Volume 09 · Issue 02 · 2023

Giant intracranial aneurysms (GIAs) are challenges for surgical treatment. Risk factors of postoperative stroke remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the predictors of postoperative stroke in GIAs and the impact of stroke on outcomes.

We performed a retrospective medical record review of patients with GIAs who received microsurgery at our institution between 2011 and 2018. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify risk factors for postoperative stroke. The clinical and angiographic outcomes were compared between patients with and without stroke.

A total of 97 patients were included in this study. Surgical modalities included direct aneurysm neck clipping in 85 patients (87.7%), trapping with the bypass in 8 (8.2%), proximal artery ligation in 1 (1%), and bypass alone in 3 (3.1 %). Postoperative stroke was found in 26 patients (26.8%). Independent factors that affect postoperative stroke were recurrent aneurysm (OR, 10.982; 95% CI, 1.976-61.045; P=0.006) and size ≥ 3.5 cm (OR, 3.420; 95% CI, 1.133-10.327; P=0.029). Combined perioperative mortality and morbidity was 26.8%. Follow-up was achieved from 89 patients (91.8%), with a mean follow-up period of 39 months (range 19 to 94 months). Good outcomes were observed in 75 patients (84.3%) and poor outcomes were observed in 14 patients (15.7%).

Postoperative stroke was significantly associated with clinical outcome. Favorable outcomes can be achieved in most patients with GIAs after appropriate microsurgical modality. Recurrent aneurysm and size ≥ 3.5 cm are risk factors of postoperative stroke.

To investigate the classification and microsurgical treatment of foramen magnum meningioma (FMM).

We retrospectively analyzed 76 patients with FMM and classified them into two classifications, classification ABS according to the relationship between the FMM and the brainstem and classification SIM according to the relationship between the FMM and the vertebral artery (VA). All patients underwent either the far lateral approach (54 cases) or the suboccipital midline approach (22 cases).

Of the 76 cases, 47 cases were located ahead of the brainstem (A), 16 cases at the back of the brainstem (B), and 13 cases were located laterally to the brainstem (S). There were 15 cases located superior to the VA (S), 49 cases were inferior (I), and 12 cases were mixed type (M). Among 76 cases, 71 cases were resected with Simpson grade 2 (93.42%), 3 with Simpson grade 3 (3.95%), and 2 with Simpson grade 4 (2.63%). We summarized four anatomical triangles: triangles SOT, VOT, JVV, and TVV. The mean postoperative Karnofsky performance score was improved in all patients (p < 0.05). However, several complications occurred, including hoarseness and CSF leak.

ABS and SIM classifications are objective indices for choosing the surgical approach and predicting the difficulty of FMMs, and it is of great importance to master the content, position relationship with the tumor, and variable anatomical structures in the four "triangles" for the success of the operation.

Total removal of the vestibular schwannoma when preserving the function of the facial nerve is difficult. The objective of the current study was to investigate the short-term clinical outcome of vestibular schwannoma removal via retro-sigmoid approach.

One-hundred consecutive patients diagnosed with vestibular schwannoma were surgically treated between December 2018 and August 2019 in Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University. The clinical classification, surgical position, gross total removal rate, the anatomical and functional preservation rates of facial nerve, and the postoperative complications were retrospectively analyzed.

All 100 patients including 34 males and 66 females were operated on via retro-sigmoid approach. According to Koos vestibular schwannoma grading system, 18 cases were grade 2, 34 cases were grade 3, and 48 cases were grade 4. According to Hannover vestibular schwannoma grading system, 5 cases were T2, 6 cases were T3a, 8 cases were T3b, 30 cases were T4a, and 51 cases were T4b. Seventy-three surgeries were performed under lateral position, and 27 cases were operated under semi-sitting position. The gross total removal rate was 90.0%; the anatomic reservation rate of the facial nerve was 96.0%. According to the House-Brackman system, the facial nerve function was grades 1-2 in 78.0% cases, grade 3 in 7.0% cases, and grades 4-5 in 15% cases. For patients with effective hearing before operation, the hearing reservation rate was 19.0%. Two patients (2.0%) developed intracranial hematoma after operation.

