Anatomic Review in 3D Augmented Reality Alters Craniotomy Planning Among Residents.

OBJECTIVE: Objectively examine the effect of 3D-Augmented Reality anatomic review on craniotomy planning among neurosurgical residents as it pertains to craniotomy size, skull positioning, and knowledge of significant anatomic relationships. METHODS: Postgraduate year 1-7 neurosurgery residents were instructed to review standard 2D radiographs, pin a skull, and tailor a craniotomy for 6 different lesions and case vignettes. Participants then reviewed the lesion in a 3D-augmented reality (AR) environment, followed by repeating the craniotomy station for a variety of lesion types and locations (superficial, subcortical, deep, skull base). Quiz with case-specific anatomic and surgical questions followed by an exit survey for qualitative impressions. RESULTS: Eleven of thirteen eligible residents participated. Skull position significantly changed in 5 out of 6 cases after 3D-AR view (P < 0.05, 20° angular adjustment). No significant change in incision length or craniotomy size. Subgroup analysis of junior versus senior residents revealed that craniotomy size was significantly altered in 2 out of 6 cases. Qualitative testimonials (Likert scale 5 = strongly agree) reported a change in craniotomy approach after 3D-review (3.5), improved appreciation of anatomy (4.2), increased confidence in surgical approach (4.33 junior residents, 3.5 senior residents), smaller incision (3.5 junior residents, 1.75 senior residents), better appreciation of white matter tracts (4.6). CONCLUSIONS: The augmented reality platform offers a medium to examine surgical planning skills. Residents uniformly appreciated 3D-AR as a valuable tool for improving appreciation of critical anatomic structures and their relationship to lesional pathology. 3D-AR review significantly altered skull positioning for various lesions and craniotomy approaches, particularly among junior residents.

The use of advanced neuroimaging modalities in the evaluation of low-grade glioma in adults: a literature review.

Low-grade gliomas encompass a subgroup of cancerous glial cell growths within the central nervous system and are distinguished by their slow growth and relatively low malignant potential. Despite their less aggressive nature, these tumors can still cause significant neurological symptoms through the compression of surrounding neural and vascular structures and, in some instances, undergo malignant transformation. For these reasons, timely and appropriate evaluation and management of low-grade gliomas is critical. Medical imaging stands as a cornerstone for evaluating patients with low-grade gliomas because of its noninvasive nature and ability to provide a vast amount of information about the underlying lesion. With the growing number of neuroimaging techniques and their capabilities, there is a lack of clear guidance on which techniques to utilize for the assessment of low-grade gliomas and what their respective core use cases should be. In this literature review, the authors discuss in significant depth the available evidence pertaining to the use of advanced neuroimaging techniques in the evaluation and management of low-grade gliomas. Specifically, they review the specificity, sensitivity, accuracy, and use cases of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), perfusion MR imaging (perfusion MRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), functional MRI (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), as well as other emerging imaging techniques. They conclude that most of the advanced neuroimaging techniques are reliable in differentiating low- from high-grade gliomas, whereas MRS and DTI may further support molecular subclassification of the tumor. PET has been best employed for the purpose of tumor biopsy, whereas fMRI and DTI can be particularly valuable in preoperative surgical planning, as they delineate the functionally eloquent brain regions that need to be preserved during tumor resection. MRS, PET, SPECT, and perfusion MRI are best suited to monitor tumor progression, as their respective metrics closely correlate with the underlying metabolic activity of the tumor. Together, these techniques offer a vast amount of information and serve as tools for neurologists and neurosurgeons managing patients with low-grade gliomas.

Laser interstitial thermal therapy for deep-seated perivascular brain tumors is not associated with distal ischemia.

