Bhawani Shankar Sharma

Surgical management of giant intracranial aneurysms.

OBJECTIVES The natural history of giant intracranial aneurysms is generally morbid. Mortality and morbidity associated with giant aneurysms is also higher than for smaller aneurysms. This study was carried out to assess the demographic profile, presenting features, complications, and outcome after surgical treatment of giant intracranial aneurysms. PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective review of the medical records of all patients with giant intracranial aneurysms treated in the Department of Neurosurgery, Neurosciences Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, from January 1995 through June 2007 was performed. The demographic profiles, presenting features, radiological findings, surgical treatments, and outcomes were assessed. RESULTS A total of 1412 patients harboring 1675 aneurysms were treated. Out of these, 222 patients had 229 (13.7%) giant aneurysms, and of those, 181 aneurysms in 177 patients were managed surgically while 48 were treated with endovascular therapy. In the patients treated with surgery, common clinical presentations included subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in 110 (62%) cases followed by mass effect in 57 (32%) cases. In patients who presented with SAH, the Hunt and Hess SAH grading was: grade I in 43 (39%), grade II in 40 (36%), grade III in 23 (21%), grade IV in two (2%), and grade V in 2 (2%) patients. One hundred and seven aneurysms (in 103 patients) were treated using direct surgical clipping. Forty-six patients with good collateral circulation were treated by gradual occlusion and ligation of the internal carotid artery (ICA) in the neck with a Silverstone clamp. Another nine patients with good collateral circulation, but persisting symptoms after ICA ligation, required trapping for obliteration of the aneurysm. Eleven patients with poor collateral circulation required extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass before proximal ICA ligation. A post-operative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed in 118 patients and revealed well-obliterated aneurysm in 106 patients. The total treatment mortality rate was 9%. In the last 5 years, 117 patients were operated on with four operative deaths. Overall, the outcome was excellent in 131 (74.0%), good in 22 (12.4%), and poor in eight (4.5%) cases. CONCLUSIONS It is concluded that 14% of all intracranial aneurysms are giant. The most common clinical presentation is SAH followed by features of an intracranial mass lesion. The cavernous ICA is the most common portion of the ICA affected. Direct surgical clipping is a safe and effective method of treatment and should be considered the first line of treatment whenever possible. With proper case selection, optimal radiological evaluation, and appropriate surgical strategy, it is possible to achieve a favorable outcome in almost 90% of the cases.

Controversies in the management of subdural empyema. A study of 41 cases with review of literature.

SummaryForty one cases of subdural empyema treated between 1977 and 1988 at the Postgraduate Institue of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, have been analysed. The patients ranged from 9 days to 80 years of age. There were 22 children, including 11 infants. Fever, altered sensorium and seizures were the most common symptoms present for 1 day to 6 months. Otogenic infection was the commonest aetiological factor followed by postoperative and post-traumatic causes. Thirty seven patients had supratentorial empyemas, including 4 with parafalcine collections, three had infratentorial empyemas, and in one there was extension of the empyema from the supratentorial to the infratentorial compartment. Therapeutic modalities used included percutaneous needle aspirations in infants and burr hole evacuation and craniotomies in adults. A wide spectrum of organisms was detected. Mortality in this series was 24%, which was mainly attributable to the deteriorated neurological status prior to treatment.A detailed review of the literature has been given, highlighting various controversies in the management of SDE. Important prognostic factors and a treatment plan are suggested.

Collet-Sicard syndrome after closed head injury

A case is reported of basilar fracture of the occipital bone passing through the left occipital condyle, ascending the clivus anteriorly, with marked medial displacement of the bony fragment. The injury produced ipsilateral palsies of nerves IX through XII (Collet-Sicard syndrome). A CT scan accurately delineated the extent of the fracture. Partial neurological recovery ensued following surgery.

Intracranial fungal granuloma

BACKGROUND Intracranial fungal granulomas are uncommon and their pathogenesis, clinical picture, and effectiveness of therapy remains unclear. METHODS Thirty-two cases were studied retrospectively in two groups: (1) Rhinocerebral group (22 cases) had a chronic paranasal sinus (PNS) disease with secondary involvement of skull base, cranial nerves, and/or brain. The granulomas were adherent to dura, firm, avascular, and tough, requiring a knife to cut. (2) Primary intracranial group (10 cases) had no detectable PNS lesion at initial presentation. The granulomas were soft, suckable, and contained pus or necrotic material. RESULTS Postoperative and overall mortality were 37.5% and 50%, respectively. Meningoencephalitis was the most common cause of death. Altered sensorium, pus in the granuloma, and/or severe brain edema were poor prognostic factors. All survivors except four have symptomatic residual or recurrent lesions. CONCLUSION Early diagnosis with MRI or stereotactic biopsy, radical surgery, and high dose and chronic suppressive chemotherapy may improve overall results in these cases.

Intramedullary tuberculoma: report of two cases with MRI findings.

Two cases of spinal intramedullary tuberculous granulomas (tuberculomas) without any bony involvement are reported. The rarity of the occurrence and the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings are discussed. Microsurgical excision and antituberculous treatment produced good results.

A clinicopathological and molecular analysis of glioblastoma multiforme with long-term survival.

