ABSTRACT
Objectives External ventricular drainage (EVD) is extensively used in the neurosurgical practice with the purpose of monitoring the intracranial pressure and draining the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Despite its remarkable benefits, the technique is not devoid of risks, notably infections, which have been reported in up to 45% of the cases. Methods A retrospective analysis of the main risk factors for CSF infection in neurosurgical patients submitted to EVD at a single institution. We recorded and submitted to statistical comparison every risk factor for CSF infection present or absent in each of the 110 EVD patients enrolled, 53 males and 57 females, with an average age of 52.9 years, with different underlying neurosurgical conditions. Results Infection of the CSF occurred in 32 patients (29%). The rate of mortality related to CSF infection was of 18.7% (6 of 32). The risk factors that showed statistical significance for CSF infection in this series were: emergency surgery; length of stay at the intensive care unit (UCI); duration of the EVD; parenchymal and/or intraventricular hemorrhage; simultaneous infections; time of bladder catheterization; and the use of non-disposable adhesive drapes as part of the preparation of the wound area. Conclusions Infection of the CSF in patients submitted to EVD is multifactorial and a challenge in terms of prevention. Further studies proposing scores with blended risk factors may be useful to prevent and reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with CSF infection.
Subject(s)
Central Nervous System Infections/complications , Central Nervous System Infections/cerebrospinal fluid , Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt/adverse effects , Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak/complications , Health Profile , Chi-Square Distribution , Medical Records , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Statistics, Nonparametric , Intracranial Hypertension/therapyABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Objective To contribute our experience with surgical treatment of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) undergoing anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) or selective amygdalohippocampectomy (SelAH). Method This is a retrospective observational study. The sample included patients with medically refractory mTLE due to unilateral mesial temporal sclerosis who underwent either ATL or SelAH, at Hospital de Clinicas – UFPR, from 2005 to 2012. We report seizure outcomes, using Engel classification, cognitive outcomes, using measurements of verbal and visuospatial memories, as well as operative complications. Result Sixty-seven patients (33 ATL, 34 SelAH) were studied; median follow-up was 64 months. There was no statistically significant difference in seizure or neuropsychological outcomes, although verbal memory was more negatively affected in ATL operations on patients’ dominant hemispheres. Higher number of major complications was observed in the ATL group (p = 0.004). Conclusion Seizure and neuropsychological outcomes did not differ. ATL appeared to be associated with higher risk of complications.
RESUMO Objetivo Contribuir com nossa experiência para o tratamento cirúrgico de pacientes com epilepsia do lobo temporal mesial submetidos a lobectomia temporal anterior (LTA) ou amigdalohipocampectomia seletiva (AHS). Método Estudo retrospectivo observacional. Foram incluídos pacientes com epilepsia refratária devido a esclerose mesial temporal unilateral, submetidos a LTA ou AHS no Hospital de Clínicas – UFPR, entre 2005-2012. Foram comparados os resultados cognitivos (análises de memórias verbal e visuoespacial), controle de crises (Engel) e complicações cirúrgicas. Resultados Sessenta e sete pacientes (33 LTA, 34 AHS) foram estudados; o período de acompanhamento médio foi de 64 meses. Não houve diferença no controle das crises ou resultado neuropsicológico, mas a memória verbal foi mais negativamente afetada nos pacientes submetidos à LTA no hemisfério dominante. Maior número de complicações graves ocorreu no grupo de LTA (p = 0.004). Conclusão Controle de crises e resultados neuropsicológicos não diferiram. LTA pareceu estar associada a um maior risco cirúrgico.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Amygdala/surgery , Anterior Temporal Lobectomy/methods , Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe/surgery , Hippocampus/surgery , Neuropsychological Tests/statistics & numerical data , Anterior Temporal Lobectomy/adverse effects , Drug Resistant Epilepsy/surgery , Follow-Up Studies , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Memory , Retrospective Studies , Seizures/epidemiology , Seizures/prevention & control , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Meningiomas do forame magno estão entre os tumores maisdifíceis de serem removidos. A abordagem cirúrgica, assimcomo a extensão da remoção óssea, são pontos de controvérsia.Neste trabalho os autores apresentam sua experiência com otratamento cirúrgico destes tumores, a forma de abordá-los,baseada na expansão tumoral e no local de origem são ospontos fundamentais que norteiam o planejamento cirúrgico. Asmanifestações clínicas, assim como a morbidade mais comumrelacionada com estes tumores serão apresentadas.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Brain Neoplasms , MeningiomaABSTRACT
