3D printed temporal bones for preoperative simulation and planning.

OBJECTIVE: Demonstrate the utility of 3D printed temporal bone models in individual patient preoperative planning and simulation. METHODS: 3D models of the temporal bone were made from 5 pediatric and adult patients at a tertiary academic hospital with challenging surgical anatomy planned for cochlear implantation or exteriorization of cholesteatoma with complex labyrinthine fistula. The 3D models were created from CT scan used for preoperative planning, simulation and intraoperative reference. The utility of models was assessed for ease of segmentation and production and impact on surgery in regard to reducing intraoperative time and costs, improving safety and efficacy. RESULTS: Three patients received cochlear implants, two exteriorization of advanced cholesteatoma with fistulas (1 internal auditory canal/cochlea, 1 all three semicircular canals). Surgical planning and intraoperative referencing to the simulations by the attending surgeon and trainees significantly altered original surgical plans. In a case of X-linked hereditary deafness, optimal angles and rotation maneuvers for cochlear implant insertion reduced operating time by 93 min compared to the previous contralateral side surgery. Two cochlear implant cases planned for subtotal petrosectomy approach due to aberrant anatomy were successfully approached through routine mastoidectomy. The cholesteatoma cases were successfully exteriorized without necessitating partial labyrinthectomy or labyrinthine injury. There were no complications. CONCLUSION: 3D printed models for simulation training, surgical planning and use intraoperatively in temporal bone surgery demonstrated significant benefits in designing approaches, development of patient-specific techniques, avoidance of potential or actual complications encountered in previous or current surgery, and reduced surgical time and costs.

Current Smoking Status Is Not a Risk Factor for Perioperative Outcomes in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Who Underwent Craniotomy Repair.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is a rupture leading to blood accumulating in the subarachnoid region. Smoking status is often a risk factor for postoperative complications for vascular procedures. This study aims to retrospectively examine the effect of being a current tobacco smoker on postoperative outcomes in patients with nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. METHODS: Patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage who underwent craniotomy were identified in the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. The 30-day perioperative outcomes of current smokers were compared with those of control individuals, who were patients who had not smoked tobacco in the past year. Postoperative outcomes included death, cardiac complications, stroke, operation time >4 hours, bleeding, and other events. In addition, this study examined the same surgical outcomes in patients older than 65 years. RESULTS: We found no significant difference between these 2 groups across all adverse outcomes analyzed. In patients aged >65 years, we again found no significant differences between these 2 groups across all adverse outcomes analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that although current tobacco smoker status is commonly a risk factor for vascular diseases and postoperative complications, it is not a risk factor for the postoperative variables that we analyzed during craniotomy for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Additional research should be conducted to determine if different procedures to treat aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage may have different outcomes among smokers.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in a patient with persistent hypoglossal artery and bilateral madelung deformity.

We explore a case of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo in the context of Persistent Hypoglossal Artery (PHA) and bilateral Madelung Deformity (MD). PHA is associated with a raft of major adverse cardiovascular events. MD can result from manifold conditions such as Turner's Syndrome and mesomelic dwarfism. In this case, the patient's positive family history of MD across generations is suggestive of inherited mutation in the Short Stature Homeobox (SHOX) Gene. We discuss the putative impact of SHOX on the genesis of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) in a patient with PHA and bilateral MD.