The impact of resection of skull base tumor via an endoscopic endonasal approach on the visual function of vision impaired patients and the analysis of factors affecting their visual recovery / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective@#To evaluate the visual outcomes of patients with visual impairment after resecting skull base tumor via an endoscopic endonasal approach, and to analyze the factors affecting visual recovery.@*Methods@#One hundred and fifty-three patients with skull base tumor who suffered from preoperative visual impairment from Skull Base Surgery Center of Xuanwu Hospital were operated through an endoscopic endonasal approach. Both preoperative and postoperative visual function outcomes as well as factors that might have affected their visual recovery were analyzed retrospectively by Chi square test and Logistic regression analysis.@*Results@#Complete resection was achieved in 85.6% of the patients using this technique. The rate of postoperative visual recovery in the female group (86.1%) was higher than that in the male group (73.9%), the benign group (90.2%) higher than the malignant group (20.0%), the group without optic atrophy (97.1%) higher than the one with (51.2%), and the acute group (96.6%) higher than the chronic group (80.0%). Significant differences were found between the abovementioned groups (χ2 value was 5.849, 87.860, 79.757, 4.745, respectively, all P<0.05). The degree of optic atrophy and the property of tumors were significantly associated with visual improvement after treatment (Wold χ2 value was 18.597 and 35.623, all P<0.001).@*Conclusions@#Our results indicate that endoscopic endonasal surgery shows its ability both to resect skull base tumors and to improve visual function in the majority of patients. The timing of treatment for patients suffered from preoperative visual impairment should be selected in early stage before optic atrophy occurs.

Effect analysis of microvascular decompression for patients with trigeminal neuralgia caused by vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia / 中国脑血管病杂志

Objective To preliminarily discuss the safety and efficacy of microvascular decompression for patients with trigeminal neuralgia caused by vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD).Methods From January 2013 to August 2016,16 patients with trigeminal neuralgia caused by vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery,Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University were analyzed retrospectively.All patients received preoperative magnetic resonance angiography examination.The anatomical relationship between the trigeminal nerves and the peripheral vessels was identified.Microvascular decompression was conducted via suboccipital retrosigmoid approach.They were followed up for 12-52 months after procedure.The trigeminal neuralgia score standard of Barrow Neurological Institute was used to evaluate the degree of pain of the patients before procedure,after procedure,and during the follow-up period.Results Of the 16 patients,the pain disappeared immediately in 15 after procedure,and the pain was not obviously relieved in 1 case after procedure,and the pain disappeared gradually at 6 months after procedure.One patient had hearing loss after operation compared with pre-operation.The follow-up time ranged from 12 months to 52 months.Three patients had recurrent pain at 6,12,and 36 months,respectively after procedure.Conclusion Microvascular decompression treatment of trigeminal neuralgia caused by VBD has better safety and surgical efficacy,but there was a certain pain recurrence rate,which needed further research.

Treatment of vertebrobasilar aneurysms using suboccipital muscle stratification via far lateral approach / 中国脑血管病杂志

Objective To discuss the technical essentials of microsurgery using suboccipital muscle stratification for the treatment of complex vertebrobasilar aneurysms via far lateral approach.Methods The clinical data of 8 patients with vertebrobasilar aneurysm underwent suboccipital muscle stratification via far lateral approach at the Department of Neurosurgery,Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University were analyzed retrospectively,including 5 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (Hunt-Hess grade Ⅱ 3 cases;grade Ⅲ 1 case;grade Ⅳ 1 case),and 3 with symptomatic dissecting aneurysm.Six patients underwent occipital artery-posterior inferior cerebellar artery and anterior inferior cerebellar artery bypass grafting,and aneurysm trapping,and the aneurysms of the other 2 cases were clipped directly in the operation.The modified Rankin scale (mRS) was used to evaluate the clinical efficacy.Results Postoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed that all the bridge vessels were patent.The obtained length of occipital artery in the actual measurement of the operation was 12.5±1.1 cm.The distance between the anastomosis site and the skin incision in 6 cases was 50±6 mm.They were followed up for 4-21 months after procedure.The mRs score in 7 cases was 0-1.Two patients had new-onset hoarseness and recovered completely within 3 months after procedure.Another patient had postoperative cerebellar hemisphere dominant regional cerebral infarction and the mRs score was 4.None of them had poor wound healing,infection and cerebrospinal fluid leakage after procedure.Conclusion Suboccipital muscle stratification via far lateral approach can effectively obtain a longer occipital artery,reduce the occupation effect of muscle and depth of field.It is beneficial to expose lesions and operation of deep anastomosis.It is a more safe and practical technique in neurosurgery for the treatment of vertebrobasilar artery aneurysms.

