A tailored approach to the management of post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus.

PURPOSE: Neuro-endoscopic lavage (NEL) is an increasingly popular intervention for intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) and post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH), with considerable variation in technique dependent on clinician and clinical circumstances. Whilst efforts to standardise the technique are ongoing, this work describes a tertiary centre experience utilising NEL, highlighting potential caveats to standardisation. METHODS: A retrospective review of electronic case notes for patients undergoing temporising surgical intervention for IVH between 2012 and 2021 at our centre was performed. Data collected included (i) gestational age, (ii) aetiology of hydrocephalus, (iii) age at time of intervention, (iv) intervention performed, (v) need for permanent CSF diversion, (vi) 'surgical burden', i.e. number of procedures following primary intervention, and (vii) wound failure and infection rate. Data was handled in Microsoft Excel and statistical analysis SPSS v27.0 RESULTS: 49 neonates (n = 25 males) were included. Overall mean gestational age was 27 weeks and at intervention 35 + 3 weeks. IVH was the predominant cause of hydrocephalus (93.8%) and primary surgical interventions included insertion of a ventriculosubgaleal shunt (VSGS) in n = 41 (83.6%) patients, NEL in n = 6 (12.2%) patients and insertion of an EVD in n = 2 (4.1%). N = 9 (18.4%) patients underwent NEL at some point during the time interval reviewed; n = 4 (8.2%) received NEL monotherapy and n = 5 (10.2%) also received a VSGS. Rate of conversion to definitive CSF diversion between NEL (n = 8, 88.9%) and VSGS cohorts (n = 37, 92.5%) was not significantly different (p = 0.57), nor between NEL alone (n = 3, 75%) and NEL + VSGS (n = 5, 100%) (p = 0.44). None of the patients that underwent NEL monotherapy had any wound issues or CNS infection as a result of the initial intervention, compared to n = 3 (60%) of those that underwent NEL and implantation of VSGS (p = 0.1). CONCLUSION: Both NEL and VSGS are effective in temporising hydrocephalus in neonates, occasionally offering a definitive solution in and of themselves. The benefit of dual therapy however remains to be seen, with the addition of VSGS potentially increasing the risk of wound failure in an already vulnerable cohort.

Intracranial Empyemas in the COVID-19 Era: A New Phenomenon? A Paediatric Case Series and Review of the Literature.

INTRODUCTION: We present the largest series of paediatric intracranial empyemas occurring after COVID-19 infection to date, and discuss the potential implications of the pandemic on this neurosurgical pathology. METHODS: Patients admitted to our centre between January 2016 and December 2021 with a confirmed radiological diagnosis of intracranial empyema were retrospectively reviewed, excluding non-otorhinological source cases. Patients were grouped according to onset before or after onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and COVID-19 status. A literature review of all post-COVID-19 intracranial empyemas was performed. SPSS v27 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were diagnosed with intracranial empyema: n = 5 prior to 2020 and n = 11 after, resulting in an average annual incidence of 0.3% prior to onset of the pandemic and 1.2% thereafter. Of those diagnosed since the pandemic, 4 (25%) were confirmed to have COVID-19 on recent PCR test. Time from COVID-19 infection until empyema diagnosis ranged from 15 days to 8 weeks. Mean age for post-COVID-19 cases was 8.5 years (range: 7-10 years) compared to 11 years in non-COVID cases (range: 3-14 years). Streptococcus intermedius was grown in all cases of post-COVID-19 empyema, and 3 of 4 (75%) post-COVID-19 cases developed cerebral sinus thromboses, compared to 3 of 12 (25%) non-COVID-19 cases. All cases were discharged home with no residual deficit. CONCLUSION: Our post-COVID-19 intracranial empyema series demonstrates a greater proportion of cerebral sinus thromboses than non-COVID-19 cases, potentially reflecting the thrombogenic effects of COVID-19. Incidence of intracranial empyema at our centre has increased since the start of the pandemic, causes of which require further investigation and multicentre collaboration.

