A Novel Closed-Loop Electrical Brain Stimulation Device Featuring Wireless Low-Energy Ultrasound Power and Communication.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to indicate the feasibility of a prototype electrical neuromodulation system using a closed-loop energy-efficient ultrasound-based mechanism for communication, data transmission, and recharging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Closed-loop deep brain stimulation (DBS) prototypes were designed and fabricated with ultrasonic wideband (UsWB) communication technology and miniaturized custom electronics. Two devices were implanted short term in anesthetized Göttingen minipigs (N = 2). Targeting was performed using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging, and locations were confirmed postoperatively by computerized tomography. DBS systems were tested over a wide range of stimulation settings to mimic minimal, typical, and/or aggressive clinical settings, and evaluated for their ability to transmit data through scalp tissue and to recharge the DBS system using UsWB. RESULTS: Stimulation, communication, reprogramming, and recharging protocols were successfully achieved in both subjects for amplitude (1V-6V), frequency (50-250 Hz), and pulse width (60-200 µs) settings and maintained for ≥six hours. The precision of pulse settings was verified with <5% error. Communication rates of 64 kbit/s with an error rate of 0.05% were shown, with no meaningful throughput degradation observed. Time to recharge to 80% capacity was <9 minutes. Two DBS systems also were implanted in the second test animal, and independent bilateral stimulation was successfully shown. CONCLUSIONS: The system performed at clinically relevant implant depths and settings. Independent bilateral stimulation for the duration of the study with a 4F energy storage and full rapid recharge were achieved. Continuous function extrapolates to six days of continuous stimulation in future design iterations implementing application specific integrated circuit level efficiency and 15F storage capacitance. UsWB increases energy efficiency, reducing storage requirements and thereby enabling device miniaturization. The device can enable intelligent closed-loop stimulation, remote system monitoring, and optimization and can serve as a power/data gateway to interconnect the intrabody network with the Internet of Medical Things.

Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy as a Treatment Option for Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Metastases to the Brain: A Case Report.

We present the unique case of a 60-year-old female with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) who underwent laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) for metastatic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) of the brain. She presented to the emergency room complaining of one week of dysarthria and facial droop. An MRI of the brain demonstrated a homogeneously enhancing left frontal mass; although rare, given her history of pulmonary MPNST, brain invasion was considered likely. No generally accepted guidelines for the treatment of MPNST with cerebral metastases exist; however, LITT was chosen due to tumor morphology and proximity to eloquent brain structures. She did not experience any new or worsening neurological deficits post-operatively. Post-ablation MRI showed white matter edema surrounding the lesion, which is consistent with previously reported cases. This case illustrates the use of LITT for cytoreduction for rare brain metastases located near eloquent brain structures.

Outcome differences between males and females undergoing deep brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression: systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) occurs more commonly in women. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an emerging treatment for TRD, and its efficacy continues to be explored. However, differences in treatment outcomes between males and females have yet to be explored in formal analysis. METHODS: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review of DBS for TRD studies was conducted. Patient-level data were independently extracted by two authors. Treatment response was defined as a 50 % or greater reduction in depression score. Percent change in depression scores by gender were evaluated using random-effects analyses. RESULTS: Of 737 records, 19 studies (129 patients) met inclusion criteria. The mean reduction in depression score for females was 57.7 % (95 % CI, 64.33 %-51.13 %), whereas for males it was 35.2 % (95 % CI, 45.12 %-25.23 %) (p < 0.0001). Females were more likely to respond to DBS for TRD when compared to males (OR = 2.44, 95 % CI 1.06, 1.95). These differences varied in significance when stratified by DBS anatomical target, age, and timeframe for responder classification. LIMITATIONS: Studies included were open-label trials with small sample sizes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that females with TRD respond at higher rates to DBS treatment than males. Further research is needed to elucidate the implications of these results, which may include connectomic sexual dimorphism, depression phenotype variations, or unrecognized symptom reporting differences. Methodological standardization of outcome scales, granular demographic data, and individual subject outcomes would allow for more robust comparisons between trials.

