Type A Behavior Patterns Among Neurosurgeons and Neurosurgical Trainees.

BACKGROUND: The busy and demanding work schedule of neurosurgeons suggests that they might have type A behavior patterns (TABPs). TABPs are also associated with multiple diseases; hence, their early identification could lead to behavioral changes and disease prevention. We aimed to determine the presence of TABPs among neurosurgeons and trainees in the Philippines and the association between demographic and clinical factors and TABPs. METHODS: An online survey was sent to neurosurgeons and neurosurgical trainees in the Philippines. Data on age, sex, comorbid conditions, smoking, alcohol use, training institution, level of residency training, and place of practice were obtained. The modified Bortner scale was used to determine TABPs. Univariate and multiple regression analyses were used for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 102 individuals (41 neurosurgeons and 61 trainees) completed the survey. Most of the respondents were men (74%), with a mean age of 36 years. The Bortner scores were normally distributed. TABPs were significantly associated with female sex (P = 0.0006) in the entire cohort. However, the trainee cohort also exhibited a significant association between TABPs and training in a public institution (P = 0.0027). CONCLUSION: The presence of TABPs followed a normal distribution among neurosurgeons and neurosurgical trainees in the Philippines. A significant association was found between TABPs and female sex for both neurosurgeons and trainees, and training in a public institution was significantly associated with TABPs only among the trainees.

Awake Craniotomy in Low-Resource Settings: Findings from a Retrospective Cohort in the Philippines.

BACKGROUND: Awake craniotomy is a technique used to maximize resection of lesions in eloquent areas of the brain and preserve function. Although its use in high-income centers is well documented for tumors and vascular lesions, reports of its use in low-middle-income countries are limited. There are no published series from the Philippines. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all patients who underwent awake craniotomy at a tertiary referral center in Manila, Philippines from 2010 to 2019. Data on demographics, clinical features, diagnoses, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and outcomes were collected. Regression analyses were performed to correlate use of intraoperative adjuncts with outcome measures (extent of resection, complication rate, neurologic status after surgery and on last follow-up, and in-hospital mortality). RESULTS: A total of 65 patients were included in the cohort, who had a male predilection (60%) and a mean age at diagnosis of 40.4 years. The most common indication was tumor excision (90%), followed by excision of arteriovenous malformations (5%) and cavernomas (3%). Of the tumors, the most common histopathologic diagnosis was low-grade glioma (48%). The intraoperative complication rate was 13.8%, with the most common complication being patient intolerance. Gross total excision rate for tumors was 78.3%. Univariate analysis showed that use of a cortical stimulator was associated with improved neurologic status on last follow-up (P = 0.0471). CONCLUSIONS: Our experience shows that awake craniotomy is feasible in low-middle-income country settings and is safe and effective for excision of tumors, arteriovenous malformations, and cavernomas.

Pediatric choroid plexus papilloma arising from the cerebellopontine angle: systematic review with illustrative case.

INTRODUCTION: Choroid plexus tumors are uncommon intraventricular tumors that develop from the choroid plexus of the central nervous system. Choroid plexus papillomas arising from the cerebellopontine angle have been reported to almost exclusively occur in adults and are rarely found in children. METHODS: We report a systematic review conducted in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines of SCOPUS and PubMed databases for case reports and case series of choroid plexus papillomas arising in the cerebellopontine angle in the pediatric population and discuss clinical presentation, imaging features, management options, and outcomes. We also report a case managed at our center. RESULTS: Ten cases of pediatric choroid plexus papillomas arising in the cerebellopontine angle were identified from the systematic review in addition to the case reported here, resulting in a total of eleven cases. The patients' median age was 8 years with a slight female sex predilection (1.2:1). Patients most commonly presented with headache, cerebellar signs, and cranial nerve palsies with median duration of symptoms at 4 months. All patients underwent surgical treatment with majority achieving gross total excision. No deaths were reported at median follow-up of 12 months. Complete neurologic recovery was attained in seven cases while partial recovery was seen in two cases. CONCLUSION: Choroid plexus papillomas found in the cerebellopontine angle in the pediatric population are extremely rare but they should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Complete surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment with excellent outcomes achievable in majority of patients.

