I. Pomposo

Surgical results and complications in a series of 71 consecutive cervical spondylotic corpectomies

BackgroundCervical corpectomy is a common procedure in spondylosis. It is normally a well-tolerated surgery and clinical improvement is widely described. However, it is associated with potential risky complications (subsidence, clinical deterioration, vertebral artery injury...); thus, a judicious surgical indication and a good technique are required.MethodsWe revised retrospectively the clinical evolution and complications of 71 spondylotic corpectomies in a series of 100 consecutive patients operated on due to different ethiological causes from January 2001 to September 2007 at our hospital.ResultsAmong the 71 cases, a single-level corpectomy was performed in 46 cases and a two level in 25. The graft we used was a titanium mesh filled with bone from the removed vertebra in 69 cases and a telescopic cage in two additional cases. We stabilized the construction with a locking plate. The presurgical clinical status of patients, according to the Nurick grading scale was as follows: 30 patients were grade 0, 12 were grade 1, eight were grade 2, 14 were grade 3, five were grade 4 and two were grade 5. After decompression, 41 patients were considered cured, three were grade 1, seven were grade 2, 11 were grade 3, seven were grade 4 and one was grade 5. One patient died in the postoperative period. Globally, 44 (62%) patients achieved good or excellent results (grades 0–1), 15 (21%) remained as previously (grade >1), six (8%) improved partially and five (7%) worsened. Forty (95%) grades 0 and 1 patients became cured, and four (50%), four (31%) and two (28%) grades 2, 3 and 4–5, respectively, experienced a postsurgical improvement. Significant complications occurred in 18 (25%) patients. The most significant were: hardware failure (n = 7), subsidence in five cases (one required intervention) and incorrect screw placement in two (one required intervention); permanent dysphagia (n = 4) and dysphonia (n = 1); postsurgical neurological worsening in three cases (two improved and one remained grade 4); vertebral artery injury in one case; and an urgent evacuation of a prevertebral hematoma. One patient died due to respiratory disturbances.ConclusionsCervical corpectomy is efficient for spinal cord decompression, especially when anterior components (disk osteophyte, OPLL...) bulge in the spinal cord. A three or more level corpectomy was not considered in this series since they may be associated to high rate morbidity. We found that this decompression led to better clinical results in patient grades 0 and 1 and to poorer results as myelopathy progressed. Among complications, subsidence was the most frequent specific one, but since it was rarely associated with symptoms, the majority of patients were successfully treated conservatively.

A prospective study of a series of 356 patients with supratentorial spontaneous intracerebral haematomas treated in a Neurosurgical Department

SummaryBackground. Spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral haemorrhages (SSIH) carry high morbidity and mortality rates. At present, the proper role of surgery is not clear and data from the International STICH trial have not clarified this challenging question. On the other hand, few prospective studies have measured long term survival regardless of the treatment and clinical condition of the patient.Patients and methods. We prospectively collected data from all SSIH patients (n = 356) admitted at a tertiary reference hospital over a 40-month time period regardless of their clinical condition and treatment received. Among data investigated were preclinical neurological state, GCS on admission, history of systemic hypertension and treatment (surgical or conservative). Clinical factors influencing mortality at 1-year follow-up were analysed statistically by univariable and multivariable methods.Findings. We found that patients in the eighth decade were the most frequent. Hypertension was present in 47% of patients. Based on the prehospitalisation modified Rankin Scale, 305 (86%) patients were independent for activities of daily living (ADL). At 12-months follow-up, 91 (46% of alive patients) remained independent for ADL. The surgical rate was 22%. Although it was not a randomised study, we did not find a significantly different mortality rate according to whether the patient was treated surgically or conservatively. Overall, the mortality rate was 44% (157 patients) with a 79% of deaths taking place in the first 30 days after admission.Conclusions. This study underscores the high mortality rate of SSIH, especially so in the first month after admission. Among the subgroup of patients clinically independent before the haemorrhagic stroke, only 29.8% remained independent one year after the event. We did not find any statistically significant difference in mortality according to treatment modality received (surgical vs conservative) although treatment assignment was not randomised. Among other clinical factors, pre-ictal functional status, age, level of consciousness on admission and volume of haemorrhage strongly influence mortality as determined at the 1-year follow-up.

