Central auditory processing and self-perception questionnaire after acoustically controlled auditory training in individuals with mild traumatic brain injury. / Processamento auditivo central e questionário de autopercepção pós-treinamento auditivo acusticamente controlado em indivíduos com traumatismo cranioencefálico leve.

PURPOSE: To correlate behavioral assessment results of central auditory processing and the self-perception questionnaire after acoustically controlled auditory training. METHODS: The study assessed 10 individuals with a mean age of 44.5 years who had suffered mild traumatic brain injury. They underwent behavioral assessment of central auditory processing and answered the Formal Auditory Training self-perception questionnaire after the therapeutic intervention - whose questions address auditory perception, understanding orders, request to repeat statements, occurrence of misunderstandings, attention span, auditory performance in noisy environments, telephone communication, and self-esteem. Patients were asked to indicate the frequency with which the listed behaviors occurred. RESULTS: Figure-ground, sequential memory for sounds, and temporal processing correlated with improvement in following instructions, fewer requests to repeat statements, increased attention span, improved communication, and understanding on the phone and when watching TV. CONCLUSION: Auditory closure, figure-ground, and temporal processing had improved in the assessment after the acoustically controlled auditory training, and there were fewer auditory behavior complaints.

OBJETIVO: Correlacionar os resultados da avaliação comportamental do processamento auditivo central e do questionário de autopercepção após o treinamento auditivo acusticamente controlado. MÉTODO: Foram avaliados dez indivíduos com média de idade de 44,5 anos, que sofreram traumatismo cranioencefálico de grau leve. Os indivíduos foram submetidos a avaliação comportamental do processamento auditivo central e também responderam ao questionário de autopercepção "Treinamento Auditivo Formal" após a intervenção terapêutica. O questionário foi composto por questões referentes a percepção auditiva, compreensão de ordens, solicitação de repetição de enunciados, ocorrência mal-entendidos, tempo de atenção, desempenho auditivo em ambiente ruidoso, comunicação ao telefone e autoestima e os pacientes foram solicitados a assinalar a frequência de ocorrência dos comportamentos listados. RESULTADOS: As habilidades auditivas de figura-fundo e memória para sons em sequência e processamento temporal correlacionaram-se com melhora para seguir instruções, diminuição das solicitações de repetições e aumento do tempo de atenção e melhora da comunicação e da compreensão ao telefone e para assistir TV. CONCLUSÃO: Observou-se adequação das habilidades auditivas de fechamento auditivo, figura fundo, e processamento temporal na avaliação pós-treinamento auditivo acusticamente controlado, além de redução das queixas quanto ao comportamento auditivo.

The long-term effect on functional outcome of endoscopic brainwashing for intraventricular hemorrhage compared to external ventricular drainage alone: A retrospective single-center cohort study.

Background: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a complex condition with both mechanical and chemical effects, resulting in mortality rates of 50-80%. Recent reports advocate for neuroendoscopic treatment, particularly endoscopic brainwashing (EBW), but long-term functional outcomes remain insufficiently explored. This study aims to outline the step-by-step procedure of EBW as applied in our institution, providing results and comparing them with those of external ventricular drainage (EVD) alone. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of adult patients with IVH who underwent EBW and patients submitted to EVD alone at our institution. All medical records were reviewed to describe clinical and radiological characteristics. Results: Although both groups had similar baseline factors, EBW patients exhibited a larger hemoventricle (median Graeb score 25 vs. 23 in EVD, P = 0.03) and a higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease and diabetes. Short-term mortality was lower in EBW (52% and 60% at 1 and 6 months) compared to EVD (80% for both), though not statistically significant (P = 0.06). At one month, 16% of EBW patients achieved a good outcome (Modified Rankin scale < 3) versus none in the EVD group (P = 0.1). In the long term, favorable outcomes were observed in 32% of EBW patients and 11% of EVD patients (P = 0.03), with no significant difference in shunt dependency. Conclusion: Comparing EBW and EVD, patients submitted to the former treatment have the highest modified Graeb scores and, at a long-term follow-up, have better outcomes, demonstrated by the improvement of the patients in the follow-up.

