Vancomycin-Induced Neutropenia With Subsequent Perioperative Readministration: A Case Report.

Vancomycin (VCM), an essential antibiotic for antimicrobial-resistant Gram-positive cocci, can lead to complications such as neutropenia. Here, we present a case of a 25-year-old male with noncommunicating hydrocephalus due to an intraventricular tumor who developed neutropenia during VCM therapy. Despite the suspected VCM-induced neutropenia, short-term readministration was deemed necessary for perioperative infection prophylaxis. This patient was readministered without neutropenia. A review of the literature revealed an earlier onset of VCM-induced neutropenia than that previously reported, emphasizing the importance of vigilant monitoring. Although readministration of VCM in patients with neutropenia is uncommon, it may be feasible with careful risk assessment, particularly in cases of mild neutropenia and short-term therapy. However, the mechanisms underlying VCM-induced neutropenia remain unclear, necessitating further research on the optimal management strategies.

Butterfly needle tap and suction (BTS) technique: a treatment for recurrent chronic subdural hematoma after burr hole craniostomy.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we propose a butterfly needle tap and suction (BTS) technique for recurrent chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) as an alternative to reoperation with burr hole craniostomy (BHC) and investigate its efficacy and safety. The procedure involves percutaneous puncture through the burr hole created during the previous surgery and subsequent hematoma evacuation using a butterfly needle. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients who underwent BTS for CSDH at Ogaki Municipal Hospital between January 2017 and December 2020. The follow-up CT scans were reviewed after several weeks. We evaluated the number of percutaneous punctures required to resolve CSDH during the BTS technique, the volume of the evacuated hematoma, and procedure-related complications. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were enrolled in the study, 21 of whom achieved resolution of the hematoma using punctures with the BTS technique alone (mean, 2.2 ± 1.5). Five patients had a recurrence of hematoma after one or more punctures during the BTS technique, and they underwent reoperation with BHC according to the surgeon's decision or patient requests. Among the 55 punctures, 43.0 ± 16.0 ml of hematoma was evacuated per puncture. The evacuated hematoma volume was 41.9 ± 16.4 ml in the BTS-alone group and 49.4 ± 12.9 ml in the reoperation group, with no significant difference (p = 0.25). Three patients complained of a headache during the puncture procedure, and no other complications, including intracranial hemorrhage or infection, were reported therein. CONCLUSIONS: The BTS technique is an effective alternative to reoperation with BHC.

A new primate model of hypophyseal dysfunction.

For pituitary regenerative medicine, the creation of a hypophyseal model in monkeys is necessary to conduct future preclinical studies; however, previous studies reported that hypophysectomy in monkeys is not always safe or satisfactory. This study aimed to create a hypophyseal dysfunction model in a cynomolgus monkey using a safer surgical technique and establish the protocol of pituitary hormone replacement therapy for this model. Surgical resection of the pituitary gland of a 7.8-year-old healthy adult cynomolgus male monkey weighing 5.45 kg was performed to create a hypophyseal dysfunction model for future regenerative studies. Endoscopic transoral transsphenoidal surgery was used to perform hypophysectomy under navigation support. These procedures were useful for confirming total removal of the pituitary gland without additional bone removal and preventing complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Total removal was confirmed by pathological examination and computed tomography. Hypopituitarism was verified with endocrinological examinations including stimulation tests. Postoperatively, the monkey's general condition of hypopituitarism was treated with hormone replacement therapy, resulting in long-term survival. The success of a minimally invasive and safe surgical method and long-term survival indicate the creation of a hypophyseal dysfunction model in a cynomolgus monkey; hence, this protocol can be employed in the future.

Endoscopic Treatment Strategy for a Disproportionately Large Communicating Fourth Ventricle: Case Series and Literature Review.