DNA Copy Number Variation and Gene Expression Analyses Reveal the Implication of Specific Oncogenes and Genes in GBM

To understand the pathogenesis of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) we used high-resolution comparative genomic hybridization arrays and gene expression microarrays to identify DNA copy number alterations and gene expression changes in comparable sets of GBM samples. Gains were detected at chromosomes 1, 2, 7, 9, 12, 19, and 20 and losses at 6, 9, and 10. Gene expression analyses identified specific genes overexpressed in GBM mapping at amplified chromosomal regions. Among these genes we found genes involved in angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling and several oncogenes. DNA copy number analysis along with gene expression profiles provides a powerful strategy to understand tumor progression and identification of genes involved in GBM pathogenesis.

Complicaciones intra-abdominales de la cirugía de la hernia discal lumbar

Resumen Introduccion La extirpacion de la hernia discal lumbar es actualmente el acto quirurgico mas habitual sobre el raquis en los servicios de Neurocirugia, con un numero de complicaciones muy escasas y unas estancias hospitalarias realmente cortas. Sin embargo, y a pesar de la rareza, es posible la aparicion de complicaciones intraoperatorias muy graves que son necesarias conocer puesto que un diagnostico y tratamiento precoces pueden evitar el fallecimiento del paciente. Es importante involucrar a este en el conocimiento de estas posibles complicaciones y obtener un consentimiento informado por escrito para evitar problemas medicolegales posteriores. Casos clinicos Presentamos dos casos de lumbociatica tipica secundaria a hernia discal lumbar intervenidos en el Servicio de Neurocirugia de Cruces que se complicaron con la perforacion intraoperatoria de estructuras intraabdominales. En ambos casos se realizo una flavectomia y extirpacion discal simple de forma habitual. La sintomatologia comenzo algunas horas despues de la cirugia con dolor abdominal e hipotension en uno y otro caso. El diagnostico precoz se realizo mediante TAC abdomino-pelvico. Posteriormente, y de forma urgente los Servicios de Cirugia General y Cirugia Vascular realizaron sendas laparotomias, posibilitando la reparacion de una perforacion intestinal en un paciente y de un desgarro de la arteria y vena iliacas en el otro, evitando asi fatales consecuencias. Actualmente ambos estan asintomaticos. Conclusion La cirugia de la hernia discal lumbar, en la gran mayoria de los casos muy agradecida en cuanto a la desaparicion del dolor, no esta exenta de complicaciones tan raras como graves. La perforacion intestinal y el desgarro vascular son dos ejemplos que hay que conocer y sospechar ante la aparicion de dolor abdominal o hipotension arterial sistemica en el postoperatorio, a pesar de que la extirpacion discal discurra sin incidencias. El diagnostico precoz mediante TAC abdomino-pelvico dirigira la actitud hacia un tratamiento quirurgico urgente de dichas lesiones. Es de maxima importancia que el paciente conozca la existencia de las posibles complicaciones de la cirugia de la hernia discal y obtener su consentimiento por escrito.

Compresión radicular lumbar secundaria a quistes yuxtafacetarios: revisión de 10 casos