Processamento auditivo central e questionário de autopercepção pós-treinamento auditivo acusticamente controlado em indivíduos com traumatismo cranioencefálico leve / Central auditory processing and self-perception questionnaire after acoustically controlled auditory training in individuals with mild traumatic brain injury

RESUMO Objetivo Correlacionar os resultados da avaliação comportamental do processamento auditivo central e do questionário de autopercepção após o treinamento auditivo acusticamente controlado. Método Foram avaliados dez indivíduos com média de idade de 44,5 anos, que sofreram traumatismo cranioencefálico de grau leve. Os indivíduos foram submetidos a avaliação comportamental do processamento auditivo central e também responderam ao questionário de autopercepção "Treinamento Auditivo Formal" após a intervenção terapêutica. O questionário foi composto por questões referentes a percepção auditiva, compreensão de ordens, solicitação de repetição de enunciados, ocorrência mal-entendidos, tempo de atenção, desempenho auditivo em ambiente ruidoso, comunicação ao telefone e autoestima e os pacientes foram solicitados a assinalar a frequência de ocorrência dos comportamentos listados. Resultados As habilidades auditivas de figura-fundo e memória para sons em sequência e processamento temporal correlacionaram-se com melhora para seguir instruções, diminuição das solicitações de repetições e aumento do tempo de atenção e melhora da comunicação e da compreensão ao telefone e para assistir TV. Conclusão Observou-se adequação das habilidades auditivas de fechamento auditivo, figura fundo, e processamento temporal na avaliação pós-treinamento auditivo acusticamente controlado, além de redução das queixas quanto ao comportamento auditivo.

ABSTRACT Purpose To correlate behavioral assessment results of central auditory processing and the self-perception questionnaire after acoustically controlled auditory training. Methods The study assessed 10 individuals with a mean age of 44.5 years who had suffered mild traumatic brain injury. They underwent behavioral assessment of central auditory processing and answered the Formal Auditory Training self-perception questionnaire after the therapeutic intervention - whose questions address auditory perception, understanding orders, request to repeat statements, occurrence of misunderstandings, attention span, auditory performance in noisy environments, telephone communication, and self-esteem. Patients were asked to indicate the frequency with which the listed behaviors occurred. Results Figure-ground, sequential memory for sounds, and temporal processing correlated with improvement in following instructions, fewer requests to repeat statements, increased attention span, improved communication, and understanding on the phone and when watching TV. Conclusion Auditory closure, figure-ground, and temporal processing had improved in the assessment after the acoustically controlled auditory training, and there were fewer auditory behavior complaints.

Fetal neurosurgery.

Among fetal surgical procedures, neurosurgery stands out due to the number of cases and the possibility of developing new procedures that can be performed in the fetal period. To perform fetal neurosurgical procedures, there is a need for specialized centers that have experts in the diagnosis of fetal pathologies and a highly complex obstetrics service with specialized maternal-fetal teams associated with a pediatric neurosurgery center with expertise in the diverse pathologies of the fetus and the central nervous system that offers multidisciplinary follow-up during postnatal life. Services that do not have these characteristics should refer their patients to these centers to obtain better treatment results. It is essential that the fetal neurosurgical procedure be performed by a pediatric neurosurgeon with extensive experience, as he will be responsible for monitoring these patients in the postnatal period and for several years. The objective of this manuscript is to demonstrate the diagnostic and treatment possibilities, in the fetal period, of some neurosurgical diseases such as hydrocephalus, tumors, occipital encephalocele, and myelomeningocele.

Time course of hemispheric cerebral volume after decompressive craniectomy in malignant middle cerebral artery stroke.

BACKGROUND: Brain edema is the leading cause of death in patients with malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction. Midline shift (MLS) has been used as a monohemispheric brain edema marker in several studies; however, it does not precisely measure brain edema. It is now possible to directly measure hemisphere brain volume. Knowledge about the time course of brain edema after malignant middle cerebral artery infarction may contribute to the condition's management. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, our goal was to evaluate the course of brain edema in patients with malignant MCA infarction treated with decompressive craniectomy (DC) using hemispheric volumetric measurements. METHODS: Patients were selected consecutively from a single tertiary hospital between 2013 and 2019. All patients were diagnosed with malignant middle cerebral artery infarction and underwent a decompressive craniectomy (DC) to treat the ischemic event. All computed tomography (CT) exams performed during the clinical care of these patients were analyzed, and the whole ischemic hemisphere volume was calculated for each CT scan. RESULTS: We analyzed 43 patients (197 CT exams). Patients' mean age at DC was 51.72 [range: 42-68] years. The mean time between the ischemic ictus and DC was 41.88 (range: 6-77) hours. The mean time between the ischemic event and the peak of hemisphere volume was 168.84 (95% confidence interval [142.08, 195.59]) hours. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the peak of cerebral edema in malignant MCA infarction after DC occurred on the 7th day (168.84 h) after stroke symptoms onset. Further studies evaluating therapies for brain edema even after DC should be investigated.

