[Postoperative complications in Chiari I malformation: duroplasty and cerebrospinal fluid leak]. / Complicaciones postquirrgicas de la malformación de Chiari tipo I: duroplastia y fístula de líquido cefalorraquídeo.

UNLABELLED: The surgical treatment of Chiari I malformation is to carry out a suboccipital decompression. It is described that postoperative complications may occur, especially if the dura is open and closed using a graft (duraplasty). Among them, one of the most important events due to its difficult handling is cerebrospinal fluid leak through the suture line. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a postoperative review to analyze the outcome of the patients and the occurrence of complications depending on the dural plasty used. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out between 1997 and 2008, both inclusive, where we assessed 36 patients. All of them were studied with preoperative and postoperative craniospinal magnetic resonance, and by a thorough clinical examination performed before and after the surgery. The surgical procedure consisted of suboccipital decompression and resection of the posterior arch of C1 or C1 and C2 (depending on the extent of the caudal displacement of the tonsils), followed by duraplasty using either an autologous graft (pericranium) or a synthetic graft (Gore-tex). RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 2 years, the clinical results were: excellent (55%), if there was a great clinical improvement; good (29%), if there was slight improvement; and bad (16%), if there was no improvement or there was worsening. In the 30 patients given a duraplasty (18 with an artificial graft, 12 with an autologous pericranium graft), 6 cases of cerebrospinal fluid leak appeared, although no significant association between the type of dural plasty and the presence of leak was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The best results were obtained for headaches, cervical pain and dizziness. Despite the fact that there were more cases of cerebrospinal fluid leak in patients receiving an artificial graft compared to patients with pericranium graft, there was no significant difference.

Complicaciones postquirúrgicas de la malformación de Chiari tipo I: duroplastia yfístula de líquido cefalorraquídeo / Postoperative complications in Chiari I malformation: duroplasty and cerebrospinal fluid leak

El tratamiento quirúrgico de la malformación deChiari tipo I consiste en realizar una descompresiónósea suboccipital. Está descrito que pueden producirsecomplicaciones derivadas de la cirugía, sobre todo sise realiza apertura dural y posterior cierre con injerto(duroplastia). Una de las más importantes por su difícilmanejo, es la fístula de líquido cefalorraquídeo en lazona quirúrgica.Objetivo. Llevar a cabo una revisión postquirúrgica,donde analizaremos la evolución de los pacientes y lacorrelación de las complicaciones respecto al tipo deplastia dural usada.Material y métodos. Se ha realizado un estudio retrospectivode los pacientes intervenidos en nuestro centroentre el año 1997 y 2008, ambos inclusive, recogiendoun total de 36 pacientes. A todos ellos se les realizó unestudio pre y postoperatorio con resonancia magnéticacraneoespinal, así como un examen neurológico antes ydespués de la intervención. La intervención quirúrgicaconsistió en una descompresión ósea suboccipital, juntocon la extirpación del arco posterior de C1 o C2 (dependiendodel descenso amigdalar), y duroplastia coninjerto autólogo (pericráneo) o con injerto heterólogo(Gore-tex).Resultados. Tras un seguimiento medio de 2 añosobtuvimos los siguientes resultados clínicos: excelente(55%), si hubo gran mejoría clínica; bueno (29%), sihubo leve mejoría; y malo (16%), si no hubo mejoría ohubo empeoramiento. En los 30 pacientes a los que seles realizó duroplastia (18 plastia artificial, 12 plastiaautóloga de pericráneo occipital), (..) (AU)