A hemorragia cerebelar faz parte das potenciais complicações dos procedimentos neurocirúrgicos. De forma geral, é considerada uma condição rara. Entretanto, há aparente propensão dos pacientes sub metidos ao tratamento cirúrgico de epilepsia em apresentar este tipo de complicação, quando compara dos com outros grupos cirúrgicos. O posicionamento da cabeça, excessiva drenagem de líquido cefalorraquidiano e a excisão de tecido cerebral não expansível (ou talvez combinações entre os três) constituem as po ten ciais causas da hemorragia cerebelar remota. Entre os 118 pacientes em nossa série de LTA » AH, identifi camos 3(2.5%) casos de hemorragia cerebelar. Relatamos os três casos desta natureza, com revisão da lite ratura pertinente a esta complicação.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Anterior Temporal Lobectomy , Cerebellar Diseases/etiology , Cerebral Hemorrhage/etiology , Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe/surgery , Postoperative Hemorrhage/etiology , Cerebellar Diseases , Cerebral Hemorrhage , Postoperative Hemorrhage , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Cavernomas säo malformações vasculares que frequentemente acometem a substância branca dos hemisférios cerebrais e tronco encefálico. São angiograficamente ocultas e têm como principal método diagnóstico a ressonância magnética, em que tipicamente se observa nas sequências ponderadas em T2, um halo perilesional hipointenso devido a deposiçäo de hemossiderina no tecido adjacente. A localizaçäo ventricular é considerada rara, e suas características de imagem na ressonância magnética diferem, podendo näo apresentar tal halo. Apresentamos dois casos nos quais o diagnóstico foi feito somente com exame histopatológico, devido a ausência dos critérios de imagem que permitiriam a suspeita de tal lesäo. Os cavernomas devem ser incluidos no diagnóstico diferencial dos processos expansivos intraventriculares, sendo a ressecçäo cirurgica completa a melhor modalidade de tratamento para estas lesöes
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Middle Aged , Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms , Hemangioma, Cavernous , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms , Diagnosis, Differential , Hemangioma, CavernousABSTRACT
Pituitary abscesses are potentially life-threatening lesions if not appropriately diagnosed and treated. The authors have operated on more than five hundred cases of pituitary tumors and only one represented a case of pituitary abscess. A 35-year-old woman was investigated for chronic frontal headache. CT scan showed a cystic sellar lesion with ring enhancement after contrast injection leading to an initial diagnosis of pituitary adenoma. She underwent a sublabial transsphenoidal approach to the pituitary gland. After dural opening, purulent material was obtained and no tumor or other associated lesion was detected. There was no evidence of current or previous septicemic illness, meningitis, cavernous sinus thrombosis or sinus infection. Cultures were negative. She was put on antibiotics and discharged after 4 weeks. Nowadays, 10 years after treatment, she is doing well, with no anterior pituitary hormone deficit. MRI shows a partially empty sella without residual lesion and the pituitary stalck is in the midline. The early diagnosis and adequate treatment of this life-threatening lesion may result in excellent prognosis
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Adult , Abscess , Pituitary Diseases , Abscess , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Pituitary Diseases , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
We revised 16 patients submitted to epilepsy surgery using a new method of digital, real-time, portable electrocorticography. Patients were operated upon over a period of 28 months. There were no complications. The exam was useful in 13 cases. The low installation and operational costs, the reliability and simplicity of the method, indicate it may be useful for defining the epileptogenic regions in a variety of circumnstances, including surgery for tumors, vascular malformations, and other cortical lesions associated with seizure disorders.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Adult , Electroencephalography/methods , Epilepsy/surgery , Cost-Benefit AnalysisABSTRACT
A total of 42 patients were submitted to a clinical, behavioural and neuropsychological evaluation with the objective of eventual surgical treatment of epilepsy refractory to the usual clinical therapies. Prolonged video-EEG monitoring, MRI hippocampal volume measurement, lateralization of speech and memory using the amobarbital (Wada) test were used. Of 18 operated cases, 12 were submitted to temporal lobectomy, with a follow-up of 6-30 months; 8 patients had significant improvement in seizures control; 2 patients had partial improvement in seizure frequency and intensity; 2 patients had no improvement in seizure control. One patient underwent right frontal lobectomy with total remission of seizures and 5 had callosotomy with varying degrees of success. There was no mortality. Morbidity included one subdural hematoma, one transient hemiparesis, one episode of mania, one lobar pneumonia and frequent immediately post-operative muscular tension headaches. These early results indicate good results of temporal lobectomy patients investigated through a non-invasive presurgical evaluation.