Giant Cerebellar Cavernomas in Pediatric Patients: Systematic Review with Illustrative Case.

INTRODUCTION: Giant cavernomas (GCMs) are angiographically occult vascular malformations of the central nervous system measuring at least 4 cm in diameter. These are rare lesions, especially in the cerebellum. As such, the clinical and radiologic features, surgical management, and outcomes of treatment for this condition are unknown. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of SCOPUS and PubMed databases for case reports and case series of histopathologically proven GCMs arising from the cerebellum in the pediatric population, and included a case managed at our center. Data on clinical presentation, imaging features, surgical treatment and outcomes of management were collected. RESULTS: A total of 10 cases were identified from the systematic review, including our case report. The patients' median age was 6 months, with a slight male sex predilection (1.5:1). The most common neurologic manifestations were bulging fontanelle in infants, and headache and focal cerebellar deficits in older children. Surgical excision was done in all cases, while 50% of the cases had CSF diversion surgery done prior to excision. In cases with reported outcome, complete neurologic recovery was achieved in seven while partial recovery was reported in one case. No deaths were reported at median follow-up of 12 months. CONCLUSION: Our case report and systematic review show that giant cerebellar cavernoma is a rare differential diagnosis for symptomatic hemorrhagic cerebellar masses in the pediatric age group. Mainstay of treatment is surgical excision, which can be associated with favorable outcome in most cases.

Incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of unplanned extubation in adult patients in a resource-limited teaching hospital in the Philippines: a cohort study. / Incidência, fatores de risco e desfechos da extubação não planejada em pacientes adultos em um hospital de ensino com recursos limitados nas Filipinas: um estudo de coorte.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of unplanned extubation among adult patients. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study of adult intubated patients admitted to the charity wards of a government tertiary teaching hospital in the Philippines. Patients managed in both intensive care and nonintensive care settings were included. Patients were followed-up until discharge or until seven days postextubation. RESULTS: The outcomes of the 191 included patients were planned extubation (35%), unplanned extubation (19%), death (39%), and discharge against advice (7%). Competing risk regression showed that male sex (Crude OR: 2.25, 95%CI: 1.10 - 4.63) and age (Crude OR 0.976, 95%CI: 0.957 - 0.996) were significant baseline factors. The night shift (Crude OR: 24.6, 95%CI: 2.87 - 211) was also consistently associated with more unplanned extubations. Among postextubation outcomes, reintubation (unplanned extubation: 61.1% versus planned extubation: 25.4%), acute respiratory failure (unplanned extubation: 38.9% versus planned extubation: 17.5%), and cardiovascular events (unplanned extubation: 8.33% versus planned extubation: 1.49%) occurred significantly more often among the unplanned extubation patients. Admission in an intensive care unit was not associated with a lower risk of unplanned extubation (Crude OR 1.15, 95%CI: 0.594 - 2.21). CONCLUSION: Many intubated patients had unplanned extubation. Patients admitted in nonintensive care unit settings did not have significantly higher odds of unplanned extubation.

OBJETIVO: Determinar a incidência, os fatores de risco e os desfechos da extubação não planejada em pacientes adultos. MÉTODOS: Conduzimos estudo prospectivo de coorte de pacientes adultos intubados admitidos em ala de atendimento gratuito em um hospital governamental terciário de ensino nas Filipinas. Incluíram-se tanto pacientes em cuidados de terapia intensiva quanto fora dela. Os pacientes foram seguidos até a alta ou até o sétimo dia após a extubação. RESULTADOS: Os desfechos dos 191 pacientes incluídos foram: extubação planejada (35%), extubação não planejada (19%), óbito (39%) e alta a pedido (7%). A regressão de riscos competitivos demonstrou que o sexo masculino (OR bruta de 2,25; IC95% 1,10 - 4,63) e a idade (OR bruta: 0,976; IC95%: 0,957 - 0,996) foram fatores basais significantes. O turno da noite (OR bruta: 24,6; IC95%: 2,87 - 211) também teve associação consistente com maior ocorrência de extubação não planejada. Dentre os desfechos após a extubação, ocorreram significantemente mais, entre os pacientes com extubação não planejada, reintubação (extubação não planejada, com 61,1%, versus extubação planejada, com 25,4%), insuficiência respiratória aguda (extubação não planejada, com 38,9%, versus extubação planejada, com 17,5%) e eventos cardiovasculares (extubação não planejada, com 8,33%, versus extubação planejada, com 1,49%). A admissão à unidade de terapia intensiva não se associou com risco menor de extubação não planejada (OR bruta de 1,15; IC95% 0,594 - 2,21). CONCLUSÃO: Muitos pacientes intubados tiveram extubação não planejada. Os pacientes admitidos em outras unidades, que não a de terapia intensiva, não tiveram tendências mais elevadas de extubação não planejada.

