[Efficacy and safety of surgical treatment of patients with pathological tortuosity of the internal carotid artery]. / Effektivnost' i bezopasnost' khirurgicheskogo lecheniya bol'nykh s patologicheskoi izvitost'yu vnutrennei sonnoi arterii.

No multicenter randomized clinical trial has been conducted worldwide to date on indications, types of surgery and their comparison with conservative treatment in patients with PI BSA. OBJECTIVE: Of the study is to improve the results of surgical treatment in patients with pathological tortuosity of the internal carotid artery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 119 patients (41 (34%) men and 78 (66%) women) with PI ICA aged 34 to 71 years (average age 53.2±7.5 years) divided into 2 groups. 64 patients (54%) of group I underwent BSA resection with lower mouth and 55 patients (46%) of group II underwent BSA prosthetics. Depending on the degree of neurological disorders, patients were distributed according to the classification of A.V. Pokrovsky. RESULTS: In the early postoperative period, TIA was noted in one patient, and transient lesions of the cranial nerves were observed in 5 patients. During 5 years of follow-up, none of the patients developed TIA, IS or other vascular events. In the early surgical period, there were no significant differences in effectiveness between the groups of patients. In the long-term period (5 years after surgery), a higher frequency of asymptomatic patients was noted in group I. CONCLUSION: Resection and replacement of a pathologically tortuous internal carotid artery (ICA) is a safe and effective surgical treatment. A multicenter randomized trial should be conducted to compare the effectiveness of surgical treatment of PI ICA with a conservative approach to effectively treat patients.

[Microsurgical and endovascular treatment of residual and recurrent cerebral aneurysms]. / Osobennosti mikrokhirurgicheskogo i endovaskulyarnogo lecheniya rezidual'nykh i rekurrentnykh tserebral'nykh anevrizm.

Cerebral aneurysms are characterized by high risk of adverse outcome due to severe intracranial hemorrhages and their consequences. Aneurysm remnants after incomplete exclusion can cause hemorrhage. Filling of these fragments immediately after surgery is usually defined as residual aneurysms. Recurrent aneurysms develop in the area of excluded aneurysm in long-term period after surgery. The authors analyze foreign and national literature data on the diagnosis and management of residual and recurrent aneurysms. Risk factors, the most common classifications, diagnostic methods and surgical treatment are presented.

[Thrombectomy without temporary clipping for giant partially thrombosed saccular aneurysms]. / Trombektomiya bez vremennogo klipirovaniya pri gigantskikh chastichno trombirovannykh meshotchatykh anevrizmakh.

Cerebral aneurysm thrombosis is one of the factors increasing the risk of microsurgical treatment. Thrombi and calcifications within the aneurysm neck prevent adequate clipping and should be removed before the procedure. At the same time, the process of thrombectomy is difficult and time consuming that increases duration of temporary arterial clipping and risk of cerebral ischemia. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of thrombectomy without temporary arterial clipping for giant aneurysms of anterior brain circulation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four patients with giant partially thrombosed saccular aneurysms underwent thrombectomy without temporary clipping followed by neck clipping. In all cases, the aneurysm was thrombosed by more than 80-90% of its baseline volume, and aneurysm neck contained parietal thrombi from all sides. Mean duration of thrombectomy from aneurysm opening to bleeding and temporary clipping of the parent artery was 82 minutes, time of temporary clipping was about 12 minutes. RESULTS: Favorable clinical and radiological postoperative results were obtained in all patients. The authors present a scheme of surgical stages and video presentation involving the main surgical aspects of this procedure. CONCLUSION: Thrombectomy without temporary clipping of the parent artery is an effective technique for microsurgical treatment of giant partially thrombosed saccular intracranial aneurysms. Since most thrombi are removed without bleeding, duration of temporary blood flow discontinuation in the parent artery is significantly reduced. Therefore, we decrease the risk of cerebral ischemia. This technique can be useful in microsurgical treatment of complex aneurysms of the middle cerebral and internal carotid arteries, as well as other aneurysms.