Noradrenaline tracks emotional modulation of attention in human amygdala.

The noradrenaline (NA) system is one of the brain's major neuromodulatory systems; it originates in a small midbrain nucleus, the locus coeruleus (LC), and projects widely throughout the brain.1,2 The LC-NA system is believed to regulate arousal and attention3,4 and is a pharmacological target in multiple clinical conditions.5,6,7 Yet our understanding of its role in health and disease has been impeded by a lack of direct recordings in humans. Here, we address this problem by showing that electrochemical estimates of sub-second NA dynamics can be obtained using clinical depth electrodes implanted for epilepsy monitoring. We made these recordings in the amygdala, an evolutionarily ancient structure that supports emotional processing8,9 and receives dense LC-NA projections,10 while patients (n = 3) performed a visual affective oddball task. The task was designed to induce different cognitive states, with the oddball stimuli involving emotionally evocative images,11 which varied in terms of arousal (low versus high) and valence (negative versus positive). Consistent with theory, the NA estimates tracked the emotional modulation of attention, with a stronger oddball response in a high-arousal state. Parallel estimates of pupil dilation, a common behavioral proxy for LC-NA activity,12 supported a hypothesis that pupil-NA coupling changes with cognitive state,13,14 with the pupil and NA estimates being positively correlated for oddball stimuli in a high-arousal but not a low-arousal state. Our study provides proof of concept that neuromodulator monitoring is now possible using depth electrodes in standard clinical use.

Evidence for Thalamic Responsive Neurostimulation in Treatment of Adult and Pediatric Epilepsy.

Responsive neurostimulation (RNS) has well-established efficacy in patients with identifiable seizure foci. Emerging evidence suggests the feasibility of expanding this treatment to patients with nonfocal or multifocal epileptic profiles with thalamic targeting. Our institution performed two successful implantations of thalamic RNS (tRNS) targeting the centromedian nucleus of the thalamus (CMT), and 1-year postoperative outcomes are provided. Additionally, a literature review of all reported tRNS was conducted. Publications were excluded if they did not include demographic data and/or epilepsy outcomes at follow-up. In the literature, 19 adult and 3 pediatric cases were identified. These cases were analyzed for outcome, indications, previous operations, and surgical practice variations. Both of our patients had failed multiple previous pharmacological and neurosurgical interventions for epilepsy. Case #1 underwent tRNS with bilateral CMT stimulation. Case #2 underwent tRNS with simultaneous right CMT and right insular stimulation, although an additional lead was placed in the left CMT and left capped for potential future use. Each has achieved ≥90% reduction in seizure burden and approach seizure freedom. 71% of patients in the literature review had multifocal, bilateral, or cryptogenic seizure onset. Three patients were implanted for Lennox Gastaut (2 of 3 are pediatric). 16 patients underwent an average of 1.6 failed procedures prior to successful tRNS implantation. Taken together, the 21 adult patients reviewed have experienced an average seizure reduction of 77% at the latest follow-up. 95% of the adult patients reported in the literature experienced >50% reduction in seizure activity following tRNS and 52% experienced ≥90% reduction in seizure burden following tRNS. Pediatric patients have experienced 70-100% improvement.

Combined Responsive Neurostimulation and Focal Resection for Super Refractory Status Epilepticus: A Systematic Review and Illustrative Case Report.

