scholarly journals Prenatal surgery for myelomeningocele and the need for cerebrospinal fluid shunt placement

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 613-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noel Tulipan ◽  
John C. Wellons ◽  
Elizabeth A. Thom ◽  
Nalin Gupta ◽  
Leslie N. Sutton ◽  
...  

OBJECT The Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS) was a multicenter randomized trial comparing the safety and efficacy of prenatal and postnatal closure of myelomeningocele. The trial was stopped early because of the demonstrated efficacy of prenatal surgery, and outcomes on 158 of 183 pregnancies were reported. Here, the authors update the 1-year outcomes for the complete trial, analyze the primary and related outcomes, and evaluate whether specific prerandomization risk factors are associated with prenatal surgery benefit. METHODS The primary outcome was a composite of fetal loss or any of the following: infant death, CSF shunt placement, or meeting the prespecified criteria for shunt placement. Primary outcome, actual shunt placement, and shunt revision rates for prenatal versus postnatal repair were compared. The shunt criteria were reassessed to determine which were most concordant with practice, and a new composite outcome was created from the primary outcome by replacing the original criteria for CSF shunt placement with the revised criteria. The authors used logistic regression to estimate whether there were interactions between the type of surgery and known prenatal risk factors (lesion level, gestational age, degree of hindbrain herniation, and ventricle size) for shunt placement, and to determine which factors were associated with shunting among those infants who underwent prenatal surgery. RESULTS Ninety-one women were randomized to prenatal surgery and 92 to postnatal repair. The primary outcome occurred in 73% of infants in the prenatal surgery group and in 98% in the postnatal group (p < 0.0001). Actual rates of shunt placement were only 44% and 84% in the 2 groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). The authors revised the most commonly met criterion to require overt clinical signs of increased intracranial pressure, defined as split sutures, bulging fontanelle, or sunsetting eyes, in addition to increasing head circumference or hydrocephalus. Using these modified criteria, only 3 patients in each group met criteria but did not receive a shunt. For the revised composite outcome, there was a difference between the prenatal and postnatal surgery groups: 49.5% versus 87.0% (p < 0.0001). There was also a significant reduction in the number of children who had a shunt placed and then required a revision by 1 year of age in the prenatal group (15.4% vs 40.2%, relative risk 0.38 [95% CI 0.22–0.66]). In the prenatal surgery group, 20% of those with ventricle size < 10 mm at initial screening, 45.2% with ventricle size of 10 up to 15 mm, and 79.0% with ventricle size ≥ 15 mm received a shunt, whereas in the postnatal group, 79.4%, 86.0%, and 87.5%, respectively, received a shunt (p = 0.02). Lesion level and degree of hindbrain herniation appeared to have no effect on the eventual need for shunting (p = 0.19 and p = 0.13, respectively). Similar results were obtained for the revised outcome. CONCLUSIONS Larger ventricles at initial screening are associated with an increased need for shunting among those undergoing fetal surgery for myelomeningocele. During prenatal counseling, care should be exercised in recommending prenatal surgery when the ventricles are 15 mm or larger because prenatal surgery does not appear to improve outcome in this group. The revised criteria may be useful as guidelines for treating hydrocephalus in this group.