PURPOSE: Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a minimally invasive cytoreductive treatment option for brain tumors with a risk of vascular injury from catheter placement or thermal energy. This may be of concern with deep-seated tumors that have surrounding end-artery perforators and critical microvasculature. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of distal ischemia following LITT for deep-seated perivascular brain tumors. METHODS: A retrospective review of a multi-institution database was used to identify patients who underwent LITT between 2013 and 2022 for tumors located within the insula, thalamus, basal ganglia, and anterior perforated substance. Demographic, clinical and volumetric tumor characteristics were collected. The primary outcome was radiographic evidence of distal ischemia on post-ablation magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: 61 LITT ablations for deep-seated perivascular brain tumors were performed. Of the tumors treated, 24 (39%) were low-grade gliomas, 32 (52%) were high-grade gliomas, and 5 (8%) were metastatic. The principal location included 31 (51%) insular, 14 (23%) thalamic, 13 (21%) basal ganglia, and 3 (5%) anterior perforated substance tumors. The average tumor size was 19.6 cm3 with a mean ablation volume of 11.1 cm3. The median extent of ablation was 92% (IQR 30%, 100%). Two patients developed symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage after LITT. No patient had radiographic evidence of distal ischemia on post-operative diffusion weighted imaging. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that LITT for deep-seated perivascular brain tumors has minimal ischemic risks and is a feasible cytoreductive treatment option for otherwise difficult to access intracranial tumors.

Persistent Peri-Ablation Blood-Brain Barrier Opening After Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Brain Tumors.

Purpose Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a minimally invasive, image-guided, cytoreductive procedure to treat recurrent glioblastoma. This study implemented dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) methods and employed a model selection paradigm to localize and quantify post-LITT blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in the ablation vicinity. Serum levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), a peripheral marker of increased BBB permeability, were measured. Methods Seventeen patients were enrolled in the study. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, serum NSE was measured preoperatively, 24 hours postoperatively, and at two, eight, 12, and 16 weeks postoperatively, depending on postoperative adjuvant treatment. Of the 17 patients, four had longitudinal DCE-MRI data available, from which blood-to-brain forward volumetric transfer constant (Ktrans) data were assessed. Imaging was performed preoperatively, 24 hours postoperatively, and between two and eight weeks postoperatively. Results Serum NSE increased at 24 hours following ablation (p=0.04), peaked at two weeks, and returned to baseline by eight weeks postoperatively. Ktrans was found to be elevated in the peri-ablation periphery 24 hours after the procedure. This increase persisted for two weeks. Conclusion Following the LITT procedure, serum NSE levels and peri-ablation Ktrans estimated from DCE-MRI demonstrated increases during the first two weeks after ablation, suggesting transiently increased BBB permeability.

Postoperative opioid prescription and patient-reported outcomes after elective spine surgery: a Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative study.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to assess how postoperative opioid prescription dosage could affect patient-reported outcomes after elective spine surgery. METHODS: Patients enrolled in the Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC) from January 2020 to September 2021 were included in this study. Opioid prescriptions at discharge were converted to total morphine milligram equivalents (MME). A reference value of 225 MME per week was used as a cutoff. Patients were divided into two cohorts based on prescribed total MME: ≤ 225 MME and > 225 MME. Primary outcomes included patient satisfaction, return to work status after surgery, and whether improvement of the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System 4-question short form for physical function (PROMIS PF) and EQ-5D was met. Generalized estimated equations were used for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Regression analysis revealed that patients who had postoperative opioids prescribed with > 225 MME were less likely to be satisfied with surgery (adjusted OR [aOR] 0.81) and achieve PROMIS PF MCID (aOR 0.88). They were also more likely to be opioid dependent at 90 days after elective spine surgery (aOR 1.56). CONCLUSIONS: The opioid epidemic is a serious threat to national public health, and spine surgeons must practice conscientious postoperative opioid prescribing to achieve adequate pain control. The authors' analysis illustrates that a postoperative opioid prescription of 225 MME or less is associated with improved patient satisfaction, greater improvement in physical function, and decreased opioid dependence compared with those who had > 225 MME prescribed.

Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for First-Line Treatment of Surgically Accessible Recurrent Glioblastoma: Outcomes Compared With a Surgical Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) for glioblastoma (GBM) has been reserved for poor surgical candidates and deep "inoperable" lesions. We present the first reported series of LITT for surgically accessible recurrent GBM (rGBM) that would otherwise be treated with surgical resection. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of LITT for unifocal, lobar, first-time rGBM compared with a similar surgical cohort. METHODS: A retrospective institutional database was used to identify patients with unifocal, lobar, first-time rGBM who underwent LITT or resection between 2013 and 2020. Clinical and volumetric lesional characteristics were compared between cohorts. Subgroup analysis of patients with lesions ≤20 cm 3 was also completed. Primary outcomes were overall survival and progression-free survival. RESULTS: Of the 744 patients with rGBM treated from 2013 to 2020, a LITT cohort of 17 patients were compared with 23 similar surgical patients. There were no differences in baseline characteristics, although lesions were larger in the surgical cohort (7.54 vs 4.37 cm 3 , P = .017). Despite differences in lesion size, both cohorts had similar extents of ablation/resection (90.7% vs 95.1%, P = .739). Overall survival (14.1 vs 13.8 months, P = .578) and progression-free survival (3.7 vs 3.3 months, P = 0. 495) were similar. LITT patients had significantly shorter hospital stays (2.2 vs 3.0 days, P = .004). Subgroup analysis of patients with lesions ≤20 cm 3 showed similar outcomes, with LITT allowing for significantly shorter hospital stays. CONCLUSION: We found no difference in survival outcomes or morbidity between LITT and repeat surgery for surgically accessible rGBM while LITT resulted in shorter hospital stays and more efficient postoperative care.

Validation of the Benefits of Ambulation Within 8 Hours of Elective Cervical and Lumbar Surgery: A Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative Study.

BACKGROUND: Early ambulation is considered a key element to Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol after spine surgery. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether ambulation less than 8 hours after elective spine surgery is associated with improved outcome. METHODS: The Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative database was queried to track all elective cervical and lumbar spine surgery between July 2018 and April 2021. In total, 7647 cervical and 17 616 lumbar cases were divided into 3 cohorts based on time to ambulate after surgery: (1) <8 hours, (2) 8 to 24 hours, and (3) >24 hours. RESULTS: For cervical cases, patients who ambulated 8 to 24 hours (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.38; 95% CI 1.11-1.70; P = .003) and >24 hours (aOR 2.20; 95% CI 1.20-4.03; P = .011) after surgery had higher complication rate than those who ambulated within 8 hours of surgery. Similar findings were noted for lumbar cases with patients who ambulated 8 to 24 hours (aOR 1.31; 95% CI 1.12-1.54; P < .001) and >24 hours (aOR 1.96; 95% CI 1.50-2.56; P < .001) after surgery having significantly higher complication rate than those ambulated <8 hours after surgery. Analysis of secondary outcomes for cervical cases demonstrated that <8-hour ambulation was associated with home discharge, shorter hospital stay, lower 90-day readmission, and lower urinary retention rate. For lumbar cases, <8-hour ambulation was associated with shorter hospital stay, satisfaction with surgery, lower 30-day readmission, home discharge, and lower urinary retention rate. CONCLUSION: Ambulation within 8 hours after surgery is associated with significant improved outcome after elective cervical and lumbar spine surgery.

Clinically useful tumor fluorescence greater than 24 hours after 5-aminolevulinic acid administration.

Background: 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is a valuable surgical adjuvant used for the resection of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Since Food and Drug Administration approval in 2017, 5-ALA has been used in over 37,000 cases. The current recommendation for peak efficacy and intraoperative fluorescence is within 4 h after administration. This narrow time window imposes a perioperative time constraint which may complicate or preclude the use of 5-ALA in GBM surgery. Case Description: This case report describes the prolonged activity of 5-ALA in a 66-year-old patient with a newly diagnosed GBM lesion within the left supramarginal gyrus. An awake craniotomy with language and sensorimotor mapping was planned along with 5-ALA fluorescence guidance. Shortly, after receiving the preoperative 5-ALA dose, the patient developed a fever. Surgery was postponed for an infectious disease workup which proved negative. The patient was taken to surgery the following day, 36 h after 5-ALA administration. Despite the delay, intraoperative fluorescence within the tumor remained and was sufficient to guide resection. Postoperative imaging confirmed a gross total resection of the tumor. Conclusion: The use of 5-ALA as an intraoperative adjuvant may still be effective for patients beyond the recommended 4-h window after initial administration. Reconsideration of current use of 5-ALA is warranted.

