Common Neurosurgical Procedures

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Kevin Hines ◽  
Stavropoula Tjoumakaris ◽  
Pascal M. Jabbour ◽  
Robert H. Rosenwasser ◽  
M. Reid Gooch
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Lumbar Spine ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Medical Management ◽  
Neurosurgical Procedures ◽  
Ventriculoperitoneal Shunting ◽  
Neurosurgical Patient ◽  
Neurosurgical Patients

Medical management of the neurosurgical patient can be complicated. These patients may suffer from a difficult neurosurgical pathology while still living with challenging comorbidities. As a result, this population often requires cooperation between multiple teams including neurosurgeons, neurologists, neurointensivists, and hospitalists. In this chapter, the authors review common neurosurgical procedures that the neurohospitalist encounters, including ventriculoperitoneal shunting, craniotomy and craniectomy, cervical spine decompression with or without fusion, lumbar spine decompression and/or fusion, and cerebral angiograms. The authors aim to highlight the methodology, indications, and issues of perioperative medical management. Understanding these procedures is vital to minimizing adverse events and providing the best possible care for neurosurgical patients.

scholarly journals Intraoperative protective ventilation in patients undergoing major neurosurgical interventions: a randomized clinical trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Longhini ◽  
Laura Pasin ◽  
Claudia Montagnini ◽  
Petra Konrad ◽  
Andrea Bruni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Clinical Outcome ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Respiratory Rate ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trial ◽  
Protective Ventilation ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Neurosurgical Procedures ◽  
Neurosurgical Patients

Abstract Background Post-operative pulmonary complications (PPC) can develop in up to 13% of patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures and may adversely affect clinical outcome. The use of intraoperative lung protective ventilation (LPV) strategies, usually including the use of a low Vt, low PEEP and low plateau pressure, seem to reduce the risk of PPC and are strongly recommended in almost all surgical procedures. Nonetheless, feasibility of LPV strategies in neurosurgical patients are still debated because the use of low Vt during LPV might result in hypercapnia with detrimental effects on cerebrovascular physiology. Aim of our study was to determine whether LPV strategies would be feasible compared with a control group in adult patients undergoing cranial or spinal surgery. Methods This single-centre, pilot randomized clinical trial was conducted at the University Hospital “Maggiore della Carità” (Novara, Italy). Adult patients undergoing major cerebral or spinal neurosurgical interventions with risk index for pulmonary post-operative complications > 2 and not expected to need post-operative intensive care unit (ICU) admission were considered eligible. Patients were randomly assigned to either LPV (Vt = 6 ml/kg of ideal body weight (IBW), respiratory rate initially set at 16 breaths/min, PEEP at 5 cmH2O and application of a recruitment manoeuvre (RM) immediately after intubation and at every disconnection from the ventilator) or control treatment (Vt = 10 ml/kg of IBW, respiratory rate initially set at 6–8 breaths/min, no PEEP and no RM). Primary outcomes of the study were intraoperative adverse events, the level of cerebral tension at dura opening and the intraoperative control of PaCO2. Secondary outcomes were the rate of pulmonary and extrapulmonary complications, the number of unplanned ICU admissions, ICU and hospital lengths of stay and mortality. Results A total of 60 patients, 30 for each group, were randomized. During brain surgery, the number of episodes of intraoperative hypercapnia and grade of cerebral tension were similar between patients randomized to receive control or LPV strategies. No difference in the rate of intraoperative adverse events was found between groups. The rate of postoperative pulmonary and extrapulmonary complications and major clinical outcomes were similar between groups. Conclusions LPV strategies in patients undergoing major neurosurgical intervention are feasible. Larger clinical trials are needed to assess their role in postoperative clinical outcome improvements. Trial registration registered on the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (www.anzctr.org.au), registration number ACTRN12615000707561.