ANTECEDENTES: O edema cerebral é a principal causa de morte em pacientes com infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média. O desvio da linha média tem sido utilizado como marcador de edema cerebral mono-hemisférico em alguns estudos; porém, ele não mede de forma precisa o edema cerebral. Atualmente é possível mensurar diretamente o volume do hemisfério cerebral. O conhecimento sobre a evolução temporal do edema cerebral após infartos malignos da artéria cerebral média pode contribuir para o cuidado clínico desta condição. OBJETIVO: Nosso objetivo é avaliar o edema hemisférico ao longo do tempo, em pacientes com infarto maligno da artéria cerebral média, tratados com craniectomia descompressiva. MéTODOS: Os pacientes foram selecionados de forma consecutiva, em um hospital terciário, entre 2013 e 2019. Todos os pacientes apresentavam diagnóstico de infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média e foram submetidos a craniectomia descompressiva. Todas as tomografias computadorizadas de crânio destes pacientes foram analizadas, e o volume do hemisfério cerebral infartado foi mensurado. RESULTADOS: Analisamos 43 pacientes (197 tomografias de crânio). A idade média dos pacientes na craniectomia descompressiva foi 51,72 (42­68) anos. O tempo médio entre o ictus e a craniectomia descompressiva foi 41,88 (6­77) horas. O tempo médio entre o ictus e o pico do volume hemisférico foi 168,84 (142,08­195,59) horas. CONCLUSãO: O pico do volume cerebral em pacientes com infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média submetidos a craniectomia descompressiva ocorreu no 7o dia (168,84 horas) após o infarto. Mais estudos avaliando terapêuticas direcionadas ao edema cerebral seriam úteis neste contexto.

Time course of hemispheric cerebral volume after decompressive craniectomy in malignant middle cerebral artery stroke / Evolução temporal do volume hemisférico cerebral após craniectomia descompressiva em infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média

Abstract Background Brain edema is the leading cause of death in patients with malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction. Midline shift (MLS) has been used as a monohemispheric brain edema marker in several studies; however, it does not precisely measure brain edema. It is now possible to directly measure hemisphere brain volume. Knowledge about the time course of brain edema after malignant middle cerebral artery infarction may contribute to the condition's management. Objective Therefore, our goal was to evaluate the course of brain edema in patients with malignant MCA infarction treated with decompressive craniectomy (DC) using hemispheric volumetric measurements. Methods Patients were selected consecutively from a single tertiary hospital between 2013 and 2019. All patients were diagnosed with malignant middle cerebral artery infarction and underwent a decompressive craniectomy (DC) to treat the ischemic event. All computed tomography (CT) exams performed during the clinical care of these patients were analyzed, and the whole ischemic hemisphere volume was calculated for each CT scan. Results We analyzed 43 patients (197 CT exams). Patients' mean age at DC was 51.72 [range: 42-68] years. The mean time between the ischemic ictus and DC was 41.88 (range: 6-77) hours. The mean time between the ischemic event and the peak of hemisphere volume was 168.84 (95% confidence interval [142.08, 195.59]) hours. Conclusion In conclusion, the peak of cerebral edema in malignant MCA infarction after DC occurred on the 7th day (168.84 h) after stroke symptoms onset. Further studies evaluating therapies for brain edema even after DC should be investigated.