Prolactinoma: Medical and Surgical Considerations.

Prolactinomas are the most common secretory tumor of the pituitary gland. Clinical symptoms may be due to prolactin oversecretion, localized mass effect, or a combination of both. Although the mainstay of prolactinoma management is medical therapy with dopamine agonists, endoscopic endonasal or transcranial surgery, radiation therapy, or a combination of these is an important treatment option in select cases. This article discusses prolactinoma phenotypes, clinical presentations, and clinically pertinent medical and surgical considerations when managing these tumors.

A Matched Cohort Analysis of Drain Usage in Elective Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC) Study.

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective, cohort analysis of multi-institutional database. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to analyze the impact of drain use following elective anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgeries. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: After ACDF, a drain is often placed to prevent postoperative hematoma. However, there has been no high quality evidence to support its use with ACDF despite the theoretical benefits and risks of drain placement. METHODS: The Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative database was queried to identify all patients undergoing elective ACDF between February 2014 and October 2019. Cases were divided into two cohorts based on drain use. Propensity-score matching was utilized to adjust for inherent differences between the two cohorts. Measured outcomes included surgical site hematoma, length of stay, surgical site infection, dysphagia, home discharge, readmission within 30 days, and unplanned reoperation. RESULTS: We identified 7943 patients during the study period. Propensity-score matching yielded 3206 pairs. On univariate analysis of matched cohorts, there were no differences in rate of postoperative hematoma requiring either return to OR or readmission. We noted patients with drains had a higher rate of dysphagia (4.6% vs. 6.3%; P = 0.003) and had longer hospital stay (P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, drain use was associated with significantly increased length of stay (relative risk 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-1.34; P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in other outcomes measured. CONCLUSION: Our analysis demonstrated that drain use is associated with significant longer hospital stay.Level of Evidence: 3.

Preoperative HbA1c > 8% Is Associated With Poor Outcomes in Lumbar Spine Surgery: A Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative Study.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a useful screening tool since a significant portion of diabetic patients in the United States are undiagnosed and the prevalence of diabetes continues to increase. However, there is a paucity of literature analyzing comprehensive association between HbA1c and postoperative outcome in lumbar spine surgery. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prognostic value of preoperative HbA1c > 8% in patients undergoing elective lumbar spine surgery. METHODS: The Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC) database was queried to track all elective lumbar spine surgeries between January 2018 and December 2019. Cases were divided into 2 cohorts based on preoperative HbA1c level (≤8% and >8%). Measured outcomes include any complication, surgical site infection (SSI), readmission (RA) within 30 d (30RA) and 90 d (90RA) of index operation, patient satisfaction, and the percentage of patients who achieved minimum clinically important difference (MCID) using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System. RESULTS: We captured 4778 patients in this study. Our multivariate analysis demonstrated that patients with HbA1c > 8% were more likely to experience postoperative complication (odds ratio [OR] 1.81, 95% CI 1.20-2.73; P = .005) and be readmitted within 90 d of index surgery (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.08-2.54; P = .021). They also had longer hospital stay (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.03-1.23; P = .009) and were less likely to achieve functional improvement after surgery (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.44-0.92; P = .016). CONCLUSION: HbA1c > 8% is a reliable predictor of poor outcome in elective lumbar spine surgery. Clinicians should consider specialty consultation to optimize patients' glycemic control prior to surgery.

Health-related quality of life in meningioma.

