Early tracheostomy versus late tracheostomy in severe traumatic brain injury or stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: We aim to ascertain whether the benefit of early tracheostomy can be found in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke and if the benefit will remain considering distinct pathologies. DATA SOURCES: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol, a search through Lilacs, PubMed, and Cochrane databases was conducted. REVIEW METHODS: Included studies were those written in English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese, with a formulated question, which compared outcomes between early and late trach (minimum of two outcomes), such as intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), hospital LOS, mortality rates, or ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Likewise, patients presented exclusively with head injury or stroke had minimum hospital stay follow-up, and as for severe TBI patients, they presented Glasgow Coma Scale ≤8 at admission. Evaluated outcomes were the risk ratio (RR) of VAP, risk difference (RD) of mortality, and mean difference (MD) of the duration of MV, ICU LOS, and hospital LOS. RESULTS: The early and late tracheostomy cohorts were composed of 6211 and 8140 patients, respectively. The meta-analysis demonstrated that the early tracheostomy cohort had a lower risk for VAP (RR: 0.73 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.66, 0.81] p < 0.00001), shorter duration of MV (MD: -4.40 days [95% CI, -8.28, -0.53] p = 0.03), and shorter ICU (MD: -6.93 days [95% CI, -8.75, -5.11] p < 0.00001) and hospital LOS (MD: -7.05 days [95% CI, -8.27, -5.84] p < 0.00001). The mortality rate did not demonstrate a statistical difference. CONCLUSION: Early tracheostomy could optimise patient outcomes by patients' risk for VAP and decreasing MV durationand ICU and hospital LOS.

Laser interstitial thermal therapy as an adjunct therapy in brain tumors: A meta-analysis and comparison with stereotactic radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive procedures are gaining widespread acceptance in difficult-to-access brain tumor treatment. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is the preferred choice, however, laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) has emerged as a tumor cytoreduction technique. The present meta-analysis compared current SRS therapy with LITT in brain tumors. METHODS: A search was performed in Lilacs, PubMed, and Cochrane database. Patient's demographics, tumor location, therapy used, Karnofsky performance status score before treatment, and patient's outcome (median overall survival, progression-free survival, and adverse events) data were extracted from studies. The risk of bias was assessed by Cochrane collaboration tool. RESULTS: Twenty-five studies were included in this meta-analysis. LITT and SRS MOS in brain metastasis patients were 12.8 months' versus 9.8 months (ranges 9.3-16.3 and 8.3-9.8; P = 0.02), respectively. In a combined comparison of adverse effects among LITT versus SRS in brain metastasis, we found 15% reduction in absolute risk difference (-0.16; 95% confidence interval P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: We could not state that LITT treatment is an optimal alternative therapy for difficult-to-access brain tumors due to the lack of systematic data that were reported in our pooled studies. However, our results identified a positive effect in lowering the absolute risk of adverse events compared with SRS therapy. Therefore, randomized trials are encouraged to ascertain LITT role, as upfront or postoperative/post-SRS therapy for brain tumor treatment.

Distortion Correction Protocol for 3T Stereotactic Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Clinical Study.

BACKGROUND: With application of 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to functional neurosurgery procedures and given the inherent requirement of millimetric precision, the need to develop a method for correction of geometric image distortion emerged. The aim of this study was to demonstrate clinical safety and practical viability of a correction protocol in patients scheduled to undergo stereotactic procedures using 3T MRI. METHODS: This prospective study comprised 20 patients scheduled to undergo computed tomography (CT) stereotactic functional procedures or encephalic brain lesion biopsies. The CT images were references for MRI geometric accuracy calculations. For each scan, 2 images were obtained: normal and reversed images. Eight distinct points on CT and MRI were selected summing 152 points that were based on a power analysis calculation value >0.999. One patient was excluded because of the inability to find reliable common landmark points on CT and MRI. RESULTS: The distortion range was 0-5.6 mm and increased proportionally with stereotactic isocenter distance, meaning the distortion was greater in the periphery. After correction, the minimum and maximum distortion found was 0 mm and 3.5 mm, respectively. There was no significant difference between CT and MRI corrected x-coordinates (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method can satisfactorily correct geometric distortions in clinical 3T MRI studies. Clinical use of the technique can be practical and efficient after software automation of the process. The method can be applied to all spin-echo MRI sequences.

