Treatment of Tardive Dyskinesia.

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is an iatrogenic condition that encompasses a wide phenomenological spectrum of movement disorders caused by exposure to dopamine receptor blocking agents (DRBAs). TD may cause troublesome or disabling symptoms that impair quality of life. Due to frequent, often inappropriate, use of DRBAs, TD prevalence rates among patients exposed to DRBAs continue to be high. The judicious use of DRBAs is key to the prevention of TD, reduction of disease burden, and achieving lasting remission. Dopamine-depleting vesicular monoamine transporter type 2 inhibitors are considered the treatment of choice of TD.

A US-based survey on ventriculostomy practices.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of ICP monitoring has increased over the years and the indications for placement have expanded. Although ventriculostomy and ICP monitor placement are among the most commonly performed neurosurgical procedures, the current practice patterns have rarely been studied. METHODS: A 10-question survey was sent to 2006 neurosurgeons and 1060 neurosurgery residents in the US. Demographic information and data regarding estimated success rates of ventriculostomies, the steps taken in failure and use of technological aids used was sought. RESULTS: 479 neurosurgeons and 108 residents responded to our survey (response rates 23.9% and 10.2%, respectively). No catheter misplacements were reported by 19.8% respondents in the previous year whereas 2.2% reported misplacing more than 30%. With regards to ventriculostomy for patients with slit ventricles, image guidance was used by 51.7%; freehand technique was preferred by 41.6% and the Ghajar guide was used by 6.7% of respondents. We found that 56.9% of respondents abandoned free-hand placement after 3 failed passes. After abandoning free-hand cannulation, respondents used an ICP bolt or similar intra-parenchymal pressure monitoring device in trauma patients. Other approaches included leaving the catheter in place and readjusting it after repeating a CT scan. CONCLUSIONS: This survey sheds light on the current practice of ventriculostomy placement. Both residents and neurosurgeons admit to multiple attempts and frequent catheter misplacement. In order to consider a change in practice, respondents cited an increase in available data about guidance systems and ability to accommodate abnormal ventricular anatomy as primary requirements. A prospective study could help establish true evidence based practice for this common neurosurgical procedure.

A simple method to reduce infection of ventriculoperitoneal shunts.

OBJECT: Postoperative shunt infection is the most common and feared complication of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement for treatment of hydrocephalus. The rate of shunt infection is highest in the 1st postoperative month. The most common organisms responsible for shunt infection include coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and Staphylococcus aureus. This suggests a transfer of patient's skin flora via the surgeons' glove as a possible means of infection. The authors conducted a study to determine if the rate of postoperative shunt infections could be reduced simply by changing gloves before handling the shunt catheter. METHODS: A total of 111 neonates born with congenital hydrocephalus requiring a VP shunt were enrolled retrospectively and divided into 2 groups: a control group of 54 neonates treated with standard protocol VP shunt placement (Group A) and a treatment group of 57 neonates in whom, after initially double gloving, the outer pair of gloves was removed before handling the shunt catheter (Group B). Shunt infection rates were compared up to 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant reduction of infection rate from 16.33% in Group A (control) to 3.77% in Group B (p = 0.0458). CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that a changing of gloves before handling the shunt catheter may be a simple and cost-effective way to reduce the burden of postoperative shunt infections.