OBJECTIVE: Super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) is a neurologic emergency with high mortality and morbidity. Although medical algorithms typically are effective, when they do fail, options may be limited, and neurosurgical intervention should be considered. METHODS: We report a case of SRSE treated acutely with responsive neurostimulation (RNS) and focal surgical resection after intracranial monitoring. We also conducted a systematic review of the literature for neurosurgical treatment of SRSE (e.g., neurostimulation). Only published manuscripts were considered. RESULTS: Our patient's seizure semiology consisted of left facial twitching with frequent evolution to bilateral tonic-clonic convulsions. Stereoelectroencephalography and grid monitoring identified multiple seizure foci. The patient underwent right RNS placement with cortical strip leads over the lateral primary motor and premotor cortex as well as simultaneous right superior temporal and frontopolar resection. Status epilepticus resolved 21 days after surgical resection and placement of the RNS. The systematic review revealed 15 case reports describing 17 patients with SRSE who underwent acute neurosurgical intervention. There were 3 patients with SRSE with RNS placement as a single modality, all of whom experienced cessation of SE. Four patients with SRSE received vagus nerve stimulation (3 as a single modality and 1 with combined corpus callosotomy), of whom 1 had SE recurrence at 2weeks. Two patients with SRSE received deep brain stimulation, and the remaining 8 underwent surgical resection; none had recurrence of SE. CONCLUSIONS: RNS System placement with or without resection can be a viable treatment option for select patients with SRSE. Early neurosurgical intervention may improve seizure outcomes and reduce complications.

Complete seizure-free rates following interventional treatment of intracranial arteriovenous malformations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Seizures are common presenting symptoms of intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the current evidence regarding complete seizure freedom rates following surgical resection, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and/or endovascular embolization of intracranial AVMs. A systematic review of PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Ovid EMBASE was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Included manuscripts were methodically scrutinized for quality, spontaneous AVM-associated or hemorrhage-associated seizures, complete seizure-free rates following each interventional treatment, follow-up duration; determination methods of seizure outcomes, and average time-to-onset of recurrent seizures after each treatment. Manuscripts that described patients with nondisabling seizures or reduced seizure frequency in their seizure-free calculations were excluded. Seizure freedom rates following surgical resection, SRS, and endovascular embolization were compared via random-effect analysis. Thirty-four studies with a total of 1765 intracranial AVM patients presenting with spontaneous AVM-associated seizures and 408 patients presenting with hemorrhage-associated seizures were qualitatively analyzed. For patients presenting with AVM-associated seizures, the complete seizure-free rates were 73.0% (321/440 patients; 95% CI 68.8-77.1%) following surgical resection, 60.5% (376/622 patients; 95% CI 56.6-64.3%) following SRS, and 44.6% (29/65 patients; 95% CI 32.5-56.7%) following endovascular embolization alone. For patients presenting with either AVM-associated or hemorrhage-associated seizures, the complete seizure-free rates were 73.0% (584/800 patients; 95% CI 69.9-76.1%) following surgical resection, 46.4% (572/1233 patients; 95% CI 43.6-49.2%) following SRS, and 44.6% (29/65 patients; 95% CI 32.5-56.7%) following embolization. For patients presenting with either AVM-associated or hemorrhage-associated seizures, the overall improvements in seizure outcomes regardless of complete seizure freedom were 82.6% (661/800 patients; 95% CI 80.0-85.3%), 70.6% (870/1233 patients; 95% CI 68.0-73.1%), and 70.8% (46/65 patients; 95% CI 59.7-81.1%) following surgical resection, SRS, and embolization, respectively. No study reported information about the time-to-onset for recurrent seizures in any patient following treatment, as seizure outcomes were only described at the last follow-up visit. The available data suggests that surgical resection results in the highest rate of complete seizure freedom. The rate of seizure improvement following surgery increased further to 82.3% when including patients who had improved seizure frequency without achieving true seizure freedom. Complete seizure-free rates following SRS or embolization were more ambiguous and lower when compared to surgical resection. There is a need for high quality studies evaluating AVM treatment modalities and clearly defined seizure outcomes, as the current literature consists mostly of heterogenous patient populations.

Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery for Essential Tremor in a Patient with Type A Hemophilia.