Resumen Objetivo Se presenta una revision de la clinica, estudios radiologicos, y hallazgos operatorios e histologicos de 10 pacientes con 11 quistes yuxtafacetarios de la columna lumbar tratados en nuestro centro desde 1994 al 2000. Metodos Se han analizado las historias clinicas, imagenes radiologicas, protocolos quirurgicos e informes histopatologicos de los 10 pacientes diagnosticados de quiste yuxtafacetario lumbar (11). Resultados Seis pacientes eran mujeres y cuatro hombres. La edad media de presentacion fue de 54 anos. La clinica de mas frecuente presentacion fue la de dolor radicular, siendo poco comun el deficit motor o sensitivo. La tomografia computerizada y la resonancia magnetica son esenciales para establecer el diagnostico. Los quistes estaban localizados a nivel L4–L5 en ocho pacientes, a nivel L2–L3 en un paciente y L3–L4 en otro paciente. Ocho pacientes se trataron mediante laminec-tomia descompresiva y reseccion del quiste, y los dos restantes recibieron tratamiento conservador. Fenomenos degenerativos adyacentes a los quistes yuxtafacetarios son faciles de evidenciar. Todos los pacientes han presentado mejoria de su dolor radicular. Conclusiones Analizando nuestra casuistica, concluimos que los quistes yuxtafacetarios aparecen mas frecuentemente a nivel L4–L5, sobre todo en personas de edad avanzada, y producen habitualmente lumbalgia y radiculopatia. Aunque pueden tratarse de forma inicial-mente conservadora, ante un sindrome ciatico progresivo, es preferible optar por un tratamiento quirurgico.

Clinical and economic analysis of hospital acquired infections in patients diagnosed with brain tumor in a tertiary hospital

OBJECTIVES To analyze the relationship between hospital acquired infections and clinical outcomes, duration of stay, and cost per infectious episode in patients diagnosed with brain tumors in our service. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective study on patients diagnosed with brain tumors and admitted to the department of neurosurgery in the Cruces Hospital of the University of the Basque Country between January 1st, 2007 and December 31st, 2007. We collected demographics, responsible pathogens, infection location, length of hospitalization, and costs of various medical and surgical procedures performed. RESULTS We reviewed 139 patients that accumulated 210 hospital visits. We found 34 episodes of hospital acquired infections (16.25% of patients). The most frequent infections were that of the lower respiratory tract, urinary tract, and surgical site. We found that patients with HAIs had a significantly lower final KPS score (sig <0.01), greater mean cost of stay (17097 €, sig<0.01), and longer length of stay (15.45 days, sig<0.01). We did not find a significant difference in mortality. CONCLUSIONS We found significant association between the presence of HAIs and worse clinical outcomes, higher costs, and longer length of stay. The pathogens responsible and infection locations were similar to existing series in the literature. Although variability in study designs in the literature makes interpretation and comparison of results difficult, measures to prevent these complications.

Cardiovascular autonomic and hemodynamic responses to vagus nerve stimulation in drug-resistant epilepsy

PURPOSE Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is used as an adjunctive therapy for treating patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. The impact of VNS on cardiovascular autonomic function remains to be fully understood. We determined changes in cardiovascular sympathetic and parasympathetic, and hemodynamic function in association with VNS in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. METHOD Longitudinal (n=15) evaluation of beat-to-beat blood pressure (BP) and heart rate variability (HRV), baroreflex sensibility, and hemodynamic function performed before VNS implantation, 6-months after implantation, and a mean of 12-months after implantation; and cross-sectional study (n=14) of BP and HR variability and baroreflex sensitivity during VNS on and VNS off. RESULTS In the longitudinal study, no differences were observed between the baseline, the 6-month visit, and the final visit in markers of parasympathetic cardiovagal tone or baroreflex sensitivity. Systolic and diastolic BP upon 5-min of head-up tilt increased significantly after VNS implantation (Systolic BP: -16.69±5.65mmHg at baseline, 2.86±16.54mmHg at 6-month, 12.25±12.95mmHg at final visit, p=0.01; diastolic BP: -14.84±24.72mmHg at baseline, 0.86±16.97mmHg at 6-month, and 17±12.76mmHg at final visit, p=0.001). CONCLUSION VNS does not seem to produce alterations in parasympathetic cardiovagal tone, regardless of the laterality of the stimulus. We observed a slight increase in sympathetic cardiovascular modulations. These changes had no significant hemodynamic implications. These findings contribute to the understanding of potential mechanisms of action of VNS.