Resumo Antecedentes O edema cerebral é a principal causa de morte em pacientes com infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média. O desvio da linha média tem sido utilizado como marcador de edema cerebral mono-hemisférico em alguns estudos; porém, ele não mede de forma precisa o edema cerebral. Atualmente é possível mensurar diretamente o volume do hemisfério cerebral. O conhecimento sobre a evolução temporal do edema cerebral após infartos malignos da artéria cerebral média pode contribuir para o cuidado clínico desta condição. Objetivo Nosso objetivo é avaliar o edema hemisférico ao longo do tempo, em pacientes com infarto maligno da artéria cerebral média, tratados com craniectomia descompressiva. Métodos Os pacientes foram selecionados de forma consecutiva, em um hospital terciário, entre 2013 e 2019. Todos os pacientes apresentavam diagnóstico de infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média e foram submetidos a craniectomia descompressiva. Todas as tomografias computadorizadas de crânio destes pacientes foram analizadas, e o volume do hemisfério cerebral infartado foi mensurado. Resultados Analisamos 43 pacientes (197 tomografias de crânio). A idade média dos pacientes na craniectomia descompressiva foi 51,72 (42-68) anos. O tempo médio entre o ictus e a craniectomia descompressiva foi 41,88 (6-77) horas. O tempo médio entre o ictus e o pico do volume hemisférico foi 168,84 (142,08-195,59) horas. Conclusão O pico do volume cerebral em pacientes com infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média submetidos a craniectomia descompressiva ocorreu no 7o dia (168,84 horas) após o infarto. Mais estudos avaliando terapêuticas direcionadas ao edema cerebral seriam úteis neste contexto.

Training model for the fetal myelomeningocele correction with multiportal endoscopic technique.

PURPOSE: The recent history of myelomeningocele has shown that treatment during the fetal life may reduce the risk of developing hydrocephalus in individuals by approximately 50%. Thus, a significant advancement involves fetal surgery performed through an endoscopic technique in which portals are placed to introduce the forceps and laparoscopic instruments. However, the development of this technique requires training; therefore, this study aimed to develop a training model for fetal myelomeningocele repair technique with multi-portal endoscopy. METHODS: Two stages of endoscopic technique development were performed. The first stage consisted of exercises in order to familiarize the surgeon with 2D-vision endoscopic surgery, associated with the application of exercises focused on surgical skills, such as the development of laparoscopic knots in a synthetic model. The second stage involved the creation and application of the stages of myelomeningocele closure with a non-living animal model consisting of a chicken breast to simulate the myelomeningocele and a basketball to simulate the gravid uterus, in which perforations were made to introduce vascular introducers (portals) that, as in vivo, are used as portals (trocars) for the introduction of laparoscopic instruments. Overall, two different scenarios with three portals and two portals were tested. RESULTS: In three-portal simulator, the triangular apex trocar was used for the introduction of 4-mm 0° or 30° optics or even Minop type neurodoscope (Aesculap®, Germany) that was operated by the assistant surgeon; the other two portals are used for the introduction of laparoscopic instruments. Thus, the surgeon is able to perform maneuvers bimanually since dissection to laparoscopic sutures. In two-portal simulator, the surgeon and assistant stay side by side and one of the portals is used for the optic and the other for the laparoscopic instruments. There is no possibility of bimanual dissection in this method. CONCLUSION: Realistic simulation models for endoscopic fetal surgery for myelomeningocele correction are easily performed and help develop the necessary skills for fetal surgery teams.

Central auditory processing in children after traumatic brain injury.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic brain injury can impair the central auditory pathways and auditory cortex. Hence, individuals who suffered a traumatic brain injury may be at risk of central auditory processing disorders, which can be identified with behavioral tests that assess central auditory function. OBJECTIVE: To characterize and compare the performance of children and adolescents with and without a history of traumatic brain injury in behavioral tests that assess central auditory processing. METHOD: The sample comprised 8- to 18-year-old individuals of both sexes who suffered moderate or severe closed traumatic brain injury 3 to 24 months before their participation in the study and whose hearing thresholds were normal. These individuals were matched for sex and age with other subjects without a history of traumatic brain injury and submitted to behavioral assessment of the central auditory processing with special tests to assess hearing skills (namely, auditory closure, figure-ground, and temporal processing), selected according to their chronological age and response-ability. RESULTS: The study group performed statistically worse than the comparison group in auditory closure, figure-ground in verbal dichotic listening, and temporal ordering. The central auditory processing tests with abnormal results in the comparison group were different from those in the study group. CONCLUSION: Central auditory processing disorders were identified in all subjects of the study group, especially involving auditory closure and temporal processing skills, in comparison with subjects without a history of traumatic brain injury.