Medical Management of Neurosurgical Patients

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Nurse Practitioners ◽  
Medical Management ◽  
Physician Assistants ◽  
Medical Decision ◽  
Critical Areas ◽  
Neurosurgical Patient ◽  
Neurosurgical Patients ◽  
Close Cooperation ◽  
Practical Tool ◽  
Preoperative Risk Stratification

Modern management of neurosurgical patients requires close cooperation between neurosurgeons and other specialists. The latter include internists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. This textbook aims to provide for these professionals a guide to the challenges associated with the medical management of these patients. It gives an overview of neurosurgical operations and procedures, seizure management, and preoperative risk stratification. It further discusses the intricacies of the management of fever, infection, electrolytes, bleeding disorders, and endocrine problems in the context of central nervous system injury. A particular emphasis is placed on the management of pressure injuries, pain management, and physical and occupational therapy, which are critical areas in the care of the neurosurgical patient. Finally, it reviews the types of contributions that palliative care can make to the care of the neurosurgical patient. The book’s objective is to provide a practical tool, and, where appropriate, its chapters include algorithms and tables to increase the efficiency of medical decision-making when caring for these patients.

scholarly journals A Comparative Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Virtual Versus Direct Airway Assessment in the Preoperative Period in Patients Presenting for Neurosurgery: A Quest for Safer Preoperative Practice in Neuroanesthesia in the Backdrop of the COVID-19 Pandemic!

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajay Prasad Hrishi ◽  
Unnikrishnan Prathapadas ◽  
Ranganatha Praveen ◽  
Smita Vimala ◽  
Manikandan Sethuraman
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Mouth Opening ◽  
Preoperative Assessment ◽  
Craniovertebral Junction ◽  
Neurosurgical Procedures ◽  
Perfect Agreement ◽  
Lower Cranial Nerve ◽  
Airway Assessment ◽  
Kappa Test ◽  
Neurosurgical Patients

Abstract Objectives Neurosurgical patients with cervical spine pathologies, craniofacial and craniovertebral junction anomalies, recurrent cervical spine, and posterior fossa surgeries frequently present with an airway that is anticipated to be difficult. Although the routine physical evaluation is nonaerosol-generating, Mallampati scoring, mouth opening, and assessment of lower cranial nerve function could potentially generate aerosols, imposing a greater risk of acquiring severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Moreover, airway evaluation requires the patient to remove the mask, thereby posing a greater risk to the assessing anesthesiologist. Thus, we designed this study to evaluate the efficacy of virtual airway assessment (VAA) done via telemedicine in comparison to direct airway assessment (DAA), and assess the feasibility of VAA as a part of the preanesthetic evaluation (PAE) of patients presenting for neurosurgery in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods A total of 55 patients presenting for elective neurosurgical procedures were recruited in this prospective, observational study. The preoperative assessment of the airway was first done by a remote anesthetist via an encrypted video call, using a smartphone which served the purpose of telemedicine equipment, followed by a direct assessment by the attending anesthetist. The following parameters were assessed: mouth opening (MO), presence of any anomalies of tongue and palate, Mallampati classification (MPC) grading, thyromental distance (TMD), upper lip bite test (ULBT), neck movements, and Look-Evaluate-Mallampati-Obstruction-Neck mobility (LEMON) scoring system. Statistical Analysis Demographic parameters were expressed as mean ± SD. Agreement between the values obtained by VAA and DAA parameters were analyzed with the Kappa test. Results We observed a “perfect agreement” between the DAA and VAA with regard to MO. Assessment of ULBT, neck movements, and the LEMON score had an overall “almost perfect agreement” between the DAA and VAA. We also observed a “substantial agreement” between VAA and DAA during the assessment of MPC grading and TMD. Conclusion Our study shows that PAE and VAA via telemedicine can reliably be used as an alternative to direct physical preanesthetic consultation in the COVID-19 scenario. This could reduce unnecessary exposure of anesthesiologists to potential asymptomatic COVID-positive patients, thereby protecting the available skilled workforce, without any significant compromise to patient care.

scholarly journals Single-arm, open-label, multicentre first in human study to evaluate the safety and performance of dural sealant patch in reducing CSF leakage following elective cranial surgery: the ENCASE trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e049098
Author(s):  
Tristan Van Doormaal ◽  
Menno R Germans ◽  
Mariska Sie ◽  
Bart Brouwers ◽  
Andrew Carlson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Primary Endpoint ◽  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Neurosurgical Procedures ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Cranial Surgery ◽  
Dural Closure ◽  
Handling Characteristics ◽  
Csf Leakage ◽  
And Performance

