Closure of a large lumbosacral myelomeningocele defect with a human pericardial graft: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Myelomeningocele (MMC) is a complex congenital defect resulting from incomplete closure of the neural tube. The aim of this study is to present an unusual technique for the closure of a large defect. CASE REPORT: Here we report a patient that was prenatally diagnosed with MMC. At birth, a skin defect of approximately 5 x 7 cm was observed. To repair the defect, a Z-plasty was performed; however, necrosis of the flap developed 3 days after the surgery. The devitalized tissue was removed, and a human pericardial graft was used to cover the defect. DISCUSSION: Different techniques have been described for the repair of MMC with a large skin defect, such as rotation skin flaps as well as synthetic and biological grafts. In our patient, a new technique without prior experience consisting of the application of human cadaveric pericardial graft was used with good results and no complications. CONCLUSION: Closure of MMC is often a surgical challenge. Here we describe a surgical technique for the closure of large skin defects.

Resultados clínicos y quirúrgicos del tratamiento de craneofaringiomas en pediatría / Clinical and surgical results of the treatment of craniopharyngiomas in pediatrics

Introducción: Los craneofaringiomas son tumores benignos frecuentes en pediatría. La cirugía resectiva solía ser el tratamiento de elección. Sin embargo, en los últimos años se encuentra muy cuestionada debido a su elevada morbilidad. El objetivo primario de este trabajo es presentar los resultados clínicos y quirúrgicos de la cirugía resectiva de craneofaringiomas por vía transcraneal en nuestra institución. El objetivo secundario es presentar una serie de casos en los que se realizó un tratamiento quirúrgico conservador utilizando un reservorio de Ommaya para tratamiento del componente quístico. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo de una serie de casos que compara evaluaciones clínicas e imagenológicas pre y postoperatoria en pacientes sometidos a cirugía resectiva de craneofaringioma. Además, se presenta una serie de casos de pacientes con craneofaringiomas predominantemente quísticos tratados con colocación de catéter de Ommaya intraquístico e Interferón. Resultados: Se analizaron 33 pacientes con craneofaringioma sometidos a resección quirúrgica. Al año de la cirugía, encontramos que el 51.52% de los casos (17 pacientes) se mantuvo sin crecimiento de la lesión y que el 48.48% (16 pacientes) presentó aumento o recidiva. En el postoperatorio todas las evaluaciones clínicas empeoraron. Fueron estadísticamente significativas la aparición de diabetes insípida (18.18% vs. 69.70%; p=0.04), obesidad (12.12% vs. 36.36%; p=0.005) y talla baja (33.33% vs. 57.58%; p=0.0006). En los tratados con Ommaya e Interferón, el 28.57% (2 casos) presentó reducción o estabilidad en el quiste y el 71.43% (5 casos) aumentó el tamaño, aunque presentó mejores resultados respecto a la restricción de la talla y obesidad. Conclusión: La exéresis quirúrgica de los craneofaringiomas genera una alta tasa de comorbilidades sumado a un porcentaje elevado de recidiva. El manejo conservador tratando el componente quístico en los casos en los que sea posible podría ser una opción viable. El tratamiento de los craneofaringiomas de la infancia debe abordarse de forma multidisciplinaria intentando preservar el bienestar y la calidad de vida de los pacientes

Introduction: Craniopharyngioma is a common benign tumor in children. Although surgery has traditionally been the treatment of choice, it has been controversial in recent years due to the associated high morbidity. The main aim of this paper is to present the clinical and surgical outcomes seen after craniopharyngioma resection in our institution. The secondary objective is to present a case series of patients treated with an Ommaya reservoir (OR) and interferon. Methods: This was a descriptive study comparing the pre and post-surgical clinical and image assessment in patients undergoing craniopharyngioma resection. Also, a case series including patients with craniopharyngioma managed with an Ommaya reservoir (OR) and Interpheron was included. Results: Thirty-three patients with craniopharyngioma undergoing surgical resection were assessed. We found no tumor growth in 51.52% (17) of the cases, and either tumor growth or recurrence in 48.48% of the cases at one year. Clinical worsening was observed in the post-operative period; the presence of diabetes insipidus (18.18% vs. 69.70%; p=0.04), obesity (12.12% vs. 36.36%; p=0.005) and short stature (33.33% vs. 57.58%; p=0.0006) were statistically significant. Of the patients treated with an OR and interferon, 28.57% (2) presented tumor cyst regression or stability, and 71.43% exhibited tumor cyst growth. Conclusion: The surgical resection of craniopharyngiomas is associated with a high recurrence rate and usually high mortality. A multidisciplinary management of craniopharyngiomas in childhood is advisable in order to preserve the wellbeing and quality of life of patients

Endarterectomía carotídea: monitoreo intraoperatorio con doppler transcraneano / Carotid endarterectomy: intraoperative TCD monitoring

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of intraoperative monitoring with transcranial Doppler during the carotid endarterectomy. Description: In the last two years we performed 15 carotid endarterectomies with transcranial doppler intraoperative monitoring. In all case we didn’t use a shunt during the procedure based on the monitoring results. Results: All patients recovered without any neurological deficit. Conclusions: Intraoperative monitoring with transcranial Doppler seems to be a good method to determinate the use or not of a shunt during the procedure.