BACKGROUND: Hemophilia is generally considered a contraindication to deep brain stimulation (DBS) and other elective intracranial surgery because of the elevated risk of perioperative hemorrhage. Two prior case reports have suggested, however, that DBS may be safe in patients with hemophilia who undergo appropriate factor replacement. Here, we describe a third case of DBS surgery for medically refractory essential tremor (ET) in a patient with hemophilia A. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 68-year-old right-handed man with mild hemophilia A presented for a 10-year history of bilateral (right greater than left), medically refractory ET. The patient was considered an appropriate candidate for DBS by a multidisciplinary movement disorders conference, and hematology consultation was obtained. Baseline preoperative laboratory results showed a quantitative factor VIII (FVIII) level of 38%. Perioperative management consisted of daily intravenous bolus doses of recombinant FVIII from the morning of surgery to postoperative day 10. The patient underwent uncomplicated unilateral DBS placement in the left ventralis intermedius thalamus. Intra- and postoperative imaging showed no hemorrhage. His postoperative course was uncomplicated except for a single self-limited episode of hematuria requiring no intervention. CONCLUSIONS: DBS placement for ET may be safe in patients with coexisting hemophilia A if appropriate FVIII replacement is given, which may be delivered as bolus infusions rather than continuous infusion.

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Refractory Trigeminal Pain: Recent Single-Institution Case Series With Long-Term Follow-Up and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral neurostimulation (PNS) for medically refractory trigeminal pain is an emerging alternative to traditional surgical approaches, with safety and efficacy demonstrated in several retrospective series and a prospective trial currently in progress. Many existing studies suffer from relatively small numbers and short or inconsistent follow-up, making balanced treatment assessment difficult. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive cases of trial and permanent placement of trigeminal branch stimulation electrodes by a single surgeon from May 2014 through January 2019 were retrospectively reviewed from a prospectively collected database, following the PROCESS guidelines for surgical case series. Outcomes were assessed at six months and at last follow-up. RESULTS: Ninteen patients underwent trial electrode placement, with 15 patients undergoing permanent system placement. The most common diagnoses were idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia Type 2 (N = 8) and trigeminal neuropathic pain (N = 7). Median follow-up was 14 months (range 6-58 months). At last follow-up, 12 of 15 implanted patients (80%) were still receiving stimulation, with mean (median) pain reduction of 52.3% (47.5%). Infection and revision rates were high, although erosion and migration, which have typically plagued trigeminal PNS surgery, did not occur. Implanted systems were well-tolerated, with excellent cosmetic outcomes and high patient satisfaction that proved durable over long follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We present a single-institution series of PNS for complex craniofacial pain involving the trigeminal nerve. The procedure is safe, effective and durable over at least one year in the large majority of a well-selected patient population.

Altered expression of signaling pathways regulating neuronal excitability in hippocampal tissue of temporal lobe epilepsy patients with low and high seizure frequency.

Despite recent advances in our understanding of synaptic transmission associated with epileptogenesis, the molecular mechanisms that control seizure frequency in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) remain obscure. RNA-Seq was performed on hippocampal tissue resected from 12 medically intractable TLE patients with pre-surgery seizure frequencies ranging from 0.33 to 120 seizures per month. Differential expression (DE) analysis of individuals with low (LSF, mean = 4 seizure/month) versus high (HSF, mean = 60 seizures/month) seizure frequency identified 979 genes with ≥2-fold change in transcript abundance (FDR-adjusted p-value ö0.05). Comparisons with post-mortem controls revealed a large number of downregulated genes in the HSF (1676) versus LSF (399) groups. More than 50 signaling pathways were inferred to be deactivated or activated, with Signal Transduction as the central hub in the pathway network. While neuroinflammation pathways were activated in both groups, key neuronal system pathways were systematically deactivated in the HSF group, including calcium, CREB and Opioid signaling. We also infer that enhanced expression of a signaling cascade promoting synaptic downscaling may have played a key role in maintaining a higher seizure threshold in the LSF cohort. These results suggest that therapeutic approaches targeting synaptic scaling pathways may aid in the treatment of seizures in TLE.