ObjectiveThe dural sealant patch (DSP) is designed for watertight dural closure after cranial surgery. The goal of this study is to assess, for the first time, safety and performance of the DSP as a means of reducing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage in patients undergoing elective cranial intradural surgery with a dural closure procedure.DesignFirst in human, open-label, single-arm, multicentre study with 360-day (12 months) follow-up.SettingThree large tertiary reference neurosurgical centres, two in the Netherlands and one in Switzerland.ParticipantsForty patients undergoing elective cranial neurosurgical procedures, stratified into 34 supratentorial and six infratentorial trepanations.InterventionEach patient received one DSP after cranial surgery and closure of the dura mater with sutures.Outcome measuresPrimary composite endpoint was occurrence of one of the following events: postoperative percutaneous CSF leakage, intraoperative leakage at 20 cm H2O positive end-expiratory pressure or postoperative wound infection. Overall success was defined as achieving the primary endpoint in no more than two patients. Secondary endpoints were device-related serious adverse events or adverse events (AEs), pseudomeningocele and thickness of dura+DSP. Additional endpoints were reoperation in 30 days and user satisfaction.ResultsNo patients met the primary endpoint. No device-related (serious) AEs were observed. There were two incidences of self-limiting pseudomeningocele as confirmed on MRI. Thickness of dura and DSP were (mean±SD) 3.5 mm±2.0 at day 7 and 2.1 mm±1.2 at day 90. No patients were reoperated within 30 days. Users reported a satisfactory design and intuitive application.ConclusionsDSP, later officially named Liqoseal, is a safe and potentially efficacious device for reducing CSF leakage after intracranial surgery, with favourable clinical handling characteristics. A randomised controlled trial is needed to assess Liqoseal efficacy against the best current practice for reducing postoperative CSF leakage.Trial registration numberNCT03566602.

The Cervical Spine Demonstrates less Postoperative Bone Loss than the Lumbar Spine

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan N. Salzmann ◽  
Ichiro Okano ◽  
Courtney Ortiz Miller ◽  
Erika Chiapparelli ◽  
Marie‐Jacqueline Reisener ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Lumbar Spine ◽  
Bone Loss

Prospective review of a single center's general pediatric neurosurgical intraoperative and postoperative complication rates

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik J. van Lindert ◽  
Hans Delye ◽  
Jody Leonardo
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Postoperative Complication ◽  
Complication Rate ◽  
Surgical Procedure ◽  
Neurosurgical Procedures ◽  
Complication Rates ◽  
Tumor Surgery ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Targeted Interventions

Object The authors conducted a study to compare the complication rate (CR) of pediatric neurosurgical procedures in a general neurosurgery department to the CRs that are reported in the literature and to establish a baseline of CR for further targeted improvement of quality neurosurgical care. Methods The authors analyzed the prospectively collected data from a complication registration of 1000 consecutive pediatric neurosurgical procedures in 581 patients from the beginning of the registration in January 2004 through August 2008. A pediatric neurosurgeon was involved in 50.5% of the procedures. All adverse events (AEs) from induction of anesthesia until 30 days postoperatively were recorded. Results Overall, 229 complications were counted in 202 procedures. The overall CR was 20.2%, with a 2.7% intraoperative CR and a 17.5% postoperative CR. Tumor surgery was associated with the highest CR (32.7%), followed by CSF disorders (21.8%). The mortality rate was 0.3%. An unplanned return to the operating room in relation to an AE happened in 10.5% of all procedures and in 52% of procedures associated with AEs, the majority of which were related to CSF disorders. Conclusions The CR in pediatric neurosurgical procedures was significant, and more than half of the patients with an AE required a repeat surgical procedure. Analysis of CRs should be a prerequisite for the prevention of complications and for the development of targeted interventions to reduce the CR (for example, infection rates).

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