An isolated fourth ventricle (IFV) is characterized by fourth ventricular dilation due to obstruction of its inlet and outlet. A disproportionately large communicating fourth ventricle (DLCFV) is a rare subtype of IFV, characterized by dilation of the fourth ventricle, regardless of the size of the lateral ventricles, with no apparent obstruction of the cerebral aqueduct. To our knowledge, this is the first case series describing endoscopic diagnosis and treatment strategy for DLCFV. We retrospectively reviewed six cases of DLCFV in which endoscopic surgery was performed at our institution and affiliated facilities between June 2013 and March 2017. DLCFV was diagnosed using radiographic imaging and intraoperative endoscopy. We also conducted a PubMed search and included only original studies related to DLCFV treatment written in English in our review of the literature. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) was performed in all patients. Additional endoscope-assisted placement of a fourth ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt was performed in two patients who could not be managed with ETV alone because of severe adhesion of the interpeduncular cistern due to subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The patients' symptoms and the size of the fourth ventricle improved with surgical treatment, without complications. Endoscopic surgery for DLCFV appears to be a safe and effective treatment. Based on our treatment strategy, ETV is the first-line treatment for DLCFV. Endoscope-assisted placement of the fourth VP shunt can be treatment for severe adhesion of the interpeduncular cistern.

Preservation of Olfactory Function Following Endoscopic Single-Nostril Transseptal Transsphenoidal Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Olfactory dysfunction is a significant postoperative complication related to endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (TSS). This study aimed to determine the impact of endoscopic TSS on olfactory function. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of 32 patients with sellar or parasellar tumors who were treated with endoscopic TSS between December 2013 and October 2016. TSS was performed via a right transseptal approach. We performed the Toyota and Takagi olfactometer test and the venous olfaction test for the evaluation of olfactory function preoperatively and at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The results of the Toyota and Takagi test showed that olfactory function deteriorated in 4 of 32 (12.5%) patients 1 month postoperatively and improved to preoperative baseline levels in all patients 3 months after the procedure. Olfactory function deteriorated in 1 of 31 (3.2%) patients 3 months after the procedure. The venous olfaction test revealed no response in 1 of 31 (3.2%) patients 1 month postoperatively, with no improvement 3 months after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic single-nostril transseptal TSS for sellar or parasellar tumor resection has minimal impact on olfactory function.

Peel-off resection of the pituitary gland for functional pituitary adenomas: pathological significance and impact on pituitary function.

PURPOSE: Functional pituitary adenomas (FPAs) lacking a well-defined pseudocapsule can invade the adjacent pituitary gland. In such situations, peel-off resection of the adjacent pituitary gland after selective adenomectomy might lead to complete tumor removal, resulting in optimal endocrinological outcomes. Here, we present the significance of peel-off resection of the pituitary gland in patients with FPA in whom complete extracapsular tumor removal cannot be achieved. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 21 patients with FPA who underwent transsphenoidal surgery (TSS). After selective adenomectomy, peel-off resection of the adjacent pituitary gland was performed in 13 patients because complete extracapsular resection could not be achieved, while peel-off resection was not performed in the remaining 8 patients because complete extracapsular resection was accomplished. The clinical outcomes of these groups were compared. The pituitary tissues obtained by peel-off resection were pathologically examined for tumor cells. RESULTS: Early postoperative biochemical remission was achieved in 20 patients (95.2%). Anterior pituitary functions were not aggravated postoperatively in any patient: however, transient diabetes insipidus (DI) occurred in 2 patients. There were no statistically significant differences in the clinical outcomes of the two groups. A pseudocapsule was pathologically detected in the adjacent anterior pituitary even in patients in whom no pseudocapsule was intraoperatively detected. Tumor cells were pathologically detected in 7 (58.3%) of 12 pituitary tissues examined. CONCLUSIONS: Peel-off resection of the pituitary gland, which can remove a small tumor cell remnant in the adjacent pituitary, might maximize the effectiveness of TSS with minimal impact on postoperative pituitary function.

Removal of the Medial Wall of the Cavernous Sinus for Functional Pituitary Adenomas: A Technical Report and Pathologic Significance.