Cerebellopontine angle empyema after lumbar disc herniation surgery.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar discectomy is still one of the most common spinal surgeries performed today. Nevertheless, there are few publications considering severe complications. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a case with severe complication, without any previous report, a brain empyema after cerebrospinal fluid leak with good outcome afterword. A 45 years old man, returned six days after surgery, presenting cerebrospinal fluid leak, which after clinical and laboratory deterioration was reoperated. In the 14th postoperative facing worsening level of consciousness was diagnosed empyema in cerebellopontine angle and hydrocephalus underwent emergency surgery. Evolved with hemiplegia in the first postoperative attributed to vasculitis, completely recovered after 5 days. CONCLUSIONS: Although infrequent, lumbar discectomy is subject to severe complications, which as the case presented, can be dramatic. In surgeries must be careful to avoid cerebrospinal fluid leak e infectious complications.

Avaliação de protocolo para redução da distorção em estereotaxia para ressonância magnética de três tesla / A method for geometric distortion correction for stereotaxic neurosurgery on three tesla

Introdução: o presente estudo demonstra a aplicação de um algoritmo para correção de distorções em imagens de RM em 3T. Métodos: foi utilizado um Modelo Tridimensional com Alvos (MTA) de acrílico (Micromar, São Paulo, Brasil) montado em uma plataforma com as dimensões e características de um arco estereotáctico. O MTA foi submetido à aquisição de imagens em uma bobina de crânio utilizando o aparelho Philips 3T Magnetom Sigma LX(TM) (Philips Medical Systems, Eindhoven, Netherlands). Para cada aquisição duas imagens foram obtidas, a normal e a reversa (nRM e rRM, respectivamente). Foi aplicado o protocolo de correção com gradiente reverso para produzir coordenadas x, y e z corrigidas. Após ter sido determinada a acurácia dos alvos, foram submetidos 20 pacientes ao mesmo protocolo para determinar a validade em indivíduos. Resultados: a análise dos dados demonstrou que as diferenças entre observadores não foram estatisticamente significantes. Além disso, os pontos obtidos após o processo de retificação das coordenadas no MTA revelou uma distorção média de 1,05 mm. Nos pacientes, a distorção pré correção variava de 0 a 5,6 mm; após a correção variou entre 0 e 3,5 mm. Conclusão: o presente estudo examinou uma técnica de retificação das distorções geométricas encontradas em imagens de RM. Esta mostrou-se bem sucedida em produzir resultados consistentemente acurados para registro de alvos estereotácticos. A técnica pode ser aplicada de maneira universal a todas as imagens de RM adquiridas em protocolo spin-echo e corrige as distorções geométricas presentes.

The present work presents an application of a image distortion correction algorithm for 3T MR images. Methods: We used a phantom head model (Micromar, São Paulo, Brazil) mounted on a plataform with the dimensions and features of a stereotactic frame. The phantom was scanned within the head coil of a Philips 3T Magnetom Sigma LX(TM) (Philips Medical Systems, Eindhoven, Netherlands). For each scan, 2 images were obtained - the normal and the reversed image (nMR and rMR, respectively). We applied the inverted gradient correction protocol to produce a corrected x, y and z coordinate. After we ensure target accuracy we submitted 20 patients to the same protocol to exactitude evaluation in human subjects. Results: For all the analyzed data, the differences among the observers were not statistically significant. Moreover, the data rectification proved to be effective as the average distortion on phantom, after correction, was 1.05 mm. On patients the pre-correction distortion varied between 0 and 5.6mm, after correction it varied between 0 mm and 3.5 mm. Conclusion: This study examined a rectifying technique for correcting geometric distortions encountered in the MR images, and the technique proved to be highly successful in producing consistently accurate stereotactic target registration. The technique is universally applicable to all routinely employed spin-echo MR images, and corrects for geometric distortions.