Decompressive craniectomy index: Does the size of decompressive craniectomy matter in malignant middle cerebral artery infarction?

Background: Malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction is associated with high mortality, mainly due to intracranial hypertension. This malignant course develops when two-thirds or more of MCA territory is infarcted. Randomized clinical trials demonstrated that in patients with malignant MCA infarction, decompressive craniectomy (DC) is associated with better prognosis. In these patients, some prognostic predictors are already known, including age and time between stroke and DC. The size of bone flap was not associated with long-term prognosis in the previous studies. Therefore, this paper aims to further expand the analysis of the bone removal toward a more precise quantification and verify the prognosis implication of the bone flap area/whole supratentorial hemicranium relation in patients treated with DC for malignant middle cerebral infarcts. Methods: This study included 45 patients operated between 2015 and 2020. All patients had been diagnosed with a malignant MCA infarction and were submitted to DC to treat the ischemic event. The primary endpoint was dichotomized modified Rankin scale (mRS) 1 year after surgery (mRS≤4 or mRS>4). Results: Patients with bad prognosis (mRS 5-6) were on average: older and with a smaller decompressive craniectomy index (DCI). In multivariate analysis, with adjustments for "age" and "time" from symptoms onset to DC, the association between DCI and prognosis remained. Conclusion: In our series, the relation between bone flap size and theoretical maximum supratentorial hemicranium area (DCI) in patients with malignant MCA infarction was associated with prognosis. Further studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

Central auditory processing in children after traumatic brain injury

Abstract Introduction: Traumatic brain injury can impair the central auditory pathways and auditory cortex. Hence, individuals who suffered a traumatic brain injury may be at risk of central auditory processing disorders, which can be identified with behavioral tests that assess central auditory function. Objective: To characterize and compare the performance of children and adolescents with and without a history of traumatic brain injury in behavioral tests that assess central auditory processing. Method: The sample comprised 8- to 18-year-old individuals of both sexes who suffered moderate or severe closed traumatic brain injury 3 to 24 months before their participation in the study and whose hearing thresholds were normal. These individuals were matched for sex and age with other subjects without a history of traumatic brain injury and submitted to behavioral assessment of the central auditory processing with special tests to assess hearing skills (namely, auditory closure, figure-ground, and temporal processing), selected according to their chronological age and response-ability. Results: The study group performed statistically worse than the comparison group in auditory closure, figure-ground in verbal dichotic listening, and temporal ordering. The central auditory processing tests with abnormal results in the comparison group were different from those in the study group. Conclusion: Central auditory processing disorders were identified in all subjects of the study group, especially involving auditory closure and temporal processing skills, in comparison with subjects without a history of traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic acute subdural hematoma and coma: retrospective cohort of surgically treated patients.

BACKGROUND: A subdural hematoma is defined as clot formation in the subdural space after vessel rupture or brain parenchyma damage. Several demographic and tomographic factors were associated to poor prognosis, although some debate according to their specific roles still remains. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of comatose patients admitted to a single-institution, tertiary hospital center, between the years 2013 and 2019 with traumatic acute subdural hematoma requiring surgical evacuation were studied. Demographic and tomographic data were obtained from medical records. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis were performed, using a value of P < 0.05 for significance. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients were selected using the criteria and a total of 37 (48%) head CT exams were evaluated. The overall mortality was 57.1% and achieved 100% at ≥75-years-old subgroup. Univariate analysis only found young age as a good prognosis factor (P = 0.002). Gender (P = 0.784), abnormal pupillary response (P = 0.643), midline shift (P = 0.874), clot thickness (P = 0.206), compressed basal cisterns (P = 0.643), hematoma side (P = 0.879), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (P = 0.510) showed no association. Multivariate analysis showed no statistically significant association between covariates. CONCLUSION: Traumatic acute subdural hematoma is a life-threatening condition. Younger age was the only positive prognostic factor identified. More research is necessary to establish age as a rule-out criterion to surgical indication.

Functional Motor Skills in Children Who Underwent Fetal Myelomeningocele Repair: Does Anatomic Level Matter?