Leukocyte expression profiles reveal gene sets with prognostic value for seizure-free outcome following stereotactic laser amygdalohippocampotomy.

Among patients with intractable epilepsy, the most commonly performed surgical procedure is craniotomy for amygdalohippocampectomy (AH). Stereotactic laser amygdalohippocampotomy (SLAH) has also been recently employed as a minimally invasive treatment for intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Among patients treated with AH and SLAH approximately 65% and 54% of patients become seizure-free, respectively. Therefore, selection criteria for surgical candidates with improved prognostic value for post-operative seizure-free outcome are greatly needed. In this study, we perform RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) on whole blood leukocyte samples taken from 16 patients with intractable TLE prior to SLAH to test the hypothesis that pre-operative leukocyte RNA expression profiles are prognostic for post-operative seizure outcome. Multidimensional scaling analysis of the RNA expression data indicated separate clustering of patients with seizure free (SF) and non-seizure-free (NSF) outcomes. Differential expression (DE) analysis performed on SF versus NSF groups revealed 24 significantly differentially expressed genes (≥2.0-fold change, p-value < 0.05, FDR <0.05). Network and pathway analyses identified differential activation of pathways involved in lipid metabolism, morphology of oligodendrocytes, inflammatory response, and development of astrocytes. These results suggest that pre-operative leukocyte expression profiles have prognostic value for seizure outcome following SLAH.

Placement and Anchoring of Trigeminal Neurostimulation Electrodes: Technical Report.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral neurostimulation (PNS) for medically refractory trigeminal and craniofacial pain is an emerging alternative to traditional surgical approaches. Technical problems with craniofacial PNS have included electrode migration and erosion, limiting the utility and cost-effectiveness of this procedure. OBJECTIVE: To review our institutional surgical technique for trigeminal PNS implantation, focusing on a novel technique for electrode anchoring. METHODS: Consecutive cases of permanent craniofacial PNS placement by a single surgeon over 36 months were reviewed for surgical technique and technical outcomes. Electrodes were placed percutaneously with open anchoring to the pericranium at a separate parietal incision. RESULTS: Sixteen systems (53 electrodes) were implanted in 14 patients. Median follow-up was 13 months (range, 5-29 months). Electrode placement was successful in all cases with no intraoperative complications. There was 1 lead migration (6.3% per patient; 1.8% per lead) and no cases of erosion. Two patients (14.3%) required explant for infection, 1 of whom was successfully reimplanted. Three patients (21.4%) underwent surgical revision other than for infection. CONCLUSIONS: We present an improved method for craniofacial PNS surgery which introduces a separate incision for electrode anchoring at the parietal boss. This technique simplifies the procedure and greatly reduces rates of erosion and migration, improving patient comfort and satisfaction.

Closed Loop Deep Brain Stimulation for PTSD, Addiction, and Disorders of Affective Facial Interpretation: Review and Discussion of Potential Biomarkers and Stimulation Paradigms.

The treatment of psychiatric diseases with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is becoming more of a reality as studies proliferate the indications and targets for therapies. Opinions on the initial failures of DBS trials for some psychiatric diseases point to a certain lack of finesse in using an Open Loop DBS (OLDBS) system in these dynamic, cyclical pathologies. OLDBS delivers monomorphic input into dysfunctional brain circuits with modulation of that input via human interface at discrete time points with no interim modulation or adaptation to the changing circuit dynamics. Closed Loop DBS (CLDBS) promises dynamic, intrinsic circuit modulation based on individual physiologic biomarkers of dysfunction. Discussed here are several psychiatric diseases which may be amenable to CLDBS paradigms as the neurophysiologic dysfunction is stochastic and not static. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has several peripheral and central physiologic and neurologic changes preceding stereotyped hyper-activation behavioral responses. Biomarkers for CLDBS potentially include skin conductance changes indicating changes in the sympathetic nervous system, changes in serum and central neurotransmitter concentrations, and limbic circuit activation. Chemical dependency and addiction have been demonstrated to be improved with both ablation and DBS of the Nucleus Accumbens and as a serendipitous side effect of movement disorder treatment. Potential peripheral biomarkers are similar to those proposed for PTSD with possible use of environmental and geolocation based cues, peripheral signs of physiologic arousal, and individual changes in central circuit patterns. Non-substance addiction disorders have also been serendipitously treated in patients with OLDBS for movement disorders. As more is learned about these behavioral addictions, DBS targets and effectors will be identified. Finally, discussed is the use of facial recognition software to modulate activation of inappropriate responses for psychiatric diseases in which misinterpretation of social cues feature prominently. These include Autism Spectrum Disorder, PTSD, and Schizophrenia-all of which have a common feature of dysfunctional interpretation of facial affective clues. Technological advances and improvements in circuit-based, individual-specific, real-time adaptable modulation, forecast functional neurosurgery treatments for heretofore treatment-resistant behavioral diseases.

