred in 46/167 (27.54%), intermediary: 25/103 (24.27%), and delayed: 8/266 (3%) - with highly significant differences. CONCLUSION: Age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiomyopathy, pregnancy, higher Fisher score, previous IOR, or the presence of vomiting and headache did not affect the occurrence of IOR, whereas the timing of surgery, male gender and epileptic seizures increased the risk. Localization and size of aneurysm tend to have an influence but statistical significance was not proved in this study.

Cervical spinal epidural abscess after oesophagoscopy.

INTRODUCTION: Spinal epidural abscess is an uncommon entity, especially in the cervical region. CASE REPORT: We report a patient with epidural abscess, vertebral osteomyelitis and discitis in the cervical spine that was caused by iatrogenic perforation of the pharynx during diagnostic oesophagoscopy, which has not been recorded previously in the literature. CONCLUSION: Cervical spinal epidural abscess may be caused by iatrogenic perforation of pharyngeal wall during diagnostic oesophagoscopy. Early diagnosis with an MRI and surgical treatment with antimicrobial chemotherapy are keys to successful management of this rare and life-threatening complication.

A retrospective analysis of anesthesiologic complications in pediatric neurosurgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Different clinical and surgical factors can influence the occurrence of anesthesiologic complications in pediatric neurosurgery. Preoperative knowledge of these factors is of great importance in the application of safe anesthetics and a favorable surgical outcome. The objective was to establish the importance of clinical and surgical risk factors on the frequency of anesthesia complications in pediatric neurosurgery. DATA AND METHOD: The research, from 1996 to 2000, involved 705 children, aged from <1 year to 15 years, who underwent surgery for elective neurosurgical pathology and severe head injuries. We analysed the influence that: age, the preoperative neurologic diagnosis, the urgency of the operation, additional disorders, the surgical position, and the duration of anesthesia had on the frequency of anesthesia complications. To test the statistical relevance and to confirm the hypothesis, the Pearson's chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used. RESULTS: Anesthesia complications (cardiovascular, respiratory, air embolism, allergic reactions) were present in 68/705 (9.6%) patients. Their frequency was statistically greater in children for whom the surgery was >240 min, who were in the sitting position and when comorbidity was evident. Neither age nor the urgency of the operation or reoperation had any significant influence on the occurrence of anesthetic complications. CONCLUSION: The duration of anesthesia, the sitting position of the patient, and the presence of comorbidities significantly increase the risk of anesthesia complications in pediatric neurosurgery.

[Clinical characteristics and results of surgical treatment of petroclival meningioma].

INTRODUCTION: The size of meningioma and its relation with neurovascular structures in petroclival region stipulate the degree of surgical radicalism and determine an operation risk. In spite of progress of surgical technology, the rate of surgical morbidity in view of cranial nerves deficit is 30%-50%. OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to present the results of treatment of patients with petroclival meningiomas and to point to correlation of preoperative radiological findings and intraoperative results as well as neurological status of patients before and after surgical treatment. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of 35 operated petroclival meningiomas at the Institute of Neurosurgery, CCS, in the period from 1995 to 2004 was presented. The following parameters were analyzed: size of tumor, relation with bone and neurovascular structures, preoperative condition, degree of surgical radicalism and postoperative outcome. RESULTS: The size of tumor was classified in four groups. There were 20 tumors at the right, and 15 at the left side. At the time of diagnostic procedures (based on CT and MRI), 20 tumors were in contact with brainstem, 9 compressed the brainstem, and 6 obstructed the IV ventricle. Preoperative patient condition was evaluated by Karnofsky index. Mean value for group I was 90, II - 80, III - 70 and IV - 50. In 9 cases, liquor drainage was performed preoperatively. In 3 cases, external liquor drainage was carried out postoperatively, and in one case it was replaced by permanent liquor drainage. Radical operation was performed in 44%, and significant reduction was done in other cases. In the postoperative period, 11% patients died, 28% had cranial nerves deficit, and pyramid deficit was recorded in 14% of the patients. The tumor size (III-IV) and brainstem compression were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05) as predisposed factors of deficit prolongation. CONCLUSION: Petroclival meningoma surgery is required upon precise preoperative analysis. Radicalism of operation is reserved for small and medium tumors, younger patients, and patients in good preoperative condition

[Natural history of supratentorial low-grade astrocytoma: case report].

