Endoscopic-Assisted Microvascular Decompression of the Cranial Nerves: Operative Technique

2005 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 186-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Nakaji ◽  
Charles Teo
Keyword(s):  
Microvascular Decompression ◽  
Operative Technique ◽  
Cranial Nerves

scholarly journals Concurrent Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia and Hemi-Laryngopharyngeal Spasm (HeLPS): A Case Report and a Review of the Literature

Neurosurgery ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 87 (5) ◽  
pp. E573-E577
Author(s):  
C Michael Honey ◽  
Marie T Krüger ◽  
Alan R Rheaume ◽  
Josue M Avecillas-Chasin ◽  
Murray D Morrison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Microvascular Decompression ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Cranial Nerves ◽  
Conversion Disorder ◽  
Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia ◽  
Neurovascular Compression ◽  
Patient Reported

Abstract BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE Hemi-laryngopharyngeal spasm (HeLPS) has been recently described but is not yet widely recognized. Patients describe intermittent coughing and choking and can be cured following microvascular decompression of their Xth cranial nerve. This case report and literature review highlight that HeLPS can co-occur with glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GN) and has been previously described (but not recognized) in the neurosurgical literature. CLINICAL PRESENTATION A patient with GN and additional symptoms compatible with HeLPS is presented. The patient reported left-sided, intermittent, swallow-induced, severe electrical pain radiating from her ear to her throat (GN). She also reported intermittent severe coughing, throat contractions causing a sense of suffocation, and dysphonia (HeLPS). All her symptoms resolved following a left microvascular decompression of a loop of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery that was pulsating against both the IXth and Xth cranial nerves. A review of the senior author's database revealed another patient with this combination of symptoms. An international literature review found 27 patients have been previously described with symptoms of GN and the additional (but not recognized at the time) symptoms of HeLPS. CONCLUSION This review highlights that patients with symptoms compatible with HeLPS have been reported since 1926 in at least 4 languages. This additional evidence supports the growing recognition that HeLPS is another neurovascular compression syndrome. Patients with HeLPS continue to be misdiagnosed as conversion disorder. The increased recognition of this new medical condition will require neurosurgical treatment and should alleviate the suffering of these patients.

A Case Report of Pediatric Geniculate Neuralgia Treated with Sectioning of the Nervus Intermedius and Microvascular Decompression of Cranial Nerves IX and X

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 439-443
Author(s):  
Georgios Zenonos ◽  
Michael M. McDowell ◽  
Hussam Abou-Al-Shaar ◽  
Kenan Alkhalili ◽  
Paul A. Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Microvascular Decompression ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
English Literature ◽  
Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Cranial Nerves ◽  
Rare Condition ◽  
Extensive Evaluation ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Nervus Intermedius

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Classic geniculate neuralgia (GN) is a rare condition characterized by lancinating pain centered in the ear and not involving the throat. To the best of our knowledge, no case of pediatric GN has been reported in the English literature. <b><i>Case Presentation:</i></b> We present the first reported case of successfully treated GN in a child via an endoscopic approach. The patient was a 9-year-old boy who presented with a 1-year history of lancinating right ear pain. Neuroleptics resulted in a short-lived improvement in symptoms, but with significant side effects. Extensive evaluation by multiple specialties did not reveal a cause for his pain. Imaging disclosed a tortuous loop of the right posterior inferior cerebellar artery abutting cranial nerves IX and X but no other abnormalities. The patient underwent an endoscopic microvascular decompression of cranial nerves IX and X, and sectioning of the nervus intermedius through a right retromastoid craniotomy. Postoperatively, the patient reported complete resolution of his symptoms that persisted at 3 months of follow-up. At the 5-year follow-up, the patient maintained pain relief and was developing normally. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> GN can affect the pediatric population. In carefully selected patients with consistent clinical and radiographic presentation, sectioning of the nervus intermedius and microvascular decompression of the lower cranial nerves can be an effective treatment.

scholarly journals Pre-operative image-based segmentation of the cranial nerves and blood vessels in microvascular decompression: Can we prevent unnecessary explorations?