The surgical treatment of Chiari I malformation is tocarry out a suboccipital decompression. It is describedthat postoperative complications may occur, especiallyif the dura is open and closed using a graft (duraplasty).Among them, one of the most important events due toits difficult handling is cerebrospinal fluid leak throughthe suture line.Objective. To conduct a postoperative review toanalyze the outcome of the patients and the occurrenceof complications depending on the dural plasty used.Material and methods. A retrospective study wascarried out between 1997 and 2008, both inclusive,where we assessed 36 patients. All of them were studiedwith preoperative and postoperative craneoespinalmagnetic resonance, and by a thorough clinical examinationperformed before and after the surgery. Thesurgical procedure consisted of suboccipital decompressionand resection of the posterior arch of C1 or C1 andC2 (depending on the extent of the caudal displacementof the tonsils), followed by duraplasty using either anautologous graft (pericranium) or a synthetic graft(Gore-tex).Results. After a mean follow-up of 2 years, the clinicalresults were: excellent (55%), if there was a great (..) (AU)

Paragangliomas de la cauda equina, a propósito de dos casos / Paragangliomas of the cauda equina: report of two cases

Los paragangliomas extraadrenales que afectan a la médula espinal no son frecuentes y suelen manifestarse como una compresión intradural de la cauda equina. Presentamos dos casos de paraganglioma de la cauda equina de características y comportamiento distintos, y revisamos los aspectos clínicos e histopatológicos de este tumor, así como el diagnóstico, tratamiento y pronós¬tico. Existen casos con una elevadísima vascularización tumoral que impide la extirpación completa de la lesión, lo cual es el tratamiento de elección de estos tumores. La realización de laminotomía osteoplástica y ecografía intraoperatoria son de gran utilidad en el abordaje de lesiones intradurales como el paraganglioma (AU)

Extraadrenal paragangliomas involving the spinal cord are not common and usually take the compres-sion of the cauda equine. Two cases of paraganglioma of the cauda equina with a different presentation are reported, and the clinical and histopathology findings of this tumor, as well as diagnosis, treatment and prognosis are review. We stress the importance of the high tumor vascularization form of intradural that can make impossible achieve a complete resection. Laminotomy and intraoperatory echography are very useful in the approach to intradural tumors, such as paraganglioma (AU)

[Paragangliomas of the cauda equina: report of two cases]. / Paragangliomas de la cauda equina: a propósito de dos casos.

Extraadrenal paragangliomas involving the spinal cord are not common and usually take the compression of the cauda equine. Two cases of paraganglioma of the cauda equina with a different presentation are reported, and the clinical and histopathology findings of this tumor, as well as diagnosis, treatment and prognosis are review. We stress the importance of the high tumor vascularization form of intradural that can make impossible achieve a complete resection. Laminotomy and intraoperatory echography are very useful in the approach to intradural tumors, such as paraganglioma.

Réplica. Cavernomatosis múltiple. Diagnóstico diferencial por eco-gradiente / Reply. Multiple cavernomatosis. Differential diagnosis by gradient-echo

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[Management of multiple cerebral cavernomatosis]. / Tratamiento de la cavernomatosis cerebral multiple.

INTRODUCTION: Cavernous angiomas are angiographically occult vascular malformations that are present in 0.4% of people, and represent 5 13% of all cerebrovascular malformations. They can be alone or multiple, and sporadic or familial. The presence of multiple lesions is more frequent in familial cavernomatosis. OBJECTIVES: Improve our knowledge of the natural history of multiple cavernomatosis in order to improve our diagnostic and therapeutic management of this entity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have retrospectively reviewed 18 cases of multiple cerebral cavernomatosis; 4 of them belonged to the same family and 2 belonged to another family. Number, size, characteristics and evolution of the lesions, symptoms, treatment and clinical outcome have been analysed during a follow up period longer than 5 years. RESULTS: 31.5% of the cavernous angiomas reviewed by our department were multiple (at least three lesions). During the 5 year follow up period only four (4/18) patients underwent surgical treatment. 50% of patients suffered at least one hemorrhagic event with clinical impairment, and the most frequent manifestations were headache, focal deficit and seizures. The hemorrhagic rate per lesion per year was under 1%, for the more than 200 lesions and the low frequency of hemorrhagic events with clinical impairment in the time. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment must be considered in patients with accessible lesions that have produced symptoms several or progressive symptoms. The non surgical patients should be followed with yearly MRI. When more than one first degree relative has a cavernous malformation or familial antecedent with cerebral hemorrhage or epilepsy, serial follow up monitoring consisting of physical examinations and MRI should be suggested to family members.