BACKGROUND: Removal of the medial wall of the cavernous sinus (MW) is challenging for neurosurgeons. We describe a practical method of endoscopic MW removal via endonasal transsphenoidal approach to minimalize intraoperative blood loss and postoperative morbidities. We also present the pathologic significance of this technique for functional pituitary adenomas (FPAs). METHODS: We performed MW removal in patients with FPA with no well-defined pseudocapsule and a tumor in direct contact with the MW. The MW was judged to have tumor invasion based on the intraoperative appearance, and it was removed regardless of the appearance of MW involvement. Intraoperative findings and postoperative clinical, endocrinologic, and pathologic outcomes were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Fourteen patients underwent MW removal for FPA, including 12 patients with acromegaly and 2 with Cushing disease. Mean intraoperative blood loss was 170 mL (range, 32-400 mL), and none of the patients required blood transfusion. Among the 7 patients without intraoperative apparent MW involvement, 4 (57.1%) had pathologically confirmed tumor invasion into the MW (occult invasion). Biochemical remission by surgery alone was achieved in 13 patients (92.9%). Transient oculomotor palsy occurred in 1 patient (7.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Occult tumor invasion into the MW was often detected in patients with FPA without a well-defined pseudocapsule but in direct contact with the MW. Our technique can enhance the effectiveness of surgery with minimal postoperative morbidities.

Three types of dural suturing for closure of CSF leak after endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) is commonly used for anterior skull base surgery, especially in the sella turcica (sellar) region. However, because of its anatomical position, CSF leakage is a major complication of this approach. The authors introduced a new grading reconstruction strategy for anterior skull base surgery with continuous dural suturing in 2013. In this paper the authors report on their methods and results. METHODS: All patients with sellar or anterior skull base lesions that were removed with TSS or extended TSS by a single neurosurgeon between April 2013 and March 2017 at Nagoya University Hospital and several cooperating hospitals were retrospectively identified. Three methods of suturing dura were considered, depending on the dural defect. RESULTS: There were 176 TSS cases (141 conventional TSS cases and 35 extended endoscopic TSS cases) and 76 cases of Esposito's grade 2 or 3 intradural high-flow CSF leakage. In the high-flow CSF leak group, there were 3 cases of CSF leakage after the operation. The rates of CSF leakage after surgery corresponding to grades 2 and 3 were 2.9% (1/34) and 4.7% (2/42), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Dural suturing is a basic and key method for reconstruction of the skull base, and continuous suturing is the most effective approach. Using this approach, the frequency of cases requiring a nasoseptal flap and lumbar drainage can be reduced.

Tumor Volume Decrease via Feeder Occlusion for Treating a Large, Firm Trigone Meningioma.

Trigone meningiomas are considered a surgical challenge, as they tend to be considerably large and hypervascularized at the time of presentation. We experienced a case of a large and very hard trigone meningioma that was effectively treated using initial microsurgical feeder occlusion followed by surgery in stages. A 19-year-old woman who presented with loss of consciousness was referred to our hospital for surgical treatment of a brain tumor. Radiological findings were compatible with a left ventricular trigone meningioma extending laterally in proximity to the Sylvian fissure. At initial surgery using the transsylvian approach, main feeders originating from the anterior and lateral posterior choroidal arteries were occluded at the inferior horn; however, only a small section of the tumor could initially be removed because of its firmness. Over time, feeder occlusion resulted in tumor necrosis and a 20% decrease in its diameter; the mass effect was alleviated within 1 year. The residual meningioma was then totally excised in staged surgical procedures after resection became more feasible owing to ischemia-induced partial softening of the tumor. When a trigone meningioma is large and very hard, initial microsurgical feeder occlusion in the inferior horn can be a safe and effective option, and can lead to necrosis, volume decrease, and partial softening of the residual tumor to allow for its staged surgical excision.

A Novel Dissection Method Using a Flexible Neuroendoscope for Resection of Tumors Around the Aqueduct of Sylvius.