BACKGROUND: Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumor in adults. Although frequently histologically benign, the clinical severity of a lesion may range from being asymptomatic to causing severe impairment of global function and well-being. The diversity of intracranial locations and clinical phenotypes poses a challenge when studying functional impairments, however, more recent attention to patient-reported outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) have helped to improve our understanding of how meningioma may impact a patient's life. METHODS: Treatment strategies such as observation, surgery, radiation, or a combination thereof have been examined to ascertain their contributions to symptoms, physical and cognitive functioning, disability, and general aspects of daily functioning. RESULTS: This review explores the multidimensional nature of HRQOL and how patients may be influenced by meningiomas and their treatment. CONCLUSION: Overall, treatment of symptomatic meningiomas is associated with improved HRQOL, cognitive functioning, and seizure control while tumor size, location, histologic grade, and epileptic burden are associated with worse HRQOL.

Reducing Superfluous Opioid Prescribing Practices After Brain Surgery: It Is Time to Talk About Drugs.

BACKGROUND: Opioids are prescribed routinely after cranial surgery despite a paucity of evidence regarding the optimal quantity needed. Overprescribing may adversely contribute to opioid abuse, chronic use, and diversion. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a system-wide campaign to reduce opioid prescribing excess while maintaining adequate analgesia. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing a craniotomy for tumor resection with home disposition before and after a 2-mo educational intervention was completed. The educational initiative was composed of directed didactic seminars targeting senior staff, residents, and advanced practice providers. Opioid prescribing patterns were then assessed for patients discharged before and after the intervention period. RESULTS: A total of 203 patients were discharged home following a craniotomy for tumor resection during the study period: 98 who underwent surgery prior to the educational interventions compared to 105 patients treated post-intervention. Following a 2-mo educational period, the quantity of opioids prescribed decreased by 52% (median morphine milligram equivalent per day [interquartile range], 32.1 [16.1, 64.3] vs 15.4 [0, 32.9], P < .001). Refill requests also decreased by 56% (17% vs 8%, P = .027) despite both groups having similar baseline characteristics. There was no increase in pain scores at outpatient follow-up (1.23 vs 0.85, P = .105). CONCLUSION: A dramatic reduction in opioids prescribed was achieved without affecting refill requests, patient satisfaction, or perceived analgesia. The use of targeted didactic education to safely improve opioid prescribing following intracranial surgery uniquely highlights the ability of simple, evidence-based interventions to impact clinical decision making, lessen potential patient harm, and address national public health concerns.

Caregiver perceptions of end-of-life care in patients with high-grade glioma.

BACKGROUND: Patients dying from high-grade gliomas (HGG) suffer from high symptom burden in the end-of-life (EoL) phase. Family caregivers are most informed about the patient's symptoms and disease course. The aim of this study is to assess caregiver perception on quality of EoL care of HGG patients. METHODS: Caregivers prospectively participated in the Toolkit After-Death Bereaved Family Member Interview, part of the Toolkit of Instruments to Measure End-of-Life Care (TIME survey). This validated survey assesses EoL care in areas such as physical comfort and emotional support, advance care planning, focus on the individual, attention to family, and coordination of care. The quality of EoL care was measured by domain scores (0 = care was always optimal, 1 = care was always suboptimal) or with a 0-10 scale. RESULTS: Of the 55 enrolled family caregivers, 44 completed the interview and rated the overall care high (8.90 ± 1.36/10), perceived that patients' wishes were respected (9.46 ± 0.95) and that they died in dignity (9.65 ± 0.98). Caregivers perceived high satisfaction with information and decision-making (0.18), advance care planning (0.19), focus on the individual (0.16), and care coordination (0.11). Attention to family (0.25) needed improvement. Only 41% of caregivers were confident that they knew what to do at the time of death and 46% felt that the healthcare team did not provide them with someone to turn to in distress. CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers reported high overall satisfaction with EoL HGG care, though attention to family and communication needed improvement. Focus should therefore be on improved caregiver communication to improve EoL care, caregiver burnout, and bereavement in HGG populations.

Fluorescence-Guided High-Grade Glioma Surgery More Than Four Hours After 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Administration.