Neurosurgery ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 985-995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Marie Korinek ◽  
Laurence Fulla-Oller ◽  
Anne-Laure Boch ◽  
Jean-Louis Golmard ◽  
Bassem Hadiji ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt procedures have dramatically reduced the morbidity and mortality rates associated with hydrocephalus. However, despite improvements in materials, devices, and surgical techniques, shunt failure and complications remain common and may require multiple surgical procedures. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate CSF shunt complication incidence and factors that may be associated with increased shunt dysfunction and infection rates in adults. METHODS: From January 1999 to December 2006, we conducted a prospective surveillance program for all neurosurgical procedures including reoperations and infections. Patients undergoing CSF shunt placement were retrospectively identified among patients labeled in the database as having a shunt as a primary or secondary intervention. Revisions of shunts implanted in another hospital or before the study period were excluded, as well as lumbo- or cyst-peritoneal shunts. Shunt complications were classified as mechanical dysfunction or infection. Follow-up was at least 2 years. Potential risk factors were evaluated using log-rank tests and stepwise Cox regression models. RESULTS: During the 8-year surveillance period, a total of 14 275 patients underwent neurosurgical procedures, including 839 who underwent shunt placement. One hundred nineteen patients were excluded, leaving 720 study patients. Mechanical dysfunction occurred in 124 patients (17.2%) and shunt infection in 44 patients (6.1%). These 168 patients required 375 reoperations. Risk factors for mechanical dysfunction were atrial shunt, greater number of previous external ventriculostomies, and male sex; risk factors for shunt infection were previous CSF leak, previous revisions for dysfunction, surgical incision after 10 am, and longer operating time. CONCLUSION: Shunt surgery still carries a high morbidity rate, with a mean of 2.2 reoperations per patient in 23.3% of patients. Our risk-factor data suggest methods for decreasing shunt-related morbidity, including peritoneal routing whenever possible and special attention to preventing CSF leaks after craniotomy or external ventriculostomy.


2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 382-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay Riva-Cambrin ◽  
John R. W. Kestle ◽  
Richard Holubkov ◽  
Jerry Butler ◽  
Abhaya V. Kulkarni ◽  
...  

OBJECT The rate of CSF shunt failure remains unacceptably high. The Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (HCRN) conducted a comprehensive prospective observational study of hydrocephalus management, the aim of which was to isolate specific risk factors for shunt failure. METHODS The study followed all first-time shunt insertions in children younger than 19 years at 6 HCRN centers. The HCRN Investigator Committee selected, a priori, 21 variables to be examined, including clinical, radiographic, and shunt design variables. Shunt failure was defined as shunt revision, subsequent endoscopic third ventriculostomy, or shunt infection. Important a priori–defined risk factors as well as those significant in univariate analyses were then tested for independence using multivariate Cox proportional hazard modeling. RESULTS A total of 1036 children underwent initial CSF shunt placement between April 2008 and December 2011. Of these, 344 patients experienced shunt failure, including 265 malfunctions and 79 infections. The mean and median length of follow-up for the entire cohort was 400 days and 264 days, respectively. The Cox model found that age younger than 6 months at first shunt placement (HR 1.6 [95% CI 1.1–2.1]), a cardiac comorbidity (HR 1.4 [95% CI 1.0–2.1]), and endoscopic placement (HR 1.9 [95% CI 1.2–2.9]) were independently associated with reduced shunt survival. The following had no independent associations with shunt survival: etiology, payer, center, valve design, valve programmability, the use of ultrasound or stereotactic guidance, and surgeon experience and volume. CONCLUSIONS This is the largest prospective study reported on children with CSF shunts for hydrocephalus. It confirms that a young age and the use of the endoscope are risk factors for first shunt failure and that valve type has no impact. A new risk factor—an existing cardiac comorbidity—was also associated with shunt failure.


Open Heart ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e001648
Author(s):  
Senthil Selvaraj ◽  
Muhammad Shoaib Khan ◽  
Mahesh K Vidula ◽  
Philip C Wiener ◽  
Alejandro E de Feria ◽  
...  