2015 ◽  
Vol 139 ◽  
pp. 159-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parviz Dolati ◽  
Alexandra Golby ◽  
Daniel Eichberg ◽  
Mohamad Abolfotoh ◽  
Ian F. Dunn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Vessels ◽  
Microvascular Decompression ◽  
Cranial Nerves

Endoscopic-Assisted Microvascular Decompression

2018 ◽  
pp. 139-154
Author(s):  
M. Yashar S. Kalani ◽  
Michael R. Levitt ◽  
Celene B. Mulholland ◽  
Charles Teo ◽  
Peter Nakaji
Keyword(s):  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Minimally Invasive ◽  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Hemifacial Spasm ◽  
Microvascular Decompression ◽  
Patient Population ◽  
Surgical Intervention ◽  
Cranial Nerves ◽  
Vascular Compression ◽  
Ephaptic Transmission

Diseases of ephaptic transmission are commonly caused by vascular compression of cranial nerves. The advent of microvascular decompression has allowed for surgical intervention for this patient population. This chapter highlights the technique of endoscopic-assisted microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm. Endoscopy and keyhole techniques have resulted in a minimally invasive and effective treatment of symptoms for patients with neuralgia.

scholarly journals Microvascular Decompression for Geniculate Neuralgia through a Retrosigmoid Approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 80 (S 03) ◽  
pp. S322-S322
Author(s):  
Vincent N. Nguyen ◽  
Jaafar Basma ◽  
Jeffrey Sorenson ◽  
L. Madison Michael
Keyword(s):  
Microvascular Decompression ◽  
Cerebellopontine Angle ◽  
Cranial Nerves ◽  
Senior Author ◽  
Retrosigmoid Approach ◽  
Microsurgical Anatomy ◽  
Pain Syndromes ◽  
Large Vein ◽  
Microsurgical Techniques ◽  
Nervus Intermedius

Objectives To describe a retrosigmoid approach for the microvascular sectioning of the nervus intermedius and decompression of the 5th and 9th cranial nerves, with emphasis on microsurgical anatomy and technique. Design A retrosigmoid craniectomy is performed in the lateral decubitus position. The dura is opened and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is released from the cisterna magna and cerebellopontine cistern. Dynamic retraction without rigid retractors is performed. Subarachnoid dissection of the cerebellopontine angle exposes the 7th to 8th nerve complex. A neuromonitoring probe is used with careful inspection of the microsurgical anatomy to identify the facial nerve and the nervus intermedius as they enter the internal auditory meatus. The nervus intermedius is severed. A large vein coursing superiorly across cranial 9th nerve was coagulated and cut. A Teflon pledget is inserted between a small vessel and the 5th nerve. Photographs of the region are borrowed from Dr. Rhoton's laboratory to illustrate the microsurgical anatomy. Participants The senior author performed the surgery. The video was edited by Drs. V.N. and J.B. Outcome Measures Outcome was assessed by postoperative neurological function. Results The nervus intermedius was successfully cut and the 5th and 9th nerves were decompressed. The patient's pain resolved after surgery and at later follow-up. Conclusions Understanding the microsurgical anatomy of the cerebellopontine angle is necessary to identify the cranial nerves involved in facial pain syndromes. Subarachnoid dissection and meticulous microsurgical techniques are key elements for a successful microvascular decompression.The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/pV5Wip7WusE.

Microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm

1991 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 388-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinji Nagahiro ◽  
Akira Takada ◽  
Yasuhiko Matsukado ◽  
Yukitaka Ushio
Keyword(s):  
Hemifacial Spasm ◽  
Microvascular Decompression ◽  
Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Cranial Nerves ◽  
Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Vascular Compression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Seventh Cranial Nerve ◽  
Cerebellar Artery