Most vestibular schwannoma could be completely removed with good postoperative facial nerve function. If total removal of tumor is difficult, we should give priority to the functional preservation of the nerve function.

Gliomas, especially high-grade gliomas, are highly malignant with a poor prognosis. Although existing treatments have improved the survival rate of patients with glioma, the recurrence and mortality rates are still not ideal. The molecular mechanisms involved in the occurrence and development of glioma are still poorly understood. We previously reported that thrombospondin-2 (TSP2) expression was increased in tumor specimens from rat models, promoting excitatory synapse formation. However, little is known about the effect of TSP2 on the biological characteristics of glioma.

Glioma and cerebral cortex tissues were collected from 33 patients, and the expression of TSP2 in them was analyzed. Next, the proliferation and migration of TSP2 on glioma cells were analyzed in vitro. At last, a glioma transplantation model was constructed to explore the growth of TSP2 on glioma in vivo.

The expression of TSP2 in surgical glioma specimens was increased compared to that in the normal cortex. Interestingly, the TSP2 protein level was higher in high-grade glioma (HGG, World Health Organization (WHO) grades 3-4) than in low-grade glioma (LGG, WHO grades 1-2) tissues. Exogenous addition of the TSP2 protein at an appropriate concentration promoted the migration of glioma cells but did not significantly affect their proliferation. Surprisingly, overexpression of TSP2 promoted both the migration and proliferation of cultured glioma cells. Moreover, in vivo experimental data implied that overexpression of TSP2 in C6 cells promoted the malignant growth of gliomas, while knockout of TSP2 slowed glioma growth.

TSP2 promotes the migration and proliferation of glioma cells, which may provide new ideas for blocking glioma progression.

Awake craniotomy (AC) has become gold standard in surgical resection of gliomas located in eloquent areas. The conscious sedation techniques in AC include both monitored anesthesia care (MAC) and asleep-awake-asleep (AAA). The choice of optimal anesthetic method depends on the preferences of the surgical team (mainly anesthesiologist and neurosurgeon). The aim of this study was to compare the difference in physiological and blood gas data, dosage of different drugs, the probability of switching to endotracheal intubation, and extent of tumor resection and dysfunction after operation between AAA and MAC anesthetic management for resection of gliomas in eloquent brain areas.

Two-hundred and twenty-five patients with super-tentorial tumor located in eloquent areas underwent AC from 2009 to 2021 in Xijing Hospital. Forty-one patients underwent AAA technique, and the rest one-hundred eighty-four patients underwent MAC technique. Anesthetic management, dosage of different drugs, intraoperative complications, postoperative outcomes, adverse events, extent of resection and motor, and sensory and language dysfunction after operation were compared between MAC and AAA.

There was no significant difference in gender, KPS score, MMSE score, glioma grade, type, and growth site between the patients in the two groups, except the older age of patients in MAC group than that in AAA group. During the whole process of operation, there were greater pulse pressure difference (P=0.046), shorter operation time (P=0.039), less dosage of remifentanil (P=0.000), more dosage of dexmedetomidine (P=0.013), more use of antiemetics (81%, P=0.0067), lower use of vasoactive agent (45.1%, P=0.010), and lower probability of conversion to general anesthesia (GA, P=0.027) in MAC group than that in AAA group. Blood gas analysis showed that PetCO2 (P=0.000), Glu concentration (P=0.000), and PaCO2 (P=0.000) were higher, but SPO2 (P=0.002) and PaO2 (P=0.000) were lower in MAC group than that in AAA group. In the postoperative recovery stage, compared with that of AAA group, the probability of dysfunction in MAC group at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after operation was lower, which were 27.8% vs 53.6% (P=0.003), 31% vs 68.3% (P=0.000), 28.8% vs 63.4% (P=0.000), and 25.6% vs 58.5% (P=0.000), respectively.

Compared with AAA, it seems that MAC has more advantages in the management for resection of gliomas in eloquent brain areas, and MAC combined with multiple monitoring such as cerebral cortical mapping, neuronavigation, and ultrasonic detection is worthy of popularization for the resection of gliomas in eloquent brain areas.