Meningiomas de la tienda del cerebelo. Revisión de nuestra casuística

Resumen Objetivos Los principales objetivos de este estudio son describir las caracteristicas clinicas y radiologicas, el manejo y complicaciones quirurgicos, y la evolucion de pacientes con un meningioma tentorial. Material y Metodos Se trata de un estudio retrospectivo de 25 pacientes operados de meningioma tentorial en nuestro servicio desde diciembre de 1975 a mayo de 2002. Todos los pacientes, excepto el primero, fueron diagnosticados por TC, en 13 de ellos tambien se realizo RM y en 14 se completo el estudio con angiografia. Se analizan el estado clinico preoperatorio, el intervalo entre los primeros sintomas y la fecha de exeresis, la morbilidad postoperatoria y las recidivas. Resultados La revision ha detectado 20 mujeres y 5 varones. Las edades oscilaban entre 35 y 79 anos, con una media de 54,6. La exeresis se considero total (Simp-son I-II) en 22 pacientes, recidivando un caso a los 25 anos de la intervencion y otro en tres ocasiones en un periodo de dos anos, que se reintervinieron, y un tercer caso a los 5 anos, que no preciso cirugia. La mortalidad postquirurgica fue del 8%. El periodo de seguimiento tuvo una media de 5,3 anos. La evolucion final fue de recuperacion favorable en 19 pacientes, incapacidad moderada en 1 y muerte en los 4 restantes. Conclusiones A pesar de los progresos de la neurorradiologia y microcirugia, estos tumores suponen todavia un reto para el neurocirujano, debido a las grandes dimensiones que alcanzan y a su extension hacia zonas funcionales o vitales. Una exeresis lo mas completa posible permite minimizar los riesgos de recidiva.

Otolicuorrea espontánea en el adulto: Presentación de dos casos y revisión de la literatura

Resumen Introduccion Las fistulas espontaneas de LCR no son una entidad frecuente y pueden ser infradiagnosticadas en el adulto. Para algunos autores, debe sospecharse esta patologia en cualquier paciente mayor de 50 anos con episodios de otitis serosas recurrentes y ausencia de antecedentes otologicos. La meningitis es su complicacion mas grave, por lo que es prioritario un diagnostico precoz y certero. Objetivo Presentar dos casos clinicos atendidos en nuestro servicio y revisar la literatura cientifica existente al respecto. Conclusion El tratamiento de estas fistulas atraumaticas es eminentemente quirurgico, pudiendo emplear la craneotomia de fosa media o la via transmastoidea. En el sellado debe emplearse una tecnica multicapa, combinando materiales autologos y artificiales para conseguir mejores resultados.

Urte bat baino gutxiagoko umeengan agertutako nerbio-sistema zentraleko tumoreak: berrikuspena Gurutzetako Unibertsitate Ospitalean eta literaturan

Here, we present a review of CNS tumors diagnosed in an under one year-old population in Cruces University Hospital. We studied under one year-old patients diagnosed between 2001 and 2016 in Cruces University Hospital, and reviewed location, approach, presence/absence of hydrocephalus, survival and follow-up. Sixteen under one year-old patients were diagnosed among a series of 158 <14 year old children during that period. Fourteen patients had supratentorial tumors, 1 had an infratentorial tumor and one had an intraspinal cervical tumor. The sample included 10 gliomas (2 high grade, 8 low grade), 3 infratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET), 1 atypical choroidal plexus papilloma, 1 atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor, 1 supratentorial PNET and 1 neuroectodermal melanocytic tumor. Fourteen patients were operated on; in twelve of them we employed craniotomy with variable resection. Two of these needed consecutive craniotomies. In two patients, stereotactic biopsy was carried out due to the suspicion of an optic pathway glioma. Two patients were not amenable for surgical resection or biopsy and thus were not operated. Except for one patient who is alive after a follow-up of five years, the rest of the patients diagnosed of high-grade tumors died during follow up, two of them passing away during the surgical procedure. All patients diagnosed with a low-grade tumor are alive with a median follow-up of 3.8 years, except for one patient who died four years post-operation. Congenital tumors show a different pattern than tumors in other pediatric ages. The prognosis of high grade lesions continues to be discouraging despite apparent improvements.