Subject(s)
Middle Aged , Female , Humans , Child, Preschool , Child , Adult , Adolescent , Electroencephalography/methods , Epilepsy/surgery , Follow-Up Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
A epilepsia do lobo temporal mesial (E.L.T.M./Engle Jr, Neurology 1993) é definida pela presença de crises parciais simples ou complexas com ou sem generalizaçäo secundária, originadas na porçäo mesial do lobo temporal, ou seja no hipocampo e amígdala. Visando delinear as características clínicas, eletrencefalográficas e de imagem desta forma de epilepsia, foram estudados 2 grupos de pacientes: um com E.L.T.M. (n=12), e outro com epilepsia generalizada idiopática (n=12). A idade média ñ desvio padräo , foi de 37ñ9 e 23ñ4 anos. A idade média do início das crises foi de 8.72416 e 11ñ1 anos e a proporçäo masculini/feminino de 5/7, e 5/7; nos grupos com E.L.T.M. e epilepsia generalizada idiopática, respectivamente. O grupo com E.L.T.M. apresentou crises parciais complexas (nñ12), parciais simples (n=9), parciais com generalizaçäo (n=8). O grupo com epilepsia generalizada idiopática apresentou crises generalizadas tônico-clônicas (n=12), mioclônicas (n=8). No grupo dos pacientes com epilepsia generalizada idiopática, 5 tinham epilepsia mioclônica juvenil, 4 epilepsia juvenil com ausências, 2 epilepsia infantil com ausências e 1 epilepsia mioclônica infantil. O grupo com E.L.T.M. apresentou 6 pacientes com foco temporal direito ao EEG, 3 pacientes com foco temporal esquerdo, um paciente com foco bitemporal independente e 2 pacientes com EEG normal. Em 4 pacientes com epilepsia generalizada idiopática, ocorreram ponta-onda e complexos poli ponta onda no EEG, tendo sido normal em 8 pacientes. No grupo com E.L.T.M. 8 pacientes tinham tomografia normal, 1 com atrofia do lobo temporal direito e outro com atrofia do lobo temporal esquerdo. A ressonância magnética mostrou menor volumetria hipocampal esquerda em 3 pacientes e direita em 4, sendo que um paciente foi normal; 4 pacientes com alteraçäo na ressonância magnética tinham tomografia normal. Um paciente do grupo das epilepsias generalizadas apresentou na tomografia, displasia fibrosa periorbital esquerda. A carbamazepina foi usada em 12, o valproato de sódio em 3 e a lamotrigina em 1 paciente do grupo das E.L.T.M.; apenas 2 pacientes obtiveram controle de crises. Os 12 pacientes do grupo com epilepsia generalizada foram manejados com valproato de sódio. Dois pacientes do grupo com E.L.T.M. refratária, foram submetidos a ressecçäo cirúrgica da área epileptogênica. A E.L.T.M. apresenta aspectos específicos do ponto de vista clínico e estrutural, especialmente definidos pela ressonância magnética