Peter G. Campbell

Effect of early surgery, material, and method of flap preservation on cranioplasty infections: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND:Infection is a significant cause of morbidity with cranioplasty procedures. However, few studies have investigated the effect of specific surgical practices on cranioplasty infection. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the literature on the effect of early surgery (within 3 months of craniectomy), implant material, and method of flap preservation on cranioplasty infections, and to perform a subanalysis of the effect of early surgery on overall complications associated with cranioplasty. METHODS:A systematic search of the PubMed, Cochrane, SCOPUS, and CINAHL databases was conducted. Comparative studies that reported on timing of surgery, implant material (autograft vs allograft), or method of flap preservation (subcutaneous vs extracorporeal), and infection or complication rates were selected for detailed analysis. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for each analysis. RESULTS:Eighteen articles (2254 data points) met criteria for inclusion. There was no difference in infection rates (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 0.53-3.41; P = .53) or overall complication rates (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.29-1.11; P = .10) between early or later surgery. Fourteen studies (n = 1582) compared infection rates between autograft and allograft materials; there was no difference in infection rates between the two (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.40-1.66; P = .57). There was no significant difference in infection rates between subcutaneous or extracorporeal preservation (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.09-1.35; P = .13). CONCLUSION:Analysis of the best current evidence suggests that early surgery, implant material, and method of flap preservation have no effect on the rate of cranioplasty infections.

Comparison of ICD-9–based, retrospective, and prospective assessments of perioperative complications: assessment of accuracy in reporting

OBJECT large studies of ICD-9-based complication and hospital-acquired condition (HAC) chart reviews have not been validated through a comparison with prospective assessments of perioperative adverse event occurrence. Retrospective chart review, while generally assumed to underreport complication occurrence, has not been subjected to prospective study. It is unclear whether ICD-9-based population studies are more accurate than retrospective reviews or are perhaps equally susceptible to bias. To determine the validity of an ICD-9-based assessment of perioperative complications, the authors compared a prospective independent evaluation of such complications with ICD-9-based HAC data in a cohort of patients who underwent spine surgery. For further comparison, a separate retrospective review of the same cohort of patients was completed as well. METHODS a prospective assessment of complications in spine surgery over a 6-month period (May to December 2008) was completed using an independent auditor and a validated definition of perioperative complications. The auditor maintained a prospective database, which included complications occurring in the initial 30 days after surgery. All medical adverse events were included in the assessment. All patients undergoing spine surgery during the study period were eligible for inclusion; the only exclusionary criterion used was the availability of the auditor for patient assessment. From the overall patient database, 100 patients were randomly extracted for further review; in these patients ICD-9-based HAC data were obtained from coder data. Separately, a retrospective assessment of complication incidence was completed using chart and electronic medical record review. The same definition of perioperative adverse events and the inclusion of medical adverse events were applied in the prospective, ICD-9-based, and retrospective assessments. RESULTS ninety-two patients had adequate records for the ICD-9 assessment, whereas 98 patients had adequate chart information for retrospective review. The overall complication incidence among the groups was similar (major complications: ICD-9 17.4%, retrospective 19.4%, and prospective 22.4%; minor complications: ICD-9 43.8%, retrospective 31.6%, and prospective 42.9%). However, the ICD-9-based assessment included many minor medical events not deemed complications by the auditor. Rates of specific complications were consistently underreported in both the ICD-9 and the retrospective assessments. The ICD-9 assessment underreported infection, the need for reoperation, deep wound infection, deep venous thrombosis, and new neurological deficits (p = 0.003, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p = 0.0025, and p = 0.04, respectively). The retrospective review underestimated incidences of infection, the need for revision, and deep wound infection (p < 0.0001 for each). Only in the capture of new cardiac events was ICD-9-based reporting more accurate than prospective data accrual (p = 0.04). The most sensitive measure for the appreciation of complication occurrence was the prospective review, followed by the ICD-9-based assessment (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS an ICD-9-based coding of perioperative adverse events and major complications in a cohort of spine surgery patients revealed an overall complication incidence similar to that in a prospectively executed measure. In contrast, a retrospective review underestimated complication incidence. The ICD-9-based review captured many medical events of limited clinical import, inflating the overall incidence of adverse events demonstrated by this approach. In multiple categories of major, clinically significant perioperative complications, ICD-9-based and retrospective assessments significantly underestimated complication incidence. These findings illustrate a significant potential weakness and source of inaccuracy in the use of population-based ICD-9 and retrospective complication recording.