Difficult Vascular Access Anatomy Associated with Decreased Success of Revascularization in Emergent Thrombectomy.

BACKGROUND: Thrombectomy has become established as a successful treatment strategy for ischemic stroke, and consequently, more patients are undergoing this procedure. Due to comorbid conditions, chronic disease states, and advanced age, many patients have anatomy which complicates revascularization, specifically difficult aortic arch anatomy, or tortuous common and internal artery anatomy, or both. METHODS: In the present study, these unfavorable anatomic parameters were analyzed for 53 patients undergoing acute thrombectomy for ischemic stroke. Statistical analysis was performed and the outcome TICI scores were compared. 26 of the patients analyzed had features of difficult femoral access. RESULTS: Difficult arch anatomy was associated with unsuccessful revascularization (p = 0.03, Fisher's exact) with only 53% of patients with this feature having favorable TICI scores. Difficult common carotid access was also associated with unsuccessful revascularization (p = 0.004, Fisher's exact) with 38% success. There was a trend toward significance for unsuccessful revascularization for difficult internal carotid artery access (p = 0.06, Fisher's exact). CONCLUSION: Any combination of the aforementioned anatomic parameters was associated with the decreased success of treatment which was an independent predictor in multivariate analysis (p = 0.009). As difficult access anatomy is commonly encountered in patients undergoing emergent thrombectomy, it is important for the treating physician to be prepared and to adapt access strategies to increase the likelihood of successful revascularization.

Sacroiliac Fusion: Another "Magic Bullet" Destined for Disrepute.

Pain related to joint dysfunction can be treated with joint fusion; this is a long-standing principle of musculoskeletal surgery. However, pain arising from the sacroiliac (SI) joint is difficult to diagnose. Several implant devices are available that promote fusion by simply crossing the joint space. Evidence establishing outcomes is misleading because of vague diagnostic criteria, flawed methodology, bias, and limited follow-up. Because of nonstandardized indications and historically inferior reconstruction techniques, SI joint fusion should be considered unproven. The indications and procedure in their present form are unlikely to stand up to close scrutiny or weather the test of time.

Lumbar Spinal Fixation with Cortical Bone Trajectory Pedicle Screws in 79 Patients with Degenerative Disease: Perioperative Outcomes and Complications.