ObjectiveVisually estimated coronary artery calcium (VECAC) from chest CT or attenuation correction (AC)/CT obtained during positron emission tomography (PET)–myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is feasible. Our aim was to determine the prognostic value of VECAC beyond conventional risk factors and PET imaging parameters, including coronary flow reserve (CFR).MethodsWe analysed 608 patients without known coronary artery disease who underwent PET–MPI between 2012 and 2016 and had AC/CT and/or chest CT images. We used Cox regression to estimate the association of VECAC categories (≤10, 11–400, >400 Agatston units (AU)) with the primary outcome of all-cause death, acute coronary syndrome or stroke (mean follow-up 4.3±1.8 years). C-statistics assessed the relationship between PET parameters and VECAC with the primary outcome.ResultsMean age was 58±11 years, 65% were women and 67% were black. VECAC ≤10, 11–400 and >400 AU was observed in 68%, 12% and 20% of subjects, respectively. Compared with VECAC ≤10, VECAC categories 11–400 (HR 2.25, 95% CI 1.24 to 4.08) and >400 AU (HR 3.05, 95% CI 1.87 to 4.98) were associated with the primary outcome after adjusting for traditional risk factors, MPI findings and CFR. Adding VECAC to a model that included PET–MPI, CFR and clinical risk factors improved the prognostic value for the primary outcomes (c-statistic 0.71 to 0.75 with VECAC, p=0.01).ConclusionsVECAC is a potent predictor of events beyond traditional risk factors and PET imaging markers, including CFR. These data further support the importance for routine VECAC implementation.


2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashish Suri ◽  
Rohit Kumar Goel ◽  
Faiz Uddin Ahmad ◽  
Ananth Kesav Vellimana ◽  
Bhawani Shankar Sharma ◽  
...  

Object Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common parasitic infestation of the central nervous system worldwide. In patients presenting with acute hydrocephalus due to intraventricular NCC, surgery is the only option. Still, there is no consensus regarding the optimal surgical strategy, although neuroendoscopic excision is a promising method. However, the literature regarding the use of this modality in fourth ventricular NCC is scarce. The authors describe a series of patients with fourth ventricular NCC treated endoscopically. Methods The clinical records of 13 patients with fourth ventricular NCC who had presented with hydrocephalus were retrospectively analyzed. A fourth ventricular cyst was completely excised in all patients by using a transventricular, transaqueductal “scope-in-scope” endoscopic technique. Twelve endoscopic third ventriculostomies and 1 septostomy had been performed. Results Shunt placement was avoided in all patients. There were minimal peri- and postoperative complications. The mean duration of follow-up was 22.3 months (range 3–41 months). All patients had an improved clinical outcome. Follow-up neuroimaging revealed no residual lesion and a decreased ventricle size in all patients. Conclusions The present series of patients with fourth ventricular NCC is the largest in the existing English-language medical literature. Endoscopic fourth ventricular cysticercal cyst excision along with internal cerebrospinal fluid diversion via endoscopic third ventriculostomy is an effective alternative to open microneurosurgical procedures and avoids shunt placement and its related complications.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 3381
Author(s):  
Sang Heon Suh ◽  
Tae Ryom Oh ◽  
Hong Sang Choi ◽  
Chang Seong Kim ◽  
Eun Hui Bae ◽  
...  