Low-grade astrocytomas comprise a group of primary brain neoplasms with relatively low anaplastic potential, although through time they tend to behave more aggressively. They have a very heterogeneous natural course and clinical behavior. This report presents a natural history of a patient with low grade astrocytoma. A 32-year-old male sustained head injury after grand mal seizure. On admission, he was conscious and without neurological deficit. Initial computerized tomography and magnetic resonance of brain revealed oval, 4 cm in diameter, lesion in the left parietal region that was considered as low-grade glioma. The patient refused surgery. Eight years and four months later, he was readmitted. This time, he was subcomatose with right hemiplegia. Repeated computerized tomography showed huge tumor in the left frontoparietal region at the site of previous lesion. Urgent left frontoparietal craniotomy and reduction of tumor were performed. The patient recovered after surgery. Right hemiparesis remained. The described patient with low-grade astrocytoma lived without any oncological treatment eight years and four months from the time when diagnosis was made until intracranial herniation. The natural history of disease in presented patient indicated that rational therapeutic strategy, for low-grade astrocytoma with epilepsy only, would be deferral of surgery until the time of manifestation of neurological or radiological deterioration.

[Delayed epidural hematoma after mild head injury].

BACKGROUND: Traumatic delayed epidural hematoma (DEH) can be defined as insignificant or not seen on the initial CT scan performed after a trauma but seen on the subsequent CT scan as a "massive" epidural bleeding. CASE REPORT: We presented two cases of traumatic DEH after mild head injury. Both patients were conscious and without neurological deficit on the admission. Initial CT scan did not reveal intracranial hematoma. Repeated CT scan, that was performed after neurological deterioration, revealed epidural hematoma in both cases. The patients were operated with a favorable surgical outcome. CONCLUSION: Traumatic DEH could occur in the patients with head injuries who were conscious on the admission with a normal initial CT scan finding. Early detection of DEH and an urgent surgical evacuation were essential for a good outcome.

[Epidural hematomas of the posterior fossa]. / Epiduralni hematomi u zadnjoj lobanjskoj jami.

BACKGROUND: Posterior fossa epidural hematomas represent 7-14% of all traumatic intracranial epidural hematomas. They are most frequently encountered posttraumatic mass lesions in the posterior fossa. The aim of this study was to identify clinical features that could lead to the early diagnosis of posterior fossa epidural hematoma. METHODS: Between 1980 and 2002, 28 patients with epidural hematoma of the posterior fossa were operated on at the Institute for Neurosurgery, Belgrade. Clinical course, neuroradiological investigations, and the results of surgical treatment of the patients with posterior fossa epidural hematomas were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Almost two thirds of patients were younger than 16 years of age. In 20 cases injury was caused by a fall, in 6 cases by a traffic accident, and in 2 by the assault. Clinical course was subacute or chronic in two thirds of the patients. On the admission Glasgow Coma Scale was 7 or less in 9 injured, 8-14 in 14 injured, and 15 in 5 injured patients. Linear fracture of the occipital bone was radiographically evident in 19 patients, but was intraoperatively encountered in all the patients except for a 4-year old child. In 25 patients the diagnosis was established by computer assisted tomography (CAT) and in 3 by vertebral angiography. All the patients were operated on via suboccipital craniotomy. Four injured patients who were preoperatively comatose were with lethal outcome. Postoperatively, 24 patients were with sufficient neurologic recovery. CONCLUSION: Posterior fossa epidural hematoma should be suspected in cases of occipital injury, consciousness disturbances, and occipital bone fracture. In such cases urgent CAT-scan is recommended. Early recognition, early diagnosis, and prompt treatment are crucial for good neurological recovery after surgery.

[The role of surgical decompression of cauda equina in lumbar disc herniation and recovery of bladder function]. / Uticaj hirurske dekompresije kaude ekvine kod lumbalne diskus hernije na oporavak ledirane funkcije mokracne besike.

INTRODUCTION: Cauda equina syvndrome from lumbar disc herniation accounts for up to 2-3% of all disc herniations. The aim of this study was to investigate whether recovery of bladder function after surgery depends on preoperative duration of desease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 47 patients who underwent surgery for cauda equina syndrome due to a herniated disc in the period between 1997 and 2002. Eleven patients were female and 36 male, with a mean age of 43 years (range 23-67). All presented with sciatica and saddle hypoesthesia, whereas 13 presented with motor weakness of legs. All patients had been catheterized at the time of admission to the Neurosurgical unit. Levels of herniation were L4-L5 in 27 (57%), L5-S1 in 14 (30%), and L3-L4 in 6 (13%) patients. In 7 (15%) patients, surgery was performed within 48 hours of the cauda equina syndrome onset. None underwent surgery within 24 hours. 13 (28%) patients were operated between the 2nd and 7th day and 27 (57%) after 7th day of the cauda equina onset. The role of preoperative duration of symtoms in recovery of bladder function was examined (chi 2 analysis). RESULTS: The follow-up ranged from 15 to 74 months (mean 24.2 months). In 33 patients (70%) excellent result were achieved, in 9 (19%) patients good results and 5 (11%) patients presented with poor results. There was no statistically significant difference concerning the time between the onset of symptoms and surgical decompression and subsequent recovery of bladder function (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: After accurate diagnosis and adequate operative treatment, postoperative results of cauda equina syndrome due to lumbar disc herniation appear satisfactory regardless of the timing of surgery.