Management of sagittal craniosynostosis: morphological comparison of eight surgical techniques

The aim of this study was to carry out a retrospective multicentre study comparing the morphological outcome of 8 techniques used for the management of sagittal synostosis versus a large cohort of control patients. Computed tomographic (CT) images were obtained from children CT-scanned for non-craniosynostosis related events (n = 241) and SS patients at preoperative and postoperative follow-up stages (n = 101). No significant difference in morphological outcomes was observed between the techniques considered in this study. However, the majority of techniques showed a tendency for relapse. Further, the more invasive procedures at older ages seem to lead to larger intracranial volume compared to less invasive techniques at younger ages. This study can be a first step towards future multicentre studies, comparing surgical results and offering a possibility for objective benchmarking of outcomes between methods and centres.     

Effects of the Cerebral Aneurysm Treatment Method on Coil Packing Density and Its Relationship with the Ostium Area

PurposeTo test the following hypotheses: (a) balloon or stent assistance increases coil packing density (CPD) in the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms, and (b) CPD correlates to ostium area (OA) and aneurysm volume (AV).Materials and MethodsThis retrospective study included 60 aneurysms (54 ruptured and 6 unruptured) treated with simple coiling (SC) (n = 18), balloon-assisted coiling (BAC) (n = 7), or stent-assisted coiling (SAC) (n = 35) at the authors’ institution between August 2017 and December 2019. AV and OA measurements were obtained from 3-dimensional digital subtraction angiography images using commercial software. Coil sizes were retrieved from patient files, and coil volume (CV) measurements were obtained from https://www.angiocalc.com/. Analysis of covariance, multivariate covariance analysis, and Pearson correlation analyses were performed.ResultsThe median value for AV, CV, CPD, and OA was 63.4 mm³ (range, 5.5–1,771.4 mm³), 23.13 mm³ (range, 2.03–296.95 mm³), 33.29% (range, 13.41%–81.02%), and 10.7 mm² (range, 2.7–49.9 mm²), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the CPD values were not significantly different among the treatment groups, although OA significantly differed between the SC and SAC groups (P < .05). Pearson correlations showed that similar to AV, OA was negatively correlated with CPD (r = ?0.321, P < .05).ConclusionsThe CPD value in cerebral aneurysms treated with BAC or SAC did not differ from that in aneurysms treated with SC.     

血流导向装置治疗大脑中动脉M2段以及远部位动脉瘤的围术期重症护理

目的:探讨血流导向装置治疗大脑中动脉M2段以及远部位动脉瘤的围术期护理方法和价值。方法:选取2021年1月—2021年6月山西省某三级甲等医院神经外科16例大脑中动脉M2段以及远部位动脉瘤病人,均进行血流导向装置Pipeline治疗,总结围术期护理要点。结果:16例病人的手术成功率为100%,术后无相关并发症发生。结论:医务人员需高度关注围术期颅内动脉瘤病人,术前给予病人足够的心理支持和疏导,术中与医生、麻醉师、手术室护士紧密配合,术后密切监测并发症的发生,使病人能够安全度过围术期,顺利康复出院。     

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: It’s Not Your Normal Hoofbeats

The purpose of this article is to acquaint the reader with the presentation, diagnosis, and management of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a group of genetic connective tissue disorders. Progressive weakness of connective tissue is the underlying cause of all types of EDS. The symptoms of EDS are numerous, with variability in presentation. However, decreased quality of life caused by chronic pain and fatigue is a commonality of all types of EDS. This article will assist the nurse practitioner in recognizing EDS and offer guidance for treatment.     

Chronic brain stimulation rewarding experience ameliorates depression-induced cognitive deficits and restores aberrant plasticity in the prefrontal cortex

Background

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a multifactorial disease which often coexists with cognitive deficits. Depression-induced cognitive deficits are known to be associated with aberrant reward processing, neurochemical and structural alterations. Recent studies have shown that chronic electrical stimulation of brain reward areas induces a robust antidepressant effect. However, the effects of repeated electrical self-stimulation of lateral hypothalamus - medial forebrain bundle (LH-MFB) on depression-induced cognitive deficits and associated neurochemical and structural alterations in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) are unknown.

Increased hospital costs are associated with low skeletal muscle mass in patients undergoing elective open aortic surgery

Objective

Low psoas muscle area is shown to be an indicator for worse postoperative outcome in patients undergoing vascular surgical. Additionally, it has been associated with longer durations of hospital stay in patients with cancer who undergo surgery and subsequently greater health care costs in Europe and the United States. We sought to evaluate this effect on hospital expenditure for patients undergoing vascular repair in a health care system with universal access.

Giant right coronary artery aneurysm secondary to Kawasaki disease in an infant

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a potentially decapacitating multisystemic vasculitis with unknown etiology that acquired worldwide attention due to associated coronary aneurysms leading to life-threatening complications in very young babies including thrombosis, ischemia, and rupture. High levels of suspicion for early diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial in preventing serious complications. We report here one of the patients who developed a giant coronary aneurysm but fortunately not a life-threatening complication after 5?years of follow-up. We conclude that later intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) treatment could be an important factor—among others—that precipitate into such complications.     

颅内动脉夹层的发病机制、影像学特点和自然病程

颅内动脉夹层相比颅外动脉夹层较少见，且临床表现缺乏特异性，既可以表现为缺血性 事件，也可以表现为出血性事件，多发生于年轻人。由于夹层发生部位、形成时机以及病变严重程度 不同，临床表现各种各样，影像学对于确诊动脉夹层至关重要。颅内动脉夹层易复发，且死亡率较高， 除无症状或症状轻微的患者给予保守治疗或随访观察外，对于症状较重或进展性动脉夹层患者，应 给予积极治疗，包括血管内治疗。