Hemodynamic stroke caused by strangulation.

We report a case of watershed ischemic stroke in a 36-year-old male secondary to manual strangulation. The patient presented with a right hemiparesis with grade IV motor deficit and an expressive aphasia. Radiological investigation revealed an ischemic stroke on the left distal middle cerebral artery territory and in watershed areas of the left anterior and posterior cerebral arteries. There was no evidence of injury of cervical vessels. The hemodynamic mechanism and associated brain injury secondary to manual strangulation is described and discussed based on a literature review.

Giant acute epidural hematoma after ventriculoperitoneal shunt: a case report and literature review.

Cerebrospinal fluid over-drainage is a common complication of ventriculoperitoneal devices. In terms of haemorrhage, subdural haematomas are usually more frequent lesions than epidural hematomas, which, more rarely, may also be seen after ventricular shunt procedures and may lead to rapid neurological decline and even death unless a surgical procedure can be promptly performed. This study reports the case of a 47 years-old Dandy Walker man, with clinical condition compatible with the diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus submitted to a ventriculoperitoneal shunt with a high fixed pressure valve. After discharge, on the second day after the procedure, he presented with headache and impaired level of consciousness. At hospital admission he was in a coma and anisochoric. Underwent endotracheal intubation and a head CT, showed epidural hematoma. We performed emergency craniotomy to drain the hematoma, the patient died in the operating room despite resuscitation attempts. In conclusion, prompt diagnosis and emergency craniotomy is recommended in these cases. We must be aware of this possible evolution and maintain high suspicion besides a longer in-hospital observation after these procedures.

Brown-Sequard syndrome associated with unusual spinal cord injury by a screwdriver stab wound.

INTRODUCTION: Stab wounds resulting in spinal cord injuries are very rare. In direct central back stabbings, the layers of muscles and the spinal column tends to deflect blades, rarely causing injuries to the spinal cord. We report an unusual case of traumatic spinal cord injury by a screwdriver stab, presented as Brown-Séquard syndrome and discuss possible pitfalls on the surgical treatment. CASE REPORT: A 34 year-old man was brought to the emergency department after a group assault with a single screwdriver stab wound on the back. Neurological examination revealed an incomplete Brown-Sequard syndrome, with grade IV motor deficit on the left leg and contralateral hemihypoalgesia below T9 level. Radiological evaluation showed a retained 9 cm screwdriver that entered and trespassed the spinal canal at T6 level, reaching the posterior mediastinum with close relation to the thoracic aorta. Vascular injury could not be excluded. The joint decision between the neurosurgery and the vascular surgery teams was the surgical removal of the screwdriver under direct visualization. A left mini-thoracotomy was performed. Simultaneously, a careful dissection was done and screwdriver was firmly pulled back on the opposite path of entry under direct visualization of the aorta. The neurological deficit was maintained immediately after the surgical procedure. Follow-up visit after 1 year showed minor motor deficit and good healing. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consider all aspects of secondary injury on the surgical planning of penetrating spinal cord injury. The secondary injury can be minimized with multidisciplinary planning of the surgical procedure.

An image correction protocol to reduce distortion for 3-T stereotactic MRI.

BACKGROUND: Image distortion limits application of direct 3-T magnetic resonance imaging for stereotactic functional neurosurgery. OBJECTIVE: To test the application of a method to correct and curtail image distortion of 3-T magnetic resonance images. METHODS: We used a phantom head model mounted on a platform with the dimensions and features of a stereotactic frame. The phantom was scanned within the head coil of a Philips Achieva 3T X series (Philips Medical Systems, Eindhoven, the Netherlands). For each scan, 2 images were obtained-the normal and the reversed images. We applied the inverted gradient correction protocol to produce a corrected x, y, and z coordinates. We applied the Cronbach test or coefficient of reliability to assess the internal consistency of the data. RESULTS: For all analyzed data, the P value was >.05, indicating that the differences among the observers were not statistically significant. Moreover, the data rectification proved to be effective, as the average distortion after correction was 1.05 mm. The distortion varied between 0.7 mm and 3.7 mm, depending on the target location. CONCLUSION: This study examined a rectifying technique for correcting geometric distortion encountered in magnetic resonance images related to static field inhomogeneities (resonance offsets), and the technique proved to be highly successful in producing consistently accurate stereotactic target registration. The technique is applicable to all routinely used spin-echo MRI.