Obesity and spine surgery: reassessment based on a prospective evaluation of perioperative complications in elective degenerative thoracolumbar procedures

BACKGROUND CONTEXT The correlation between obesity and incidence of complications in spine surgery is unclear, with some reports suggesting linear relationships between body mass index (BMI) and complication incidence and others noting no relationship. PURPOSE The purpose of this article was to assess the relationship between obesity and occurrence of perioperative complications in an elective thoracolumbar surgery cohort. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Prospective observational cohort study at a tertiary care facility. PATIENT SAMPLE Cohort of 87 consecutive patients undergoing elective surgery for degenerative thoracolumbar pathologies over a 6-month period (May to December 2008). OUTCOME MEASURES Incidence of perioperative complications (those occurring within 30 days of surgery). METHODS A prospective assessment of perioperative spine surgery complications was completed, and data were prospectively entered into a central database. Two independent auditors assessed for the presence and severity of perioperative complications. Previously validated binary definitions of major and minor complications were used. Patient data and early complications (those occurring within 30 days of index surgery) were analyzed using multivariate regression. RESULTS Mean BMI in this cohort was 31.3; 40.8% of patients were obese (BMI>30) and 10 patients (11.5%) were morbidly obese (BMI>40). The overall complication incidence was 67%. Minor complications occurred in 50% of patients, and major complications occurred in 17.8% of patients. No positioning palsies occurred in this series. Age correlated with an increase in complication risk (p=.006) as did hypertension (p=.004) and performance of a fusion (p<.0001). BMI did not correlate with the incidence of minor, major, or any complications (p=.58). CONCLUSIONS This prospective assessment of perioperative complications in elective degenerative thoracolumbar procedures shows no relationship between patient BMI and the incidence of perioperative minor or major complications. Specific care in perioperative positioning may limit the risk of perioperative positioning palsies in obese patients.

Endoscopic repair of high‐flow cranial base defects using a bilayer button

Repair of the skull base still begins with a direct repair of the dural defect. We present a new button closure for primary repair of the dura for high flow defects.

Outcomes after a purely endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas.

OBJECT Using strict biochemical remission criteria, the authors assessed surgical outcomes after endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenomas and identified preoperative factors that significantly influence the rate of remission. METHODS A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed. The authors reviewed cases in which an endoscopic resection of GH-secreting pituitary adenomas was performed. The cohort consisted of 26 patients who had been followed for 3-60 months (mean 24.5 months). The thresholds of an age-appropriate, normalized insulin-like growth factor-I concentration, a nadir GH level after oral glucose load of less than 1.0 μg/l, and a random GH value of less than 2.5 μg/l were required to establish biochemical cure postoperatively. RESULTS Overall, in 57.7% of patients undergoing a purely endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary adenectomy for acromegaly, an endocrinological cure was achieved. The mean clinical follow-up duration was 24.5 months. In patients with microadenomas (4 cases) the cure rate was 75%, whereas in patients harboring macroadenomas (22 cases) the cure rate was 54.5%. Cavernous sinus invasion (Knosp Grades 3 and 4) was associated with a significantly lower remission rate (p = 0.0068). Hardy Grade 3 and 4 tumors were also less likely to achieve biochemical cure (p = 0.013). The overall complication rate was 11.5% including 2 incidents of transient diabetes insipidus and 1 postoperative CSF leak, which were treated nonoperatively. CONCLUSIONS A purely endoscopic transsphenoidal approach to GH-secreting pituitary adenomas leads to similar outcome for noninvasive macroadenomas compared with traditional microsurgical techniques. Furthermore, this approach may often provide maximal visualization of the tumor, the pituitary gland, and the surrounding neurovascular structures.