[Anterior transperiinsular approach to the head of the caudate nucleus and mediobasal frontal lobe]. / Perednii transperiinsulyarnyi dostup k oblasti golovki khvostatogo yadra i mediobazal'nym otdelam lobnoi doli.

BACKGROUND: The head of the caudate nucleus and adjacent mediobasal frontal lobe are deeply localized and have complex anatomical and topographic relationships with surrounding functionally significant cerebral structures. These aspects determine difficult surgical treatment of pathology in this zone. OBJECTIVE: To propose a new anterior transperiinsular approach for optimizing surgical access to the head of the caudate nucleus and mediobasal frontal lobe. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two patients with cavernoma of the head of the caudate nucleus and oligodendroglioma of the head of the caudate nucleus and mediobasal frontal lobe underwent resection via transsylvian anterior transperiinsular approach in 2018. In both cases, tumors were localized in dominant hemisphere. Standard MRI was performed before and after surgery. Luria's neurological and neuropsychological examination was carried out before surgery, in 7 days after surgery and then every 3 months. RESULTS: Surgical access was performed via stage-by-stage proximal dissection of Sylvian fissure with visualization of anterior and superior periinsular grooves. After that, periinsular groove was dissected at the base of anterior short gyrus. Then, we moved apart white matter using microinstruments and approached the area of interest. In case of this trajectory, surgical approach was performed at the level of the upper parts of inferior frontooccipital fascicle under the arcuate fascicle. Both patients underwent total resection of tumors that was confirmed by MRI. No pre- and postoperative neurological or neuropsychological abnormalities were observed. CONCLUSION: Anterior transperiinsular approach provides minimally invasive access to the head of the caudate nucleus and mediobasal frontal lobe. It can be used on dominant hemisphere without significant risk of speech or other cognitive impairments. The advantages of this approach are minimal damage to associative pathways and small distance between periinsular groove and zone of interest. Dissection of commissural fibers of the corpus callosum is not required compared to conventional transcallosal approach.

[Completeness of brain aneurysm exclusion according to CT angiography]. / Otsenka radikal'nosti mikrokhirurgicheskikh operatsii pri arterial'nykh anevrizmakh golovnogo mozga po dannym komp'yuternoi tomograficheskoi angiografii.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a classification of the completeness of brain aneurysm exclusion according to CT angiography for determining further diagnostic and curative strategy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 138 patients who had 164 brain aneurysms. Clipping was carried out at the Burdenko Neurosurgery Center in 2013-2017. Titanium clips were used in 111 cases, cobalt clips - in 53 patients. RESULTS: Completeness of brain aneurysm exclusion was assessed in 149 cases using CT angiography. In 15 cases, artifacts from cobalt clips impaired assessment. Total exclusion was achieved in 136 (91.3%) cases, subtotal (a remainder of residual neck) - in 10 (6.7%) cases, complete exclusion of the body and bottom (patent neck) - 2 (1.3%) patients, partial exclusion (partially patent bottom) - 1 patient (0.7%). In this series, a clip prevented complete contrast enhancement of brain aneurysm bottom in all cases. CONCLUSION: CTA is a reliable method for assessing the quality of exclusion of brain aneurysm in patients with implanted titanium clips. In case of cobalt clips, stratification depending on severity of CT artifacts should be performed for data interpretation. In some cases, artifacts impair visualization of the vessels adjacent to the clips. In these patients, direct cerebral angiography or dual-energy computed tomography scanners with metal artifact suppression programs should be recommended.Follow-up is recommended for patients with remnants of residual cervix. Redo surgery is indicated for completely patent neck, as well as partial or complete contrast enhancement of aneurysm bottom.