Tratamiento de la cavernomatosis cerebral múltiple / Management of the multiple cerebral cavernomatosis

Introducción. Los angiomas cavernosos son malformaciones vasculares angiográficamente ocultas, presentes en el 0,4 por ciento de los individuos, y que suponen el 5-13 por ciento de las malformaciones vasculares. Pueden ser únicos o múltiples, y esporádicos o familiares. El carácter múltiple de las lesiones es más frecuente en las formas familiares. Objetivos. Un mayor conocimiento de la historia natural de la cavernomatosis múltiple, que nos permita realizar un correcto manejo diagnóstico y terapéutico de esta patología. Pacientes y métodos. Hemos revisado retrospectivamente 18 casos de cavernomatosis cerebral múltiple, cuatro de los cuales pertenecían a una misma familia y dos a otra. Se ha analizado el número, tamaño, características y evolución de las lesiones, sintomatología del paciente, período de seguimiento, tratamiento realizado y evolución clínica a lo largo del tiempo. Resultados. Según los datos de nuestro servicio, en el 31,5 por ciento de los casos de cavernomas, éstos presentan un carácter múltiple (al menos tres lesiones). El seguimiento se ha efectuado durante un período medio de cinco años, durante el cual sólo cuatro pacientes se sometieron a tratamiento quirúrgico. El 50 por ciento de los pacientes presentaron al menos un episodio hemorrágico con repercusión clínica, y las manifestaciones más frecuentes fueron cefalea, focalidad neurológica y crisis comiciales. La incidencia de hemorragia por lesión por año es inferior al 1 por ciento, dado el elevado número de lesiones (más de 200 en total) y la escasa frecuencia de hemorragia con repercusión clínica a lo largo del tiempo. Conclusiones. El tratamiento quirúrgico debe plantearse en casos de lesiones de localización accesible que hayan producido síntomas en repetidas ocasiones o de forma progresiva. En el resto de casos se debe realizar un seguimiento con resonancia magnética (RM) anual. Cuando más de un familiar de primer grado tiene algún cavernoma o existen antecedentes familiares de hemorragias cerebrales o crisis comiciales, se debe ofrecer la posibilidad de seguimiento clínico y radiológico con RM a los miembros de la familia (AU)

[Design, implementation, and results of the clinical pathway for herniated lumbar disk]. / Diseño, implantación y resultados de la vía clínica para la cirugía de la hernia de disco lumbar.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical or critical pathways are a useful tool in the continuous quality improvement. They develop the main characteristics of the quality programs: implementation of the evidence based medicine, increase staff and patient satisfaction and adequacy in hospital costs. This is the application of evidence-based medicine to a process management and it promotes integration of clinical guides, protocols and algorithms. OBJECTIVE: We present our experience in the design, and first nine month's implementation and development of a clinical pathway for lumbar hemilaminectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This clinical pathway consists on four documents: main guide and check sheet, preprinted treatment orders and variation sheet, iconographic information for the patients and patient satisfaction questionnaire. After desing, development and a pilot study, the hemilaminectomy critical pathway was permanently adopted by our Service. A total of 106 patients underwent programmed lumbar disc hemilaminectomy in our Service between April and December-1999. Patients' average age was 44.7 years (SD = 11.2), 55.3% were men and 43.7% women. Twelve were hospitalized in a ward other than Neurosurgery unit and therefore were excluded from the study. This evaluation is based on the initial results obtained from both the pathway documents and the general data collected as usual during hospital care. The impact of the critical pathway on hospital stay has been assessed by comparing the average stay of critical pathway patients to the average of the 70 hemilaminectomies performed at our Service in the period April-December 1998. RESULTS: Clinical pathway coverage has been 68% (standard > 80%). The patients' average stay was 4 days (SD = 1.1), one day more than planned. The pathway establishes a 4 day hospital stay (3 bed-days), a time that was fulfilled by 49% of the patients. The average stay of the 1998 patients was 5.6 days (SD = 2.7), 1.6 days more than the clinical pathway patients (p < 0.0001). Additionally, undesirable variability in the length of hospital stays was also reduced. Analysis of variations identified those corresponding to patient's condition, increases in medication beyond that originally specified due to patient needs, and unjustified prolonged stays. There were no systematic variations. There was a 2.2% incidence of adverse effects. Although satisfaction questionnaire was only returned by 51% of the patients (instead of > 70%), satisfaction index were 93% (vs 90%). CONCLUSIONS: Critical pathways are still under development and changing continuously. Nevertheless their impact on improving patient care and satisfaction, and resource consumption is already evident, and it constitutes a major aim to work in its complete development.