BACKGROUND: In this study, we evaluated children who underwent prenatal myelomeningocele (MMC) repair to investigate the influence of the anatomical level of the lesion on functional motor skills and congenital orthopedic malformations. METHODS: This cross-sectional study evaluated children who underwent prenatal correction. The anatomical level of the lesion was classified by observing the magnetic resonance of the spine. The sensory/motor assessment was performed by physical examination to classify the status of ambulation, functional level, and functional performance according to chronological age using the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI-CAT) scale. RESULTS: One hundred cases were evaluated; for 60%, lesions were located in the upper lumbar region and for 40%, they were located in the lower lumbar and sacral regions. The functionality, measured by the PEDI-CAT scale, showed a normal average according to age (mean 50), with 71% of children being community ambulators. Congenital orthopedic malformations were also unrelated to the injury levels, except for knee dislocation in relation to upper lumbar injury. At the functional level, we observed that for the majority, the levels of function of at least 2 vertebrae were below the anatomical level. CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences in functional motor skills, walking pattern, or congenital orthopedic malformation when compared with the anatomical level of injury in patients who underwent prenatal repair of MMC, except for congenital knee dislocation.

Endoscope-Controlled Microsurgery of a Ruptured Middle Fossa Arachnoid Cyst.

Arachnoid cysts are responsible for 1% of expansive lesions in the central nervous system. Usually, they do not cause neurologic symptoms unless they have expansion or hemorrhage. Intracystic bleeding is caused by trauma or may be spontaneous. There are few cases in the literature of spontaneous hemorrhage of arachnoid cysts. This 2-dimensional video (Video 1) demonstrates the case of a 6-year-old boy who presented with headache and diplopia. At the physical examination, he exhibited right sixth nerve palsy. The complementary examinations revealed a left middle fossa arachnoid cyst classified as Galassi 2. An urgent procedure was planned to fenestrate the cyst. Informed written consent was obtained from the patient's family. Due to the team experience, endoscope-controlled microsurgery was performed. The patient experienced remission of the headache and the diplopia. A CT scan was performed on the first postoperative day and revealed a lamina of acute blood at the subdural space. It was an asymptomatic thin lamina of blood; we opted to watch and follow. One month later, a control MRI revealed a left frontoparietal subdural hematoma. Despite being asymptomatic, the hematoma was determined to have significant mass effect; thus, it was evacuated by a parietal burr-hole. After 1 month, another MRI showed resolution of the frontoparietal hematoma and significant reduction in the arachnoid cyst. There are few cases described of spontaneous rupture of arachnoid cyst; beyond that, we would like to illustrate a step-by-step procedure that is not widely available as a video article.

Fetal surgery for occipital encephalocele.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, the authors retrospectively reviewed two cohorts of patients with occipital encephalocele (OE) and demonstrate the technical aspects of an innovative and unprecedented method for fetal OE correction. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional retrospective study of 22 patients who underwent surgery from July 2012 to July 2018. The inclusion criteria for participants were a gestational age between 19 weeks and 27 weeks, a maternal age ≥ 18 years, a normal fetal karyotype, the presence of microcephaly, and a cystic hernial sac with the cystic component accounting for more than 80% of the total volume, which was larger than 10 ml. The fetuses with OE and microcephaly underwent intrauterine repair. The exclusion criteria were the presence of a fetal anomaly not associated with OE, chromosomopathy, presence of the brainstem inside the hernial sac or venous sinuses inside the herniated content, the risk of premature birth, placenta previa, and maternal conditions that would constitute an additional risk for fetal and maternal health, as well as refusal for fetal surgery. The authors reviewed the potential for microcephaly reversal and the long-term neurocognitive development. RESULTS: The authors report the cases of 9 fetuses with OE and microcephaly who underwent intrauterine OE repair at gestational ages of less than 27 weeks (fetal group). One case selected for fetal surgery also presented with placental abruption. All patients who underwent the fetal operation had microcephaly reversal, and 3 patients required ventriculoperitoneal shunting in the 1st year of life. The authors reviewed the cases of 12 patients who underwent postnatal repair. In 10 cases, fetal surgery was refused (postnatal group), and in 2 cases, the inclusion criteria for fetal surgery were not met. The authors evaluated the neurocognitive development of the patients with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II. The median score for the fetal group was 98.7, and that for the postnatal group was 27.8. CONCLUSIONS: The intrauterine repair of OE may stop the progression of encephalocele sac herniation and result in microcephaly reversal. The fetal group had a better cognitive outcome than the postnatal group. The technique required to correct this defect is feasible for those with previous experience in the correction of fetal myelomeningocele. However, more studies are needed to ensure the efficacy of this procedure.