To investigate the association of body weight variability (BWV) with adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in patient with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD), a total of 1867 participants with pre-dialysis CKD from Korean Cohort Study for Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD) were analyzed. BWV was defined as the average absolute difference between successive values. The primary outcome was a composite of non-fatal CV events and all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes were fatal and non-fatal CV events and all-cause mortality. High BWV was associated with increased risk of the composite outcome (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.745, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.065 to 2.847) as well as fatal and non-fatal CV events (adjusted HR 1.845, 95% CI 1.136 to 2.996) and all-cause mortality (adjusted HR 1.861, 95% CI 1.101 to 3.145). High BWV was associated with increased risk of fatal and non-fatal CV events, even in subjects without significant body weight gain or loss during follow-up periods (adjusted HR 2.755, 95% CI 1.114 to 6.813). In conclusion, high BWV is associated with adverse CV outcomes in patients with pre-dialysis CKD.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 435-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac Josh Abecassis ◽  
Rajeev D Sen ◽  
Jason Barber ◽  
Rakshith Shetty ◽  
Cory M Kelly ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms is associated with higher rates of recurrence and retreatment, though contemporary rates and risk factors for basilar tip aneurysms (BTAs) are less well-described. OBJECTIVE To characterize progression, retreatement, and retreated progression of BTAs treated with microsurgical or endovascular interventions. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed records for 141 consecutive BTA patients. We included 158 anterior communicating artery (ACoA) and 118 middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms as controls. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to calculate rates of progression (recurrence of previously obliterated aneurysms and progression of known residual aneurysm dome or neck), retreatment, and retreated progression. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to characterize 24-mo event rates for primary outcome prediction. RESULTS Of 141 BTA patients, 62.4% were ruptured and 37.6% were unruptured. Average radiographical follow-up was 33 mo. Among ruptured aneurysms treated with clipping, there were 2 rehemorrhages due to recurrence (6.1%), and none in any other cohorts. Overall rates of progression (28.9%), retreatment (28.9%), and retreated progression (24.7%) were not significantly different between surgical and endovascular subgroups, though ruptured aneurysms had higher event rates. Multivariate modeling confirmed rupture status (P = .003, hazard ratio = 0.14) and aneurysm dome width (P = .005, hazard ratio = 1.23) as independent predictors of progression requiring retreatment. In a separate multivariate analysis with ACoA and MCA aneurysms, basilar tip location was an independent predictor of progression, retreatment, and retreated progression. CONCLUSION BTAs have higher rates of progression and retreated progression than other aneurysm locations, independent of treatment modality. Rupture status and dome width are risk factors for progression requiring retreatment.


2021 ◽  
pp. 875512252110543
Author(s):  
Karen M. Krueger ◽  
Lisa LaCloche ◽  
Amy Buros Stein ◽  
Ryan Kates ◽  
Milena Murray ◽  
...  

Background: Many studies have described an association between intravenous vancomycin and nephrotoxicity; however, the majority have evaluated incidence and risk factors among hospitalized patients. Outpatient administration of intravenous antibiotics is a growing practice and presents its own set of unique challenges. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity in the outpatient setting. Methods: A case-control study of patients who received intravenous vancomycin through an Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) program was conducted. Patients were identified who developed an acute kidney injury (AKI) during treatment. The primary outcome was the incidence of AKI during treatment. Results: A total of 37 out of 130 patients (28.5%) met the criteria for AKI. AKI was more likely to occur in patients with a longer duration of therapy, higher maximum trough concentration, co-administration of a fluoroquinolone or metronidazole, and those who received another potentially nephrotoxic medication. Co-administration of a fluoroquinolone (OR = 5.96, P = 0.009, [CI: 1.59, 24.38]), any nephrotoxic medication (OR = 11.17, P < 0.001, [CI 3.14, 51.23]), and a higher maximum vancomycin trough (OR = 1.29, P < 0.001, [CI 1.17, 1.44]) were all indicative of a higher odds of an AKI. Conclusion: In this cohort, vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity was common during outpatient intravenous antibiotic therapy. Co-administration of a fluoroquinolone, any nephrotoxic medication, and a higher maximum vancomycin trough were associated with AKI development. Further study is needed to determine how this impacts long-term clinical outcomes and what measures can be taken to reduce nephrotoxicity risk.


2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 322-330
Author(s):  
Jenna L. Snoga ◽  
Kathleen A. Lusk ◽  
Russell T. Attridge ◽  
Rebecca L. Attridge