The goal of this study is to show the feasibility and benefits of using the simultaneous biportal endoscopic procedure to treat pineal tumors in patients with obstructive hydrocephalus.

We retrospectively reviewed three patients with pineal tumors and acute obstructive hydrocephalus who were treated in one session with a frameless stereotactic guided simultaneous biportal endoscopic third ventriculostomy and endoscopic tumor biopsy performed through two separate ports using one rigid ventriculoscope.

In the three patients, ventriculostomy and endoscopic biopsies were conducted. There was no death or morbidity throughout the 45-min procedure. All of the patients’ histological findings were confirmed. Germinoma was diagnosed in two patients who recieved postoperative radiotherapy, and the third patient diagnosed with a pineocytoma. Magnetic resonance imaging with flow-sensitive sequences was used to confirm ventriculostomy patency in all patients 6 months after the surgery.

Biportal endoscopic approach enables better visual control of both procedures. Furthermore, it allows the surgeon to safely pass the ventriculoscope via the foramen of monro, even if it is narrow. Moreover, during endoscopic tumor biopsy and third ventriculostomy, the intracranial pressure can be smoothly managed using the outlet tubes accessible. This treatment may be an alternative to traditional uniportal endoscopic operations in certain patients.

进入二十一世纪，百年神经外科进入网络神经外科时代，随着脑研究的发展[1,2,3]、医学影像数字化、混合手术室的建立。

动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血相关脑积水（aSAH-H）是指动脉瘤破裂后脑脊液（CSF）过度分泌、阻塞性吸收或循环障碍伴蛛网膜下腔出血的临床综合征，导致颅内CSF过度积聚和脑室扩大损害神经功能。aSAH是脑积水的重要危险因素[1,2].根据流体力学，aSAH-H分为交通性和梗阻性脑积水；按发生时间分为急性（≤3天）和慢性脑积水（>3天）[3];根据病情进展分为进行性和停滞性脑积水；并根据颅内压分为高压和常压脑积水。动脉瘤蛛网膜下腔出血后急性脑积水的发生率约为15~87%，以梗阻性脑积水为主，少数患者陷入交通性脑积水；慢性脑积水的发生率约为8.9-48%，多为沟通性脑积水[4,5,6].

In the present letter we share the results of an analysis of more than 140,000 non traumatic arterial subarachnoid hemorrhages whereas the majority of them is expected to be after aneurysm rupture, in which we investigate a possible correlation of climatic changes and emotional bursts as correlating factors for such a rupture.

We obtained the daily number of SAH from 2006 to 2018 for males and females from the German National statistics agency. The ICD codes provided to us were I60.1-I60.7, which are SAHs originating from intracranial arteries and excluding traumatic SAH and other not specified SAH.

An increase of mean SAH per day could be seen in winter compared to summer and family events seemed to have a protective effect against aneurysmal SAH. Additionally 6.55 more women per day suffer an SAH compared to men.

There is a statistical significant higher risk of aneurysm ruptures in winter and in females, and a statistical lower number in Mother’s day.

Brain tumor surgery has been using operative microscope for years. Recently, thanks to developments in surgical technology with procedures performed on head-up displays, exoscopes have been introduced as an alternative to microscopic vision.

We present a case of a 46-year-old patient with a low-grade glioma recurrence of the right gyrus cinguli removed with a contralateral transfalcine approach using an exoscope (ORBEYE 4K-three-dimensional (3D) exoscope, Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc., Tokyo, Japan).

The operating room setup for this approach is illustrated.

During the procedure, the surgeon was seated with head and back in an upright position, while the camera was aligned with the surgical corridor.

The exoscope provided detailed, high-quality 4K-3D images of the anatomical structures and optimal depth perception, making surgery accurate and precise.

At the end of the resection, an intraoperative MRI scan showed complete removal of the lesion. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 4 with an excellent performance on neuropsychological examination.

In this clinical case the contralateral approach was favorable because the glioma was located close to the midline and because it offered a straight path to the tumor, minimizing retraction on the brain. The exoscope provided the surgeon with important advantages in terms of anatomical visualization and ergonomics during the entire procedure.