Multi-modality treatment approach for paediatric AVMs with quality-of-life outcome measures.

PURPOSE: Despite the potentially devastating and permanently disabling effects of paediatric arteriovenous malformations (pAVMs), there is a paucity of studies reporting long-term quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes in AVM patients. We aim to evaluate the management strategies for paediatric intracranial pAVMs in the UK and long-term QoL outcomes using a validated paediatric quality-of-life outcome measure. METHODS: In this single-centre case-series, we retrospectively reviewed a prospectively maintained database of all paediatric patients (i.e. 0-18 years old) with intracranial AVMs, who were managed at Alder Hey Children's Hospital from July 2007 to December 2021. We also collected the PedsQL 4.0 score for these patients as a measure of QoL. RESULTS: Fifty-two AVMs were included in our analysis. Forty (80%) were ruptured, 8 (16%) required emergency intervention, 17 (35%) required elective surgery, 15 (30%) underwent endovascular embolisation, and 15 (30%) patients underwent stereotactic radiosurgery. There was an 88% overall obliteration rate. Two (4%) pAVMs rebled, and there were no mortalities. Overall, the mean time from diagnosis to definitive treatment was 144 days (median 119; range 0-586). QoL outcomes were collected for 26 (51%) patients. Ruptured pAVM presentation was associated with worse QoL (p = 0.0008). Location impacted psychosocial scores significantly (71.4, 56.9, and 46.6 for right supratentorial, left supratentorial, and infratentorial, respectively; p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: This study shows a staged multi-modality treatment approach to pAVMs is safe and effective, with superior obliteration rates with surgery alone. QoL scores are impacted by AVM presentation and location regardless of treatment modality.

Neurotrauma admissions and COVID-19: a National Centre experience.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the impact of COVID-19 on trauma admissions to a National Neurosurgical Centre in Ireland. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of all trauma admissions to the National Neurosurgical Centre at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, during the period March 1 to May 31, 2019 and 2020. Primary outcome was 30-day mortality rate. Secondary outcomes included time transfer time, time from admission to time of surgery, and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. Patients under the age of 16 were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 32 and 39 patients were admitted to the National Neurosurgical Centre following trauma over the 3-month period in 2020 and 2019 respectively, giving a 17.9% reduction in admissions. The 30-day mortality rate increased from 7.7% in 2019 to 15.6% on 2020 (p = 0.45). Mean transfer time was 4 h 58 min in 2019 and 3 h 55 min in 2020 (0.22). Mean time from admission to time of surgery was 9 h 10 min in 2019 and 5 h 37 min in 2020 respectively (p = 0.35). In 2019, 20 patients (51.3%) were admitted to ICU. This increased to 23 patients (69.7%) in 2020 (p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic brain injury 30-day mortality rates increased during the first COVID-19 lockdown period. Trauma admission rates to ICU remained unchanged despite an overall reduction in trauma admissions. Transfer time, time to surgery, and length of stay were impacted by COVID-19. Despite the challenges COVID-19 has posed, it is important to maintain a fully functioning neurosurgical and neurocritical care service during the pandemic.

The impact of COVID-19 on trauma referrals to a National Neurosurgical Centre.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the impact of COVID-19 on trauma referrals to a National Neurosurgical Centre during the first wave of COVID-19 in Ireland. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of all trauma referrals to the National Neurosurgical Centre at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, during the period March 1-May 31, 2019 and 2020. Patient characteristics including age, sex, alcohol use, anticoagulant/antiplatelet use and initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) were recorded. Patients were grouped based on trauma aetiology and diagnosis. RESULTS: There were 527 and 437 trauma referrals in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Overall, there was a 17.1% reduction in trauma referrals between 2019 and 2020. Traumatic brain injury, spinal injury and cranial fractures referrals reduced 25% (375 vs 283), 59% (32 vs 13) and 18% (39 vs 32) respectively from 2019 to 2020. Low-energy falls below 2 m was the most common mechanism of injury and accounted for 60 and 61% of referrals in 2019 and 2020. No reduction in road traffic collision (33 vs 34) and assault (40 vs 40) referrals were observed between years. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 has had a significant impact on both the volume and mechanism of trauma referrals to the National Neurosurgical Centre in Ireland, with falls below 2 m the most common mechanism of trauma referral across both years. The workload remains substantial and a fully resourced neurosurgical department is essential in any future COVID-19 waves.