OBJECTIVE: Biomechanical studies demonstrate that cortical bone trajectory pedicle screws (CBTPS) have greater pullout strength than traditional pedicle screws with a lateral-medial trajectory. CBTPS start on the pars and angulate in a mediolateral-caudocranial direction. To our knowledge, no large series exists evaluating the perioperative outcomes and safety of CBTPS. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients who received lumbar CBTPS at our institution. Data were collected regarding patient demographics, use of image guidance, operative blood loss, hospital stay, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 79 patients undergoing CBTPS fusion for degenerative lumbosacral disease with back pain were included in the analysis (42 female, 37 male; October 2011-January 2015). Twenty patients (25.3%) had previous lumbar spine surgery, 39 (49.4%) had a smoking history, and mean body mass index was 28.7. Mean length of stay was 3.5 days, and mean operative blood loss was 306.3 mL. Image guidance was used in 69 (87.3%) cases. A total of 66 (83.5%) fusions were single level, and 54 (68.4%) fusions were single level without previous surgery. There were 9 complications in 7 (8.9%) patients; these included hardware failure, pseudarthrosis, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, epidural hematoma, and wound infection. No complications were caused by misplaced screws. Mean follow-up was 13.2 months. CONCLUSIONS: As CBTPS becomes increasingly popular among spine surgeons performing lumbar fusion, this report provides an important evaluation of technique safety and acceptable perioperative outcomes.

Measuring Quality of Neurosurgical Care: Readmission Is Affected by Patient Factors.

OBJECTIVE: The Hospital Readmission Reduction Program section of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act uses readmission rates as a proxy for measuring quality of care. Multiple studies have demonstrated that readmission rates are highly imprecise proxies for quality of care because readmission rates contain large amounts of statistical noise and are dependent on disease type, insurance type, severity, population, and a multitude of other factors. The current study was conducted to investigate characteristics associated with readmission and the quality of neurosurgical care. METHODS: Admissions data were gleaned from the University Health System Consortium database for neurosurgical patient (both cranial and spine) readmissions to assess patient-related factors relating to readmission from January 2011 to December 2014. RESULTS: Among 257,212 admissions for neurosurgical disease analyzed, patients with Medicaid and private payers as a primary insurance source had increased rates of readmission (odds ratio for readmission of 1.38 and 1.17, respectively) compared with patients with Medicare or other primary insurers. Patients with greater severity of disease and emergent or urgent admission also had statistically significant rates of readmission. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that readmission is affected by patient factors that are beyond the control of treating physicians. These findings also suggest that readmission rates may not be a good proxy for measurement of quality of care in neurosurgical patients.

On resident duty hour restrictions and neurosurgical training: review of the literature.

Within neurosurgery, the national mandate of the 2003 duty hour restrictions (DHR) by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has been controversial. Ensuring the proper education and psychological well-being of residents while fulfilling the primary purpose of patient care has generated much debate. Most medical disciplines have developed strategies that address service needs while meeting educational goals. Additionally, there are numerous studies from those disciplines; however, they are not specifically relevant to the needs of a neurosurgical residency. The recent implementation of the 2011 DHR specifically aimed at limiting interns to 16-hour duty shifts has proven controversial and challenging across the nation for neurosurgical residencies--again bringing education and service needs into conflict. In this report the current literature on DHR is reviewed, with special attention paid to neurosurgical residencies, discussing resident fatigue, technical training, and patient safety. Where appropriate, other specialty studies have been included. The authors believe that a one-size-fits-all approach to residency training mandated by the ACGME is not appropriate for the training of neurosurgical residents. In the authors' opinion, an arbitrary timeline designed to limit resident fatigue limits patient care and technical training, and has not improved patient safety.

Surgical anatomy of the minimally invasive lateral lumbar approach.

The lateral lumbar interbody fusion approach (LLIF), which encompasses the extreme lateral interbody fusion or direct lateral interbody fusion techniques, has gained popularity as an alternative to traditional posterior approaches. With rapidly expanding applications, this minimally invasive surgery (MIS) approach is now utilized in basic degenerative pathologies as well as complex lumbar degenerative deformities and tumors. Given the intimate relationship of the psoas muscle, and hence the lumbar plexus, to this MIS approach, several authors have examined the surgical anatomy of this approach. Understanding this regional neural anatomy is imperative given the potential for serious injuries to both the motor and sensory nerves of the lumbar plexus. In this review, we critically and comprehensively discuss all published studies detailing the surgical anatomy of the lateral lumbar approach with respect to the MIS LLIF techniques. This is a timely review given the rapidly growing number of surgeons utilizing this technique.