[Surgical treatment of internal carotid artery kinking following fibromuscular dysplasia]. / Rezul'taty khirurgicheskogo lecheniya patologicheskoi izvitosti vnutrennei sonnoi arterii na fone fibrozno-myshechnoi displazii.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of surgical treatment of internal carotid artery kinking following fibromuscular dysplasia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 32 patients who underwent surgical treatment of internal carotid artery kinking following fibromuscular dysplasia. Structural changes of carotid artery wall were analyzed using immunohistochemical survey. Considering destructive changes revealed, we divided all patients into 2 groups in order to assess long-term postoperative outcomes: 1 - ICA resection followed by anastomosis in end-to-end fashion; 2 - ICA replacement. Postoperative analysis included incidence of stroke, thrombosis and deformities of anastomosis zone, regression of cerebrovascular insufficiency. RESULTS: The main «phenotype¼ of arterial wall in patients with ICA kinking following fibromuscular dysplasia is a large number of smooth muscle cells releasing matrix matelloproteinases-2 and -9 and low level of their tissue inhibitor type 1. Postoperative deformities are more common within a year after surgery. Maximum incidence is observed after 12 months. Both ICA resection and replacement are followed by similar incidence of deformity later. No severe deformities were diagnosed. Resection of ICA kinking on the background of fibromuscular dysplasia is followed by comparable results with ICA replacement regarding the incidence stroke, thrombosis and regression of cerebrovascular insufficiency. CONCLUSION: Despite degradation of extracellular matrix, destruction of elastic fibers and their fragmentation, no significant deformities are observed in long-term postoperative period in patients with ICA kinking and fibromuscular dysplasia.

[Surgical treatment of patients with cerebral aneurysms in the acute stage of rupture: dynamics of results during 2006-2018]. / Khirurgicheskoe lechenie bol'nykh s anevrizmami sosudov golovnogo mozga v ostroi stadii razryva: dinamika rezul'tatov za 2006-2018 gg.

Treatment of cerebral aneurysms in the acute stage of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SRH) especially on the background of cerebral vasospasm continues to be a difficult task. OBJECTIVE: Assessment of dynamics of the surgical treatment results of patients with cerebral aneurysms in acute period of SRH. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A comparative analysis of the results of patients' surgical treatment in NMRCN Burdenko about aneurysm in 1-21 days after hemorrhage was made. The following periods were selected: 2006-2014 (343 patients) and 2015-2018 (356 patients). Most patients had microsurgical operations in both periods. The tactics of choosing the surgery time was the main difference between the periods: particularly in 2015-2018 period the surgery was not postponed at patients with severe. RESULTS: Analysing the post surgical mortality, it was found that since 2006 there is a consistent trend towards a decrease in the number of patients who died after surgery. When calculating the average post surgical mortality for the studied periods this trend is confirmed - number of lethal cases in 2015-2018 reliably decreased when comparing with 2006-2014 - from 6.8 till 3.2%; p=0.03. At the same time, the number of patients with outcome of vegetative status (from 0.3 till 5%). CONCLUSION: The tactics of surgical treatment of patients with cerebral aneurysms in the acute period of SRH regardless of severity of patient's condition and time of hemorrhage did not lead to worse treatment. In contrast, post surgical mortality rates show a consistent decline. We associate this fact with a number of changes that have occurred in the management and treatment of patients. In particular, we have high hopes for developing new approaches to the treatment of vasospasm, which remains the leading cause of lethal cases. More definite conclusions will be made at the end of the treatment analysis of the respective patient groups.

[The orbitozygomatic approach. History, technique, and modifications]. / Orbitozigomaticheskii dostup. Istoriia, tekhnika, modifikatsii.