Open and Endovascular Treatment of Unruptured Carotid-Ophthalmic Aneurysms: Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes

BACKGROUND:Aneurysms of the carotid-ophthalmic artery present unique challenges to cerebrovascular neurosurgeons given their proximity to vital anatomic structures. OBJECTIVE:To report our experience with a combined-modality treatment of unruptured carotid-ophthalmic aneurysms over a 12-year period. METHODS:A retrospective review of 161 patients who underwent open, endovascular, or combined treatment of 170 aneurysms from January 1997 to July 2009 was conducted. Medical records, operative reports, office notes, and follow-up angiograms were reviewed to obtain data on patient demographics, angiographic results, and clinical outcomes. RESULTS:One hundred forty-seven aneurysms were treated via endovascular techniques; 17 aneurysms (10%) were treated with microsurgical clip ligation; and 6 aneurysms (3.5%) were treated with a combined approach. Of the aneurysms treated via an endovascular approach alone, 81.6% of aneurysms had evidence of ≥ 95% occlusion on initial angiogram. There was a 1.4% rate of major complications associated with the initial procedure. Twenty-six of these aneurysms (18.9%) required further intervention on the basis of early angiographic results. Major complications occurred after 6 of 23 open microsurgical procedures (26.1%), including 2 instances of permanent visual loss. Nine clipped patients had long-term angiographic follow-up; none required further intervention. CONCLUSION:Endovascular treatment of carotid-ophthalmic aneurysms with modern endovascular techniques can be performed safely and efficaciously in the elective setting.

ASA grade and Charlson Comorbidity Index of spinal surgery patients: correlation with complications and societal costs

BACKGROUND CONTEXT The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Classification System (ASA grade) are useful for predicting morbidity and mortality for a variety of disease processes. PURPOSE To evaluate CCI and ASA grade as predictors of complications after spinal surgery and examine the correlation between these comorbidity indices and the cost of care. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Prospective observational study. PATIENT SAMPLE All patients undergoing any spine surgery at a single academic tertiary center over a 6-month period. OUTCOME MEASURES Direct health-care costs estimated from diagnosis related group and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. METHODS Demographic data, including all patient comorbidities, procedural data, and all complications, occurring within 30 days of the index procedure were prospectively recorded. Charlson Comorbidity Index was calculated from International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes and ASA grades determined from the operative record. Diagnosis related group and CPT codes were captured for each patient. Direct costs were estimated from a societal perspective using Medicare rates of reimbursement. A multivariable analysis was performed to assess the association of the CCI and ASA grade to the rate of complication and direct health-care costs. RESULTS Two hundred twenty-six cases were analyzed. The average CCI score for the patient cohort was 0.92, and the average ASA grade was 2.65. The CCI and ASA grade were significantly correlated, with Spearman ρ of 0.458 (p<.001). Both CCI and ASA grade were associated with increasing body mass index (p<.01) and increasing patient age (p<.0001). Increasing CCI was associated with an increasing likelihood of occurrence of any complication (p=.0093) and of minor complications (p=.0032). Increasing ASA grade was significantly associated with an increasing likelihood of occurrence of a major complication (p=.0035). Increasing ASA grade showed a significant association with increasing direct costs (p=.0062). CONCLUSIONS American Society of Anesthesiologists and CCI scores are useful comorbidity indices for the spine patient population, although neither was completely predictive of complication occurrence. A spine-specific comorbidity index, based on ICD-9-CM coding that could be easily captured from patient records, and which is predictive of patient likelihood of complications and mortality, would be beneficial in patient counseling and choice of operative intervention.

Emerging clinical imaging techniques for cerebral cavernous malformations: a systematic review

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are divided into sporadic and familial forms. For clinical imaging, T2-weighted gradient-echo sequences have been shown to be more sensitive than conventional sequences. Recently more advanced imaging techniques such as high-field and susceptibility-weighted MR imaging have been employed for the evaluation of CCMs. Furthermore, diffusion tensor imaging and functional MR imaging have been applied to the preoperative and intraoperative management of these lesions. In this paper, the authors attempt to provide a concise review of the emerging imaging methods used in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of CCMs.

Endocrinological and ophthalmological consequences of an initial endonasal endoscopic approach for resection of craniopharyngiomas.