Tumors of the atlas. 3 incidental cases of osteochondroma, benign osteoblastoma, and atypical Ewing's sarcoma.

Primary bone tumors arising in the 1st vertebra (atlas) are extremely uncommon, only 12 cases are known to have been reported previously. The present report describes the clinicopathological features of 3 additional bone tumors originated in the atlas (osteochondroma, benign osteoblastoma, and Ewing's sarcoma), as well as their therapeutic management.

[Antimicrobial prophylaxis in urethrocystoscopy. Comparative study]. / Profilaxis antimicrobiana en uretrocistoscopias. Estudio comparativo.

Instrumentation of lower urinary tract is a predisposing factor for the development of urinary infection. Incidence of infective complications following urethrocystoscopy has been evaluated in a multicenter, prospective, comparative and randomized study in 2,284 patients, who had a previous negative urine culture. Patients were randomized into two groups: one to be used as control and the other one to received antimicrobial prophylaxis prior to instrumentation (ceftriazone, 1 gr intramuscular). Clinical and microbiological responses were evaluated at 48-72 hours and 4 weeks after cystoscopy. Symptomatic bacteriuria was observed in 10.2% of patients in the control group and in 2.5% in the prophylaxis group (p < 0.000); asymptomatic bacteriuria in 3.02% and 1.52% (p > 0.05) and irritative syndrome with sterile urine in 2.93% and 2.60% (p > 0.05), respectively. Thus, the use of prophylaxis reduced the incidence of infective complications in these patients.

[Antibiotic therapy of infected cerebrospinal fluid in hydrocephalus treated by a shunt]. / Antibioticoterapia del LCR infectado en hidrocefalias tratadas con shunt.

Nine hydrocephalic shunted children with infected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were treated. Ages ranged from 0 to 10 years. Diagnosis was made through clinical symptoms, CSF examination, echographic and computed tomography (CT). The microorganism which was seen more frequently, was S. epidermidis. This germ was more often found in young children. Treatment of these patients consisted of a systematic change of the shunt which was externally diverted, implantation of a CSF Ommaya reservoir in the lateral ventricle, and intraventricular and systemic administration of antibiotic, were made. Using this protocol CSF sterilization was obtained in all cases, after 5 to 12 days of treatment. CSF shunt infected with S. epidermidis can be effectively cleaned with daily intra-shunt vancomycin, and shunt infected with gram-negative are also cleaned with daily intra-shunt gentamycin.

Cerebellar infarction from fibromuscular dysplasia and dissecting aneurysm of the vertebral artery. Report of a child.

Infarction in the vertebrobasilar system presenting as a posterior fossa mass lesion is extremely rare in children. We recently studied and treated a 9-year-old boy with cerebellar infarct produced by angiographically confirmed Type I fibromuscular dysplasia of the vertebral artery, complicated by a dissecting aneurysm. This case appears to be the first reported in the literature.