The orbitozygomatic approach (OZA) has been used in neurosurgical practice since the 1980s. Many approach modifications have been proposed; anatomical and clinical developments have been conducted in many clinics. However, there is no algorithm for choosing an approach option, depending on the type and topographo-anatomical features of pathology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We searched for publications in the PubMed and Medscape databases using the keywords 'orbitozygomatic'. RESULTS: A total of 447 publications matching the search terms were found. In most of them, the approach was either not actually orbitozygomatic or was mentioned in the description of a clinical case. One hundred and nineteen full text Russian or English papers were available for detailed analysis. Of these, we selected 72 most relevant publications. DISCUSSION: There were no studies demonstrating disadvantages of the OZA compared to traditional craniotomies. Orbitozygomatic approaches are widely used in routine neurosurgical practice. Existing approaches are not without disadvantages. The publications are based on small material. The recommendations on choosing the optimal OZA option are based on the authors' opinion, i.e. they satisfy the minimum level of evidence. There are no studies comparing the efficacy of OZA options in different types and topographo-anatomical variants of neurosurgical pathology of the anterior and middle skull base. CONCLUSION: The reasonability of using the orbitozygomatic approach in neurosurgical practice is obvious. There are a large number of orbitozygomatic approaches and their modifications. The modern literature lacks an algorithm for choosing the optimal OZA option for specific types and topographo-anatomical variants of the pathological process.

[An efficacy of carotid arteries repair for tortuosity combined with stenosis]. / Éffektivnost' rekonstruktivnykh operatsii na sonnykh arteriiakh pri sochetanii izvitosti i stenoza.

AIM: To assess an efficacy of carotid arteries reconstruction in patients with internal carotid artery stenosis combined with tortuosity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 86 patients with ICA tortuosity and stenosis were enrolled. All patients were divided into groups depending on type of surgery: group I - open carotid endarterectomy (CEA) followed by obligatory repair with synthetic patch (31 (36%) patients); group II - eversion CEA with ICA resection, redressation and reimplantation into own ostium (35 (40.7%) patients); group III - ICA replacement (20 (23.3%) patients). Synthetic prosthesis and autovein were used in 13 (65%) and 7 (35%) patients respectively. The study included patients with ICA stenosis ≥60% (any type of plaque) and any degree of cerebrovascular insufficiency or ICA stenosis <60% (plaque type I-III) with CVI grade II-IV combined with S- or C-tortuosity, bend or loop with blood flow velocity over 110 cm/s and its turbulence. Only 6 (7.0%) out of 86 patients had no clinical signs of CVI/previous stroke. Asymptomatic/symptomatic patients ratio was following in all groups: group I - 12 (38.7%)/19 (61.3%); group II - 29 (82.9%)/6 (17.1%); group III - 10 (50%)/10 (50%). RESULTS: Within 6-month follow-up 22 (70.9%) out of 31 patients were asymptomatic in group I, 30 (85.7%) (p=0.9475) out of 35 - in group II, 9 (45%) (p=0.9511) out of 20 patients - in group III and 1 (5%) patient developed thrombosis of the reconstruction zone followed by ischemic stroke. After 12 months following patients were asymptomatic: 22 (70.9%) in group I, 30 (85.7%) (p=0.9475) in group II and 9 (45%) patients (p=0.9511) in group III. After 1 year 4 (33.3%) out of 12 patients with CVI grade IV had partial regression of focal neurological symptoms. CONCLUSION: Surgery for ICA tortuosity combined with stenosis confirmed its efficacy and safety for both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients. Significantly better results were observed in eversion CEA compared with conventional procedure and ICA replacement.

[Expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in the internal carotid artery wall in pathological tortuosity]. / Ekspressiya matriksnykh metalloproteinaz i ikh ingibitorov v stenke vnutrennei sonnoi arterii pri patologicheskoi izvitosti.