OBJECT The expanded endoscopic approach to craniopharyngiomas has recently been described in several small case series. The authors present their experience with this technique and review the available literature. METHODS Between September 2006 and September 2009, 14 patients underwent a purely endoscopic, endonasal approach for resection of newly diagnosed craniopharyngiomas. These procedures represent index surgeries; no patient had undergone previous tumor resection. A retrospective review of endocrinological and ophthalmological outcomes, extent of resection, and complication prevalence was completed. Additionally, a review of the English literature was performed to evaluate outcomes of similar endoscopic techniques for resection of craniopharyngiomas. RESULTS Four patients (28.6%) underwent gross-total resection; near total resection or better was achieved in 9 patients (64.3%). All patients presented with some form of visual field or acuity deficit. Postoperatively, 12 patients (85.7%) experienced visual improvement, with 6 patients (42.9%) having complete visual recovery. One patient experienced worsening of her visual deficit. Visual acuity improved in 8 patients ((57.1%), while visual field defects improved in 11 (78.6%). The pituitary stalk was preserved in all cases. Eight (57.1%) of 14 patients experienced some form of anterior pituitary dysfunction postoperatively. Although 9 patients (64.3%) were documented to have either transient or permanent new diabetes insipidus immediately after surgery, at 1-month follow-up only 1 patient met clinical criteria. Five patients (35.7%) developed CSF leaks that were successfully treated by subsequent endoscopic revision. All CSF leaks occurred early in the series. Two patients (14.2%) were treated for presumed meningitis postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS The endoscopic endonasal approach is a minimally invasive alternative to open transcranial approaches for select craniopharyngiomas. Similar to previous transcranial series, rates of endocrinopathy and gross-total resection were dependent upon the adherence of the tumor capsule to the hypothalamus, pituitary stalk, and associated vasculature. A review of the literature suggests that the results of the current series are similar to other published series on this topic.

Early Complications Related to Approach in Cervical Spine Surgery: Single-Center Prospective Study

BACKGROUND Surgical intervention is performed on the cervical spine in a heterogeneous number of pathologic conditions in a diverse patient population. Several authors have examined complication prevalence in cervical spine surgery using retrospective analysis. However, few prospective studies have directly examined perioperative complications. Most prospective studies in the spine literature have assessed only specific spinal implants in carefully selected surgical patients, and complication incidence in broader patient populations is limited. OBJECTIVES To prospectively collect data on all patients who underwent cervical spine surgery at a large tertiary care center and to evaluate the effect of the approach and the incidence of early complications. METHODS Data were collected prospectively on 119 patients admitted to the neurosurgical service at Thomas Jefferson University hospital from May to December 2008. Data collected consisted of preoperative diagnosis, medical comorbidities, body mass index, surgical approach, length of stay, and complications, and were analyzed using multivariate regression analysis. Complications occurring within 30 days after each operative procedure were included. Medical adverse events, regardless of their relationship to the operative intervention, were also included as complications. A previously validated binary definition of major and minor complications was used to stratify the data. RESULTS Overall, 53 of 119 patients (44.5%) experienced at least one complication. Eleven of 41 patients (26.8%) undergoing only an anterior cervical procedure had a perioperative complication, compared with 26 of 53 patients (49.0%) undergoing only a posterior cervical procedure (P = .01). In patients undergoing a combined anterior and posterior surgical procedure, 16 of 25 (66%) experienced a complication, a significant difference in comparison with solitary anterior procedures (P = .004). Anterior procedures were associated with postoperative dysphagia and vocal cord paresis, whereas wound infection and C5 palsy was more frequently recorded in the group undergoing surgery via an isolated posterior approach. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of complications or adverse events is not definitely known for most spinal procedures because of the complexity of defining complications and obtaining accurate data. Therefore, to obtain a more accurate assessment of spinal procedures, a prospective algorithm was designed to collect and record complications during the acute perioperative period. Using this technique, a significantly higher complication rate was documented than had been previously reported for cervical spine operative interventions. In addition, use of a broad definition of perioperative complications likely increased the recorded incidence of perioperative adverse events and complications. Complications were more common in patients undergoing posterior and anteroposterior procedures.