Alterations in skull base anatomy in intrauterine and postnatal repaired myelomeningoceles.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the skull base anatomy of patients who underwent intrauterine or postnatal myelomeningocele repair and to determine its relationship with hydrocephalus. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study that analyzed three groups: the postnatal group, 57 patients who underwent myelomeningocele repair up to 48 h after birth; the fetal group, 70 patients who underwent myelomeningocele repair between 19 and 27 weeks of gestation; and a control group (65). We compared the rate of hydrocephalus treatment, the clivus-supraocciput angle (CSA), and the Welcher angle. RESULTS: The mean CSA in the fetal group was 87.6°, and the postnatal group was significantly different at 78.3° (p < 0.0001). The control group (89.1°) was significantly different from the postnatal group but not from the fetal group. The mean Welcher angle was not significantly different between the groups. There was an 8.5% rate of surgical treatment for hydrocephalus in the fetal group, compared with 73.6% in the postnatal group. CONCLUSIONS: The CSA in the fetal group was larger than that in the postnatal group, which may explain the decrease in the prevalence of hydrocephalus in the fetal group.

Intracranial pressure following decompressive hemicraniectomy for malignant cerebral infarction: clinical and treatment correlations / Monitorização da pressão intracraniana em pacientes tratados com hemicraniectomia descompressiva por acidente vascular cerebral maligno de artéria cerebral média: correlações clínicas e terapêuticas

ABSTRACT Decompressive craniectomy (DC) reduces mortality and improves outcome in patients with massive brain infarctions. The role of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring following DC for stroke has not been well established. Methods: We evaluated 14 patients admitted to a tertiary hospital with malignant middle cerebral artery infarctions, from October 2010 to February 2015, who underwent DC and had ICP monitoring. Patients with and without episodes of ICP elevation were compared. Results: Fourteen patients were submitted to DC and had ICP monitoring following the procedure during the period. Ten patients (71.4%) had at least one episode of sustained elevated ICP in the first seven days after surgery. Maximal ICP levels had no correlation with age, time to hemicraniectomy or Glasgow Coma Scores at admission, but had a trend toward correlation with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission (p = 0.1). Ventriculitis occurred in 21.4% of the patients. Conclusions: High ICP episodes and ventriculitis were common in patients following hemicraniectomy for malignant middle cerebral artery strokes. Therefore, the implications of ICP and benefits of the procedure should be firmly established.

RESUMO Craniectomia descompressiva (CD) reduz a mortalidade e melhora o desfecho em pacientes com infartos malignos de artéria cerebral média (ACM). O papel da monitorização da pressão intracraniana (PIC) após CD para infartos malignos de ACM não está bem estabelecido. Métodos: Avaliamos pacientes consecutivos internados em um hospital terciário com infartos malignos de ACM de outubro/2010 a fevereiro/2015 tratados com CD e submetidos à monitorização da PIC. Foram comparados pacientes com e sem episódios de elevação de PIC. Resultados: Quatorze pacientes (idade média 49,0 ± 12,4 anos, 42,9% do sexo masculino) foram avaliados. Dez pacientes (71,4%) tiveram pelo menos um episódio de elevação da PIC nos primeiros sete dias após a cirurgia. A PIC máxima média foi de 26,71 ± 11,64 mmHg. Os níveis máximos de PIC não apresentaram correlação com a idade, o tempo de hemicraniectomia ou com a pontuação na Escala de Coma de Glasgow na admissão, mas houve tendência a ser correlacionada com a pontuação da National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale na admissão (p = 0,1). Ventriculite ocorreu em 21,4% dos pacientes. Conclusões: Os episódios de aumento da PIC foram comuns em pacientes tratados com CD por infarto maligno de MCA e ventriculite foi evento adverso frequente nesses pacientes. Portanto, as implicações da monitorização da PIC sobre o resultado funcional, bem como os riscos e benefícios do procedimento, devem ser melhor estabelecidos.