BACKGROUND: Flexible endoscopes have both a wide range of movement and a wide field of view and are therefore widely used for endoscopic third ventriculostomy and biopsy. However, tumor resection around the aqueduct of Sylvius using flexible endoscopes has scarcely been reported. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report 2 cases of tumor resection around the aqueduct of Sylvius. The first case is a 38-year-old man presenting with progressive headache, nausea, and diplopia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a 1.4 cm nonenhancing mass at the entry of the aqueduct of Sylvius and occlusive hydrocephalus. We performed tumor resection and endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) simultaneously. His symptoms disappeared after the operation. Final pathologic diagnosis was ancient schwannoma. The second case is a 78-year-old woman presenting with progressive disturbance of consciousness (coma). MRI showed 0.7 cm nonenhancing mass at the entry of the aqueduct of Sylvius and occlusive hydrocephalus. We performed tumor resection and ETV similarly. Her consciousness improved after the operation. Final tumor diagnosis was cavernous malformation. In both cases there was no additional neurologic deficit after the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: By using a flexible endoscope for tumor dissection, resection of a tumor without a neck, which cannot be removed through aspiration alone, becomes possible. To our knowledge, the presented cases are the first to describe the effectiveness of complete resection of a tumor in the third ventricle using flexible endoscopy.

Ruptured partially thrombosed anterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysms: two case reports and review of literature.

Aneurysms arising from the distal anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) are very rare. When the parent artery is an AICA-posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) variant, occlusion of the artery, even distal to the meatal loop, leads to a significant area of cerebellar infarction. We report two cases of ruptured partially thrombosed distal AICA aneurysms. In both cases, the parent artery was an AICA-PICA variant. The aneurysms were clipped in one case and trapped following occipital artery (OA)-AICA anastomosis in another case. It is important to keep the OA as a donor artery for revascularization in the treatment of the AICA-PICA variant aneurysms, especially when the absence of intra-aneurysmal thrombus is not comfirmed preoperatively.

Fungal Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm Treated by Trapping and High-Flow Bypass: A Case Report and Literature Review.

We report a case of unruptured fungal internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysm and review the pertinent literature. A 79-year-old man presented with decreased visual acuity on the right side, and he was diagnosed with retrobulbar optic neuritis. Medical treatment with steroids resulted in Aspergillus meningoencephalitis spreading to the bottom of bilateral frontal lobes, caused by an intracranial extension of sphenoid sinusitis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed 26 days after the start of antifungal therapy showed a denovo right ICA aneurysm projecting anteriorly into the sphenoid sinus. As the aneurysm grew rapidly, it was trapped surgically after establishing a high-flow bypass from the external carotid artery to the middle cerebral artery. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. Anti-fungal medication was continued until plasma concentrations of beta-D-glucan decreased to within normal limits. Although fungal ICA aneurysm carries a high mortality rate, early detection and prompt treatment by trapping and high-flow bypass can lead to good clinical outcome.

Enhanced expression of Bacillus subtilis yaaA can restore both the growth and the sporulation defects caused by mutation of rplB, encoding ribosomal protein L2.

A temperature-sensitive mutation in rplB, designated rplB142, encodes a missense mutation at position 142 [His (CAT) to Leu (CTT)] of Bacillus subtilis ribosomal protein L2. The strain carrying the mutation grew more slowly than the wild-type, even at low temperatures, probably due to the formation of defective 70S ribosomes and the accumulation of incomplete 50S subunits (50S* subunits). Gel analysis indicated that amounts of L2 protein and also of L16 protein were reduced in ribosomes prepared from the rplB142 mutant 90 min after increasing the growth temperature to 45 °C. These results suggest that the assembly of the L16 protein into the 50S subunit requires the native L2 protein. The H142L mutation in the defective L2 protein affected sporulation as well as growth, even at the permissive temperature. A suppressor mutation that restored both growth and sporulation of the rplB142 mutant at low temperature was identified as a single base deletion located immediately upstream of the yaaA gene that resulted in an increase in its transcription. Furthermore, genetic analysis showed that enhanced synthesis of YaaA restores the functionality of L2 (H142L) by facilitating its assembly into 50S subunits.