Aplicação do potencial evocado multimodal no traumatismo cranioencefálico grave / Multimodal evoked potential in severe traumatic brain injury

O potencial evocado multimodal consiste nos potenciais evocados visual, auditivo de tronco cerebral e somatossensitivo e é um método diagnóstico potencialmente útil para localizar disfunção em um sistema neural individual, bem como em áreas cerebrais que contêm vários sistemas neurais, como o tronco encefálico e os hemisférios cerebrais. Esta avaliação permite auxiliar no diagnóstico e tem valor prognóstico nos pacientes em coma por traumatismo cranioencefálico. O tempo de condução na via somatossensitiva central tende a aumentar após o traumatismo cranioencefálico e a extensão do retardo é proporcional à gravidade da lesão. Nos pacientes que sobrevivem o tempo de condução central gradualmente retorna ao normal durante a recuperação. Neste artigo realizamos uma revisão acerca da aplicação deste método diagnóstico para definição de prognóstico em pacientes com traumatismo cranioencefálico...

Serum sodium disorders in patients with traumatic brain injury.

Sodium disorders are the most common and most poorly understood electrolyte disorders in neurological patients. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of sodium disorders and its association with different traumatic brain injuries. This prospective study was conducted in 80 patients diagnosed with moderate and severe traumatic brain injuries. All patients underwent cerebral computed tomography. Incidence of sodium disorders, presence of injuries in the first computed tomography after traumatic brain injury, and level of consciousness were analyzed. Patients that presented other potential causes of sodium disorders and systemic trauma were excluded from the study. The incidence of sodium disturbances was 45%: 20 patients presented hypernatremia and 16 hyponatremia. Refers to all patients with sodium disturbances 53% were detected in the first sample. We recorded at least one measurement <125 mEq/L in 50% of the patients with hyponatremia. A greater incidence of sodium disorders was found in patients with subdural, intracerebral hematoma and with diffuse axonal injury. The incidence of sodium disorders among the patients with diffuse lesions was greater than in the group of patients with brain contusion (P = 0.022). The incidence of sodium disorders is higher in patients with diffuse traumatic brain injuries. No association was found between focal lesions and proportion of sodium disorders.

Surgical nuances of giant paraclinoid aneurysms.

Paraclinoid aneurysms constitute formidable surgical challenge. The complex surgical anatomy and several factors such as size and projection of the lesion, choice of the surgical approach, relationships between the aneurysm and perforator vessels, site of proximal control, and potential improvement or worsening of visual symptoms account for these difficulties. In such complex cases, surgical nuances frequently determine the final outcome. In this paper, the authors present a comprehensive review of the tricky regional anatomy and describe the operative nuances one of the senior authors (E. dO.) has used to operate on these complex lesions.

Mielite transversa em paciente com adenocarcinoma de mama / Transverse myelitis in patient with breast cancer

Mielite transversa é uma incomum desordem neurológica, apresentando causas variadas e incertas. O processo inflamatório acarreta lesão extensa de fibras da medula espinal, podendo resultar de infecções virais, bacterianas, baixo fluxo vascular medular, doenças autoimunes e raramente associados a neoplasias. Relatamos um caso de paciente com quadro clínico compatível com mielite transversa, potencialmente associada a adenocarcinoma mamário. Paciente sexo feminino, de 50 anos, com quadro de adenocarcinoma mamário, em pós-operatório tardio, karnofski de 100, evoluindo com paraplegia súbita, com nível sensitivo em T10, um dia após o início de quimioterapia. Sem outros antecedentes patológicos. Não há relato de febre ou infecção precedendo o déficit em meses. Deu entrada em nosso pronto-socorro, sendo submetida a ressonância magnética de coluna torácica, sem alteração de sinal. Foi negativa a pesquisa para colagenoses. Iniciou corticoterapia para mielite transversa. Evoluiu com recuperação gradativa dos déficits. Avaliado após seis meses se apresentava com força muscular grau V em membro inferior direito e grau IV em membro inferior esquerdo. O caso chama atenção para esta possível associação ainda não descrita, contudo a exclusão de lesão compressiva metastática ou metástase intramedular em quadros como esse com diagnóstico prévio de lesão tumoral é imprescindível.