Incidência, fatores de risco e desfechos da extubação não planejada em pacientes adultos em um hospital de ensino com recursos limitados nas Filipinas: um estudo de coorte / Incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of unplanned extubation in adult patients in a resource-limited teaching hospital in the Philippines: a cohort study

RESUMO Objetivo: Determinar a incidência, os fatores de risco e os desfechos da extubação não planejada em pacientes adultos. Métodos: Conduzimos estudo prospectivo de coorte de pacientes adultos intubados admitidos em ala de atendimento gratuito em um hospital governamental terciário de ensino nas Filipinas. Incluíram-se tanto pacientes em cuidados de terapia intensiva quanto fora dela. Os pacientes foram seguidos até a alta ou até o sétimo dia após a extubação. Resultados: Os desfechos dos 191 pacientes incluídos foram: extubação planejada (35%), extubação não planejada (19%), óbito (39%) e alta a pedido (7%). A regressão de riscos competitivos demonstrou que o sexo masculino (OR bruta de 2,25; IC95% 1,10 - 4,63) e a idade (OR bruta: 0,976; IC95%: 0,957 - 0,996) foram fatores basais significantes. O turno da noite (OR bruta: 24,6; IC95%: 2,87 - 211) também teve associação consistente com maior ocorrência de extubação não planejada. Dentre os desfechos após a extubação, ocorreram significantemente mais, entre os pacientes com extubação não planejada, reintubação (extubação não planejada, com 61,1%, versus extubação planejada, com 25,4%), insuficiência respiratória aguda (extubação não planejada, com 38,9%, versus extubação planejada, com 17,5%) e eventos cardiovasculares (extubação não planejada, com 8,33%, versus extubação planejada, com 1,49%). A admissão à unidade de terapia intensiva não se associou com risco menor de extubação não planejada (OR bruta de 1,15; IC95% 0,594 - 2,21). Conclusão: Muitos pacientes intubados tiveram extubação não planejada. Os pacientes admitidos em outras unidades, que não a de terapia intensiva, não tiveram tendências mais elevadas de extubação não planejada.

ABSTRACT Objective: We aimed to determine the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of unplanned extubation among adult patients. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of adult intubated patients admitted to the charity wards of a government tertiary teaching hospital in the Philippines. Patients managed in both intensive care and nonintensive care settings were included. Patients were followed-up until discharge or until seven days postextubation. Results: The outcomes of the 191 included patients were planned extubation (35%), unplanned extubation (19%), death (39%), and discharge against advice (7%). Competing risk regression showed that male sex (Crude OR: 2.25, 95%CI: 1.10 - 4.63) and age (Crude OR 0.976, 95%CI: 0.957 - 0.996) were significant baseline factors. The night shift (Crude OR: 24.6, 95%CI: 2.87 - 211) was also consistently associated with more unplanned extubations. Among postextubation outcomes, reintubation (unplanned extubation: 61.1% versus planned extubation: 25.4%), acute respiratory failure (unplanned extubation: 38.9% versus planned extubation: 17.5%), and cardiovascular events (unplanned extubation: 8.33% versus planned extubation: 1.49%) occurred significantly more often among the unplanned extubation patients. Admission in an intensive care unit was not associated with a lower risk of unplanned extubation (Crude OR 1.15, 95%CI: 0.594 - 2.21). Conclusion: Many intubated patients had unplanned extubation. Patients admitted in nonintensive care unit settings did not have significantly higher odds of unplanned extubation.