Intra-abdominal drainage for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: To assess the effectiveness of intra-abdominal drainage (IAD) post laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). METHODS: Main electronic databases [MEDLINE via Pubmed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and the Cochrane Library, and clinical trial registry (ClinicalTrial.gov)] were searched for randomised controlled trial (RCT) reporting outcomes of IAD. The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines and meta-analysis was analysed using fixed and random-effects models. RESULTS: Twelve RCTs involving 1763 patients (897 drained versus 866 without drain) were included in the final pooled analysis. There was no statistically significant different in the rate of intra-abdominal collections (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.49; p = 0.65). IAD did not reduce the overall incidence of nausea and vomiting (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.36; p = 0.36) and shoulder tip pain (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.40; p = 0.93). Drain group had a significant higher pain scores (measured by visual analogue scale) (MD 10.08, 95% CI 5.24 to 14.92; p < 0.00001). IAD prolonged operative time (MD 4.93 min, 95% CI 3.40 to 6.47; p < 0.00001) but not the length of hospital stay (MD 0.22 day, 95% CI -0.45 to 0.89; p = 0.52). Wound infection was found to be unrelated to the use of a drain (RR 1.86, 95% CI 0.95 to 3.63; p = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: There is no significant advantage of IAD placement. The routine use of abdominal drain seems to have unfavourable clinical outcome and the practice should be carefully re-considered.

Adams Andrew McConnell (1884-1972): Pioneer of Irish neurosurgery.

Adams Andrew McConnell (1884-1972) is widely credited as the first neurosurgeon in Ireland. He was largely self-taught but also learned his craft by observing the work of other early neurosurgeons like Harvey Williams Cushing and Walter Dandy in the United States or Sir Geoffrey Jefferson and Sir Hugh Cairns in the Great Britain. He introduced the technique of ventriculography to Europe, having learned it from Dandy. He was a founder member of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons in 1926 and served as its president from 1936 to 1938. He was also president of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and was made an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He published papers on a wide variety of topics, including one of the first descriptions of suboccipital decompression for Chiari malformation in 1938. He contributed to surgical education in Ireland as Professor of Surgery at RCSI and later at his alma mater, Trinity College Dublin, and by training a large number of assistants who went on to become important Irish surgeons in the twentieth century. As a doctor, Adams Andrew McConnell was a pioneering figure. For many years, he was the only neurosurgeon in Ireland and his legacy still lives on at the National Neurosurgical Centre at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin where one of the neurosurgical wards bears his name. This article recounts his life and numerous achievements.

Repair of a large thoracolumbar myelomeningocele with associated lumbar kyphosis.

This report describes a novel method of repair for a large thoracolumbar myelomeningocele with an associated lumbar kyphosis in the neonate. A Caucasian male child was born at term with an antenatal diagnosis of hydrocephalus and spina bifida. Lumbar spine X-ray showed a significant kyphosis at L2-L3 level. Kyphectomy was performed and a cervical plate was used to reduce the gibbus deformity and maintain a rigid construct. Local rotation flaps were elevated and advanced to cover the defect. Wound was well healed at 3-month follow-up and the patient remained shunt-free at 1 year. To our knowledge, this is the first description of myelomeningocele repair with kyphectomy and posterior fixation in a neonate.