✓ To determine the causative factors of unsuccessful microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm, the follow-up results in 53 patients were assessed retrospectively. The mean follow-up period was 36 months. There were 32 patients who had compression of the seventh cranial nerve ventrocaudally by an anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) or a posterior inferior cerebellar artery. Of these 32 patients, 30 (94%) had excellent postoperative results. Of 14 patients with more severe compression by the vertebral artery, nine (64%) had excellent results, three (21%) had good results, and two (14%) had poor results; in this group, three patients with excellent results experienced transient spasm recurrence. There were seven patients in whom the meatal branch of the AICA coursed between the seventh and eighth cranial nerves and compressed the dorsal aspect of the seventh nerve; this was usually associated with another artery compressing the ventral aspect of the nerve (“sandwich-type” compression). Of these seven patients, five (71%) had poor results including operative failure in one and recurrence of spasm in four. The authors conclude that the clinical outcome was closely related to the patterns of vascular compression.

Use of Perioperative Steroids with Microvascular Decompression Operations

Neurosurgery ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald W. Marion ◽  
Peter J. Jannetta
Keyword(s):  
Postoperative Complications ◽  
Microvascular Decompression ◽  
Cranial Nerves ◽  
Wound Infections ◽  
Related Complication ◽  
Deep Wound ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B ◽  
Single Blind

Abstract Complications associated with the use of perioperative steroids in elective craniotomies were evaluated in a single-blind prospective study of 222 consecutive microvascular decompression operations. Patients were randomized into one of three groups: Group A received steroids preoperatively and for 4 days postoperatively, Group B received steroids preand postoperatively for 1 day, and Group C received no steroids. There were 17 complications in Group A; 12 of these were wound-related. There were significantly fewer complications in Groups B and C (P &lt; 0.01). Group B had 3 complications, Group C had 4, and there was only 1 wound-related complication in Group C. There were no deaths, deep wound infections, or life-threatening complications. Severe postoperative headaches, a symptom that steroids were intended to minimize, occurred in 38% of patients in Group A, 42% of patients in Group B, and 25% of patients in Group C. The use of perioperative steroids did not reduce the length of postoperative hospitalization. Duration of the operation had no significant effect on the incidence of postoperative complications or the length of postoperative hospitalization. We conclude that there is no indication for the routine perioperative use of steroids with microvascular decompression operations of the posterior fossa cranial nerves and that such use leads to a higher incidence of postoperative complications. (Neurosurgery 22:353-357, 1988)

Microvascular Decompression in Patient With Atypical Features of Hemifacial Spasm Secondary to Compression by a Tortuous Vertebrobasilar System

Neurosurgery ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. E1212-E1212 ◽  
Author(s):  
David H. Perlmutter ◽  
Anthony L. Petraglia ◽  
Richard Barbano ◽  
Jason M. Schwalb
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Botulinum Toxin ◽  
Hemifacial Spasm ◽  
Microvascular Decompression ◽  
Cranial Nerves ◽  
Vascular Compression ◽  
Vertebrobasilar System ◽  
The Face ◽  
Grade 3 ◽  
The Right

Abstract OBJECTIVE We report a case of hemifacial spasm in a patient who had associated hearing loss, numbness throughout the face, tinnitus, and vertigo, all of which occurred when turning his head to the left. To our knowledge, these symptoms have not occurred in this pattern and with a single trigger. CLINICAL PRESENTATION A 45-year-old man presented with a 3-year history of right-sided hemifacial spasm initially treated with botulinum toxin. One month before presentation, he had an episode of acute hearing loss in the right ear when turning his head to the left, followed by multiple episodes of transient hearing loss in his right ear, numbness in his right face in all distributions of the trigeminal nerve, tinnitus, and vertigo. He was found to have decreased sensation in nerves V1 to V3 and House-Brackmann grade 3/6 weakness in his right face, despite not having botulinum toxin injections in more than a year. Magnetic resonance imaging/angiography showed an ectatic vertebrobasilar system causing compression of the fifth, seventh, and eighth cranial nerves. INTERVENTION The patient underwent a retromastoid craniotomy and microvascular decompression. Postoperatively, he had complete resolution of his symptoms except for his facial weakness. The benefit has been long-lasting. CONCLUSION Multiple, simultaneous cranial neuropathies from vascular compression are rare, but this case is an example of safe and effective treatment with microvascular decompression with durable results.

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