Can the rDNA methylation pattern be used as a marker for Alzheimer's disease?

BACKGROUND: Differential methylation activity of the human rDNA in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients has been demonstrated by classic cytogenetic tools, indicating a decrease in rRNA gene expression. Methylation of CpGs is an important epigenetic mechanism involved in gene expression repression of tandem repeating genes during ageing. Thus, rDNA specific methylation pattern could be involved in AD and be used as a marker of the disease or of its progression. METHODS: The methylation pattern of three rDNA regions, including the promoter, 18S, and 28S, was investigated with the use of restriction endonucleases sensitive to methylation and Southern blotting from DNA extracted from total peripheral blood cells of 28 AD patients and 28 elderly and young controls. RESULTS: We did not find a significant divergence in the methylation pattern of the studied regions and in the relative amount of rDNA methylated copies among the individuals' groups. CONCLUSIONS: No differential methylation pattern of rDNA genes was observed in total peripheral blood cells in aged and AD subjects by the methodology used.

Horner's syndrome after blunt cervical and chest trauma: case report.

Horner's syndrome is the triad of miosis, ptosis, and anhidrosis, resulting from disruption of the sympathetic pathways. This article describes an uncommon case of Horner's syndrome in a 22-year-old man after blunt trauma to the neck and chest without carotid artery dissection. The patient was brought to the emergency service after motorcycle fall. Neurologic examination revealed a patient presenting the score 15 at Glasgow Coma Scale. The left eyelid was 1-2 mm lower than the right. Carotid Doppler and angiotomography were undertaken and revealed no abnormalities of the carotid artery. CT disclosed a mediastinal hematoma extending to the left apex, compressing the left sympathetic chain. The understanding of this clinical entity may help the surgeon to make a better differential diagnosis in trauma patients in whom prompt diagnosis is critical to establish the correct treatment.

Horner's syndrome after blunt cervical and chest trauma: case report

Horner‘s syndrome is the triad of miosis, ptosis, and anhidrosis, resulting from disruption of the sympathetic pathways. This article describes an uncommon case of Horner‘s syndrome in a 22-year-old man after blunt trauma to the neck and chest without carotid artery dissection. The patient was brought to the emergency service after motorcycle fall. Neurologic examination revealed a patient presenting the score 15 at Glasgow Coma Scale. The left eyelid was 1-2 mm lower than the right. Carotid Doppler and angiotomography were undertaken and revealed no abnormalities of the carotid artery. CT disclosed a mediastinal hematoma extending to the left apex, compressing the left sympathetic chain. The understanding of this clinical entity may help the surgeon to make a better differential diagnosis in trauma patients in whom prompt diagnosis is critical to stablish the correct treatment.

A síndrome de Horner compreende a tríade de miose, ptose e anidrose, resultado de lesão em algum ponto das vias simpáticas. O referido estudo apresenta um caso da referida síndrome em um jovem de 22 anos vitima de queda de moto, com escoriações no tórax e no pescoço, sem dissecção carotídea. Ao exame neurológico, encontrava-se com 15 pontos na Escala de Coma de Glasgow, com miose à esquerda e ptose palpebral ipsilateral. Realizado Doppler de carótidas e angiotomografia dos vasos cérvico-cranianos não sendo evidenciadas anormalidades. A tomografia de tórax mostrou um hematoma no ápice pulmonar esquerdo, comprimindo a cadeia simpática ipsilateral. O conhecimento desta entidade clínica pode ajudar o cirurgião a fazer um diagnóstico diferencial adequado nos pacientes vítimas de traumas, nos quais o diagnóstico correto e eficaz pode ser fundamental para a definição da conduta a ser tomada.