Background: Fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) using 5-aminolevulic acid (5-ALA) is a widely used strategy for delineating tumor tissue from surrounding brain intraoperatively during high-grade glioma (HGG) resection. 5-ALA reaches peak plasma levels ~4 h after oral administration and is currently approved by the FDA for use 2-4 h prior to induction to anesthesia. Objective: To demonstrate that there is adequate intraoperative fluorescence in cases undergoing surgery more than 4 h after 5-ALA administration and compare survival and radiological recurrence to previous data. Methods: Retrospective analysis of HGG patients undergoing FGS more than 4 h after 5-ALA administration was performed at two institutions. Clinical, operative, and radiographic pre- and post-operative characteristics are presented. Results: Sixteen patients were identified, 6 of them female (37.5%), with mean (SD) age of 59.3 ± 11.5 years. Preoperative mean modified Rankin score (mRS) was 2 ± 1. All patients were dosed with 20 mg/kg 5-ALA the morning of surgery. Mean time to anesthesia induction was 425 ± 334 min. All cases had adequate intraoperative fluorescence. Eloquent cortex was involved in 12 cases (75%), and 13 cases (81.3%) had residual contrast enhancement on postoperative MRI. Mean progression-free survival was 5 ± 3 months. In the study period, 6 patients died (37.5%), mean mRS was 2.3 ± 1.3, Karnofsky score 71.9 ± 22.1, and NIHSS 3.9 ± 2.4. Conclusion: Here we demonstrate that 5-ALA-guided HGG resection can be performed safely more than 4 h after administration, with clinical results largely similar to previous reports. Relaxation of timing restrictions could improve procedure workflow in busy neurosurgical centers, without additional risk to patients.

The Effect of Antithrombotics on Hematoma Expansion in Small- to Moderate-Sized Traumatic Intraparenchymal Hemorrhages.

BACKGROUND: Although pre-injury antithrombotic agents, including antiplatelets and anticoagulants, are historically associated with expansion of traumatic intraparenchymal hemorrhage (tIPH), the literature has poorly elucidated the actual risk of hematoma expansion on repeat computed tomography (CT). The objective was to determine the effect of antithrombotic agents on hematoma expansion in tIPH by comparing patients with and without pre-injury antithrombotic medication. METHODS: The volume of all tIPHs over a 5-year period at an academic Level 1 trauma center was measured retrospectively. The initial tIPH was divided into 3 equally sized quantiles. The third tercile, representing the largest subset of tIPH, was then removed from the study population because these patients reflect a different pathophysiologic mechanism that may require a more acute and aggressive level of care with reversal agents and/or operative management. Per institutional policy, all patients with small- to moderate-sized hemorrhages received a 24-hour stability CT scan. Patients who received reversal agents were excluded. RESULTS: Of the 105 patients with a tIPH on the initial head CT scan, small- to moderate-sized hemorrhages were <5 cm3. The size of tIPH on initial imaging did not statistically significantly differ between the antithrombotic cohort (0.7 ± 0.1 cm3) and the non-antithrombotic cohort (0.5 ± 0.1 cm3) (P = 0.091). Similarly, the volume of tIPH failed to differ on 24-hour repeat imaging (1.0 ± 0.2 cm3 vs. 0.6 ± 0.1 cm3, respectively, P = 0.172). Following a multiple linear regression, only history of stroke, not antithrombotic medications, predicted increased tIPH on 24-hour repeat imaging. CONCLUSIONS: In small- to moderate-sized tIPH, withholding antithrombotic agents without reversal may be sufficient.

Quantification of pial collateral pressure in acute large vessel occlusion stroke: basic concept with patient outcomes.