The median survival time of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is 12 months, and only 3-5% of patients survive longer than 3 years. We performed histomorphological and detailed molecular analyses of seven long-term survivors of GBM to identify any prognostic factors that potentially contribute to survival. Morphology and immunohistochemistry for p53, phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein expression were investigated. EGFR amplification and 1p/19q deletion were assessed by fluorescent in situ hybridization. The O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene methylation status was evaluated by performing methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction assays. All tumors were classical GBMs and no significant oligodendroglial differentiation was noted. The majority showed EGFR amplification (4/7), PTEN protein expression (6/7) and MGMT promoter methylation (5/6). Immunopositivity for p53 was noted in three of seven patients. Deletion of chromosome 1p/19q, either isolated or combined, was not identified in any of the se patients. All patients were treated by gross total resection followed by radiotherapy; six patients received additional temozolomide treatment. A relatively young age of onset (48 years), with a high MGMT promoter methylation and PTEN protein expression were favorable factors for long-term survival. The presence of EGFR amplification indicates that more than a single factor determines survival in GBM.

Post-traumatic seizures—A prospective study from a tertiary level trauma center in a developing country

RATIONALE No large studies till date are available from India on post-traumatic seizures (PTS). METHODS This is a prospective observational study of 520 patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) (July 2007-2008). Patients admitted after 24h of injury, with Glasgow coma scale (GCS)<or=4 were excluded. RESULTS At a median follow-up of 386 days, 59 (11.4%) patients developed PTS. Incidence of immediate, early and late onset seizure were 6.5%, 2.1% and 2.7% respectively. In children, incidence of PTS was 18.3%. On univariate analysis, females, of age <10 years, with associated medical problems and with delayed loss of consciousness and poor GCS (<9), following fall from height, had significantly higher odds of PTS. On multivariate analysis, the risk of PTS was 3.7 times higher in patients who had fallen from height, 4.4 times higher in associated medical problems, and 3.7 times higher in severe head injury (GCS<9) at presentation. PTS was associated with poor Glasgow outcome score and higher incidence of behavioral abnormality on follow up. 32% patient with PTS developed recurrent delayed seizures. Seizure recurrence was significantly higher in late onset PTS. PTS affected overall outcome of the patients in severe head injury. CONCLUSION The risk of PTS was higher in patients who sustained fall from height, in GCS<9, and associated medical problems. About 1/3rd of the patients with early PTS developed recurrent delayed seizures.

Endoscopic management of intraventricular neurocysticercosis

Surgical management is the only option for patients presenting with acute hydrocephalus caused by intraventricular neurocysticercosis. Although various modalities have been described, endoscopic excision is becoming increasingly popular. The outcomes for 22 patients with intraventricular neurocysticercal cysts with hydrocephalus managed endoscopically are presented. Complete excision of cysts (fourth ventricle, 14; lateral ventricle, 4; third ventricle, 3; both lateral and third ventricles, 1) was performed in all patients. Internal procedures for cerebrospinal fluid diversion were performed in 20 patients. There were minimal perioperative complications, all patients were relieved of raised intracranial pressure and no patient has required shunting to date. Mean follow-up duration was 20.7 months. Follow-up imaging showed the absence of residual cysts and resolution of hydrocephalus in all patients.

Tuberculosis of the craniovertebral junction: is surgery necessary?

OBJECTIVE:Tuberculosis of the craniovertebral junction is an uncommon entity and its optimal management remains controversial. In this study, we present the evolution of management protocol of this disease in our institute in the past 3 decades. METHODS:A total of 51 patients with craniovertebral junction tuberculosis presenting as atlantoaxial dislocation from 1978 through 2004 were reviewed. The disease was rated from Stage I to Stage III, depending on the radiological findings. All patients received antitubercular treatment for 18 months. In the initial period of this study (1978–1986), all patients (n = 10) underwent surgery, usually a posterior fusion. In the second period (1987–1998), patients with less severe disease (Stages I and II, n = 14) were managed with external rigid immobilization, whereas patients with severe disease (Stage III, n = 11) underwent either a transoral decompression with or without posterior fusion or posterior fusion alone. More recently (1999–2004), all patients (n = 16) in all stages (Stages I–III) have been managed without surgery by a rigid external immobilization. RESULTS:Except for two patients who died (one because of miliary tuberculosis, the other because of acute hydrocephalus), clinical recovery occurred in all. Follow-up imaging demonstrated radiological healing as well, with regrowth of the destroyed bone. CONCLUSION:The mainstay of management of tuberculosis of the craniovertebral junction is prolonged antitubercular treatment with a rigid external immobilization. Surgery is not necessary, even in patients with advanced stages of disease. Complete clinical and radiological healing occurs in all patients with conservative treatment.

Trigeminal schwannomas: Experience with 68 cases

Trigeminal schwannomas (TS) are rare. Only a couple of series involving a large number of cases have been reported. In the present study we aimed to analyse the clinical characteristics of TS, the surgical approaches used to treat TS, and the outcomes for patients undergoing surgical treatment for TS via retrospective analysis of departmental records. Data for 68 patients treated for TS in the Department of Neurosurgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences between January 1993 and December 2005 were analysed. Most patients were in the fourth decade of life, with the duration of symptoms ranging from 1 month to 13 years. Twenty-nine TSs were classified as type A, 13 as type B and 26 as type C, depending upon size. A skull base approach was used in every surgically treated case. Of the 46 patients for whom radiological follow-up data were available, complete tumour excision was achieved in 35 cases (76%). Follow-up ranged from 3 months to 12 years (mean 62 months). One patient died and nine (15%) had permanent morbidity in the form of corneal opacity (5) or facial (2) or trochlear (2) nerve palsy. We conclude that trigeminal neuromas are best treated by total surgical resection, which yields acceptable results with low rates of mortality and permanent morbidity.