Intraoperative management of trigeminocardiac reflex in microvascular decompression of the trigeminal neuralgia / 中国脑血管病杂志

Objective To investigate the treatment measures of having trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR) for the primary trigeminal neuralgia via microvascular decompression.Methods From January 2016 to December 2016,the clinical data and anesthesia records of 79 consecutive patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery,Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University and treated the first craniotomy microvascular decompression were analyzed retrospectively.They were divided into a no TCR group (n=63) and a TCR group (n=16) according to the intraoperative anesthesia monitoring.The differences of baseline conditions,preoperative complications and pain involved the trigeminal nerve branches were compared between the two groups.The treatment measures and short-term prognosis of the patients with TCR during operation were summarized.Results (1) The proportion of hypertension in the TCR group was 31.2％ (n=5),it was higher than 7.9％ in the no TCR group (n=5).There was significant difference (χ2=6.273,P<0.05).(2) During the operation of microvascular decompression,16 patients in the TCR group had 19-time TCR.The baseline heart rate was 74±10/min before operation,and the heart rate decreased to 51±6/min at onset of TCR.The mean baseline arterial blood pressure was 102±13 mmHg,and the mean arterial blood pressure decreased to 74±8 mmHg at the onset of TCR.There was significant difference (P<0.05).(3) After the onset of TCR,the operation of was stopped,heart rate and the blood pressure recovered spontaneously (n=4).Fifteen patients were treated with medications,including using atropine (12 times,dose 0.2-0.5 mg) and ephedrine hydrochloride (3 times,dose 5-10 mg).Heart rate and blood pressure returned to the baseline level within 20 seconds or 20 seconds after administration of medications.There was no TCR-related cardiac complication or neurological deficit from after procedure to before discharge.Conclusions In microvascular decompression of primary trigeminal neuralgia,if TCR occurs,the selective use of anticholinergic agents or vasoactive agents is needed as early as possible.The risk factors for the occurrence of TCR need to be further verified.

Microvascular decompression for glossopharyngeal neuralgia with posterior inferior cerebellar artery as offending artery / 中国脑血管病杂志

Objective To investigate the key technical points of microvascular decompression (MVD)for the treatment of primary glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN)and its efficacy. Methods From July 2011 to October 2016,18 consecutive patients with primary GPN treated with MVD at the Department of Neurosurgery,Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University were enrolled retrospectively. All patients received magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)examination before procedure. The anatomical relationship between glossopharyngeal nerve / vagus nerve and peripheral blood vessels were identified. Seventeen of them were treated via suboccipital retrosigmoid approach,one were treated via far lateral approach. None of the patients were treated with nerve root rhizotomy. Results Eighteen patients had paroxysmal severe pain in tongue,pharynx,tonsil or deep ear canal and other parts before procedure. Preoperative MRA indicated and confirmed in the surgery that the offending vessels were the trunks or their branches of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery in this group of patients. During the operation,the offending vessels were removed from the out brainstem areas of the glossopharyngeal nerves and vagus nerves under the direct vision in order to ensure that the blood vessels and nerves no longer contacted with each other. There were no complications, such as disability and death,cerebrospinal fluid leakage,and intracranial infection. All the patients were followed up after procedure;the mean follow-up period was 1-62 months. The symptom of pain disappeared completely in 17 of them. The Numberical Rating Scale (NRS)score for pain were 0. The pain in one patient was not relieved. The NRS score was 8 at discharge;it was the same as before procedure. Three patients had mild hoarseness,throat discomfort after procedure. They were relieved gradually in the follow-up period. Conclusion MVD is a safe and effective method for the treatment of GPN. Posterior inferior cerebellar artery is the most common offending artery. Preoperative imaging examination and clear decompression during the procedure are very important. The cutting off of glossopharyngeal nerves and vagus nerves needs to be handled with care.

Early experience of radiofrequency ablation-assisted resection of skull base tumor through an endoscopic endonasal approach / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To describe the early experience of resecting skull base tumor via a radiofrequency ablation-assisted endoscopic endonasal approach, investigate the safety and feasibility of the technique, and to assess its preliminary treatment outcomes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ten patients with skull base tumor who were admitted between September and November 2013 were operated on through a radiofrequency ablation-assisted endoscopic endonasal approach in Xuanwu hospital of capital medical university. In this study, the operative technique was described, and the degree of resection, complications and the early clinical outcomes was presented.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Complete resection was achieved in all patients using this technique. No patient in the series experienced a new neurological deficit, cerebrospinal fluid leak or meningitis after surgery. No recurrence and death related to skull base tumor were found in the follow-up period (16-18 months). The volume of intraoperative blood loss was 60 to 1 000 ml (medium 285 ml). The duration of operations was from 42 to 150 min (medium 95 min). The hospital stay was from 14 to 19 d (average 15.7 d).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our limited experience indicates that this technique is feasible and safe for the complete resection of some skull base tumors in selected cases.</p>