PURPOSE: Pial collateral perfusion to the ischemic penumbra plays a critical role in determining patient outcomes in acute stroke. We aimed to assess the validity and reliability of an intra-procedural technique for measuring and quantifying the pial collateral pressure (QPCP) to ischemic brain tissue during acute stroke secondary to LVO. QPCP measurements were correlated with standard computed tomography angiography (CTA) and digital subtraction angiography imaging assessments of pial collateral perfusion and outcomes after mechanical endovascular revascularization (MER). METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 60 consecutive patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA)-M1 and proximal M2 occlusions. QPCP measurements were obtained during MER. The validity of QPCP measurements was evaluated using four widely accepted collateral grading scales. QPCP measurements were also analyzed as a predictor of patient outcomes utilizing National Institute of Health Stroke Scale reduction at 24 h and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at 30 days. RESULTS: QPCP measurements and QPCP ratio (QPCP/systemic mean arterial blood pressure) showed a statistically significant association with single-phase pretreatment CTA Maas and American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology/Society of Interventional Radiology binary grading scales. Patient outcomes demonstrated for every 10-unit increase in QPCP, the odds of mRS 0-2 at 30 days increased by 76% (p = 0.019). CONCLUSION: QPCP measurements related best with the pretreatment CTA Maas collateral grading scale but were more strongly associated with patient outcomes than any of the four widely accepted collateral grading scales. Greater QPCP was significantly associated with better overall patient outcomes as defined by mRS at 30 days.

The economic impact of glioma survivorship: The cost of care from a patient perspective.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to characterize the socioeconomic impact of glioma for patients with clinical and radiographic evidence of disease stability, using the standardized Medical Expenditure Panel Survey-Household Component (MEPS-HC). METHODS: The MEPS-HC questionnaire was used to investigate the degree of economic hardship referable to the patient's brain tumor and treatment. The questionnaire included demographic variables such as age at diagnosis, ethnicity, highest level of education, and annual household income. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize variables and between-group comparisons were evaluated using Fisher exact test. RESULTS: Of 127 prescreened patients, 89 of 107 eligible patients completed the survey. Pathology at diagnosis was predominantly low grade (60%). Most patients were insured at time of diagnosis (91%), married (76%), and employed (79%), with annual household incomes slightly higher than the national average. Despite this, nearly a quarter incurred debt referable to brain tumor care (24%), 53% required extended unpaid time off, and 46% retired or were no longer working. Financial burden and workforce morbidity were insensitive to tumor location, laterality, and annual household income. Patients with gross total resection at initial surgery were less likely to report ongoing limitations in daily activities (45% vs 83%, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Even in a population of stable, high-functioning glioma survivors, financial burden and workforce morbidity was ubiquitous across all tumor subtypes, treatment paradigms, and income levels.

A Survey of Chemoprophylaxis Techniques in Spine Surgery Among American Neurosurgery Training Programs.

BACKGROUND: A paucity of randomized trials have compared prophylactic dose of unfractionated heparin (UFH) versus low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events in spinal surgery. Our objective was to determine the most prevalent chemoprophylactic techniques in spine surgery. METHODS: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education was queried for all neurosurgical residency programs, which were subsequently sent an electronic survey about prophylactic UFH versus LMWH in spine surgery for (1) degenerative/deformity, (2) traumatic, and (3) neoplastic pathologies. RESULTS: Of 69 unique responding residencies, the first dose of chemoprophylaxis for degenerative/deformity spinal disease started most commonly on postoperative day (POD) 1 in 75.3% of neurosurgery programs, followed by POD 2 in 10.1% of programs, POD 0 (same day of surgery) in 8.7% of programs, POD 3 in 1.4% of programs, and morning of surgery in 1.4% of programs. Choice of postoperative chemoprophylaxis did not differ statistically significantly between UFH versus LMWH: 56.5% versus 36.2% in degenerative/deformity pathologies (P = 0.080) and 50.7% versus 43.4% in traumatic pathologies (P = 0.535). Three programs (4.3%) in both the degenerative/deformity and trauma groups documented no chemoprophylaxis. Neoplastic pathologies saw a statistically significantly higher proportion of prophylactic UFH (60.8%) compared with prophylactic LMWH (36.2%) (P = 0.037). One program (1.4%) in the neoplastic group did not utilize chemoprophylaxis. Two institutions (2.8%) in the degenerative/deformity cohort and 1 institution (1.4%) in the trauma and cancer cohorts reported "other". CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic UFH was statistically more common than LMWH in neoplastic spinal surgery, but not in the degenerative/deformity and trauma groups (cohorts). Further trials are warranted.