Background: Data regarding safety of nonselective β-blockers (NSBBs) in patients with end-stage cirrhosis are conflicting, making it difficult for practitioners to justify if benefits outweigh the risks. Objective: Evaluate the effect of NSBB use on mortality in patients with end-stage cirrhosis. Methods: We performed a dual-center retrospective study of patients who received octreotide for a variceal bleed. Patients were stratified into 2 groups based on whether or not a NSBB was prescribed at hospital discharge. The primary outcome was 24-month mortality. Multivariable logistic regression, with 24-month mortality as the dependent variable, was performed to identify independent risk factors for the primary outcome. Results: 255 patients met inclusion criteria; 24-month mortality was 32.8%. The NSBB and no-NSBB groups had similar mortality rates at 24 months (32.0% vs 38.5%, P = 0.51). Mortality at 3 months (11.6% vs 23.3%, P = 0.08) and 12 months (22.2% vs 30.0%, P = 0.36) were similar, and there were no differences in rate of variceal bleeding (22.7% vs 13.3%, P = 0.34) or cirrhosis-related cause of death (20.4% vs 23.3%, P = 0.81). In the multivariable model, age, model for end-stage liver disease with sodium and hepatocellular carcinoma were independent risk factors for 24-month mortality. NSBB therapy had no effect on 24-month mortality (adjusted odds ratio = 1.05; 95% CI = 0.32 to 3.40). Conclusion and Relevance: In patients with end-stage cirrhosis, use of NSBBs did not affect 24-month mortality. More research is needed to determine when, and if, NSBBs should be discontinued in end-stage cirrhosis.


2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 176-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nitin Purandare ◽  
Clive Ballard ◽  
Alistair Burns

Epidemiological evidence has identified key strategies that may be used in the prevention of both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. These strategies may be loosely divided into three areas: treatment of vascular risk factors, neuroprotection and increasing neuronal reserves. Evidence from randomised controlled trials already exists for treatment of hypertension but results for statins have been disappointing. Most of the intervention trials currently in progress focus on one or two risk factors and include cognition or dementia only as a secondary outcome. The potential of intervention strategies awaits confirmation by randomised controlled trials that target multiple risk factors in at-risk people with mild cognitive impairment, with incident dementia as the primary outcome.


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 431-441
Author(s):  
Precil Diego Miranda de Menezes Neves ◽  
Rafaela Bezerra Brito Pinheiro ◽  
Cristiane Bitencourt Dias ◽  
Luis Yu ◽  
Leonardo de Abreu Testagrossa ◽  
...  

Background and Aim: Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerulopathy. The Oxford classification was recently updated to include crescents as markers of poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of cellular crescents on the prognosis of patients with IgAN in Brazil. Methods: This was a single-centre retrospective analysis of medical records and renal biopsies in patients with IgAN. The renal biopsy findings were classified according to the revised Oxford classification: mesangial hypercellularity, endocapillary hypercellularity (E), segmental glomerulosclerosis (S), tubular atrophy or interstitial fibrosis (T), and crescent formation (C). We evaluated a composite outcome (progression to end-stage renal disease or creatinine doubling). We performed analyses between the patients with crescents in the renal biopsy specimen (C1/C2 group) and those without such crescents (C0 group). Results: We evaluated 111 patients, of whom 72 (65.0%) were women, 80 (72.0%) self-identified as White, 73 (65.6%) were hypertensive, and 95 (85.6%) had haematuria. The distribution of patients according to cellular crescentic lesions was: C0, 80 (72%); C1, 27 (24.4%); C2, 4 (3.6%). The composite outcome was observed in 33 (29.72%) of the 111 patients. In comparison with the C0 group, the C1/C2 group had higher proportions of patients with hypertension (p = 0.04), haematuria (p = 0.03), worse serum creatinine (p = 0.0007), and worse estimated glomerular filtration rate (p = 0.0007). The C1/C2 group also had higher proportions of patients in whom the biopsy specimen was classified as E1 (p = 0.009), S1 (p = 0.001), or T1/T2 (p = 0.03), In addition, the mean follow-up period was shorter in the C1/C2 group (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, the composite outcome was observed in a greater proportion of patients and in a shorter length of time in the C1/C2 group than in the C0 group (p = 0.002 and p = 0.0014, respectively). In a Cox regression analysis, the independent risk factors for the composite outcome had Oxford classifications of S1, T1/T2, and C1/C2. Conclusion: Oxford classification findings of S1, T1/T2, or C1/C2 were independent risk factors for the composite outcome, corroborating previous studies.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document