UNLABELLED: The principal morphological sign of fibromuscular dysplasia in pathological tortuosity (PT) of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is the fragmentation of elastic fibers that are degraded by matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP-2, MMP-9). Nevertheless, the role of MMPs and their inhibitors in the pathogenesis of ICA PT remains completely unexplored. AIM: to investigate the expression of elastin-degrading MMPs and their inhibitors in the wall of the ICA in PT by immunohistochemistry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. METHODS: Immunohistochemical examination was made using antibodies to MMP-2, MMP-9 and their tissue inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels were determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical examination revealed a statistically significant predominance of high concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and a low level of their inhibitor TIMP-1 in ICA PT, while simultaneous obvious accumulation of both markers was most often identified in the control group (p<0.05). Analysis of MMP-2/TIMP-2 and MMP-9/TIMP-2 ratios showed the prevalence of the simultaneously high expression of both proteins in ICA PT and in the control group too. The similar data were also obtained by confocal microscopy: the control group showed elevated MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expressions and the ICA PT control displayed a high proteinase and low inhibitor levels (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Elastic fiber fragmentation in ICA PT is due to imbalance between MMPs and their inhibitors; namely, the prevalence of MMP-2 and MMP-9 over their inhibitor TIMP-1, which leads to the degradation of extracellular matrix components, primarily elastin.

SURGICAL SAFETY CHECKLIST: FROM IDEA TO PRACTICAL APPLICATION.

Methods of surgical interventions performing, modifications, instruments used for operation became more developed every year. In spite of this fact, tendency of increase of the rate of iatrogenic errors took place and it was possible to prevent these mistakes by application of Surgical Safety Checklist. The «checklists¼ are easily available, not very expensive in practice and they are simple to use. An application of such questionnaires could improve the team work and understanding between members of the crew, which could influence directly on operation outcome. The article presents the history of creation of safety list, the analysis of efficacy of «checklist¼ application in clinical practice in different countries, information about controversial questions in «checklist¼, perspectives of its application.

[Ocular blood flow and carotid artery malfunction].

AIM: to evaluate ocular hemodynamics and informativity of estimated individual normal range of intraocular pressure (IOP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 12 patients (22 eyes) with carotid artery malfunction were examined. Ocular blood flow (OBF) and IOP were measured with Ocular Blood Flow Analyzer. Actual OBF was then compared with what is considered normal for a given axial length (AL). Individual normal range of IOP was calculated according to an original formula (described in previous publications). Doppler imaging of ocular vessels enabled blood flow velocity measurement. Morphological parameters and functional status of the retina and optic nerve were judged on automated perimetry (Octopus 900) and optical coherence tomography (Cirrus HD-OCT) findings. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistica 10 software. RESULTS: Generally, OBF showed no correlation with the grade of carotid artery stenosis (p < 0.05), however, was significantly reduced as compared to its AL-dependent norm in patients with greater than 85% narrowing of the internal carotid artery, which can cause misestimating of their individual normal range of IOP. A negative relationship was established between the blood flow velocity in short posterior ciliary arteries and the grade of internal carotid artery stenosis (p < 0.005). Ocular blood flow deficit relative to the AL-dependent norm correlated with ophthalmic artery resistance index. CONCLUSION: OBF-based estimation of individual normal range of IOP is inexpedient in patients with greater than 80% carotid artery stenosis due to its possible influence on ocular hemodynamics. In most cases of less than 80% carotid artery stenosis OBF is adequate or slightly reduced as compared to its AL-dependent norm and thus, has no significant impact on estimated individual normal range of IOP.

[The structure of the internal carotid artery wall in pathological tortuosity].

OBJECTIVE: to study a change in the content of main components of the internal carotid artery (ICA) wall in pathological tortuosity (PT) resulting from fibromuscular dysplasia, using immunohistochemistry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis using antibodies to elastin, collagen types I and III, and smooth muscle actin was made. The levels of elastin and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) were determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The relative area of expression and the area of co-location of these markers were measured. RESULTS: IHC examination of the expression of elastin revealed that the patients with PT of ICA had its higher content than the controls, but they were observed to have fiber fragmentation. Comparison of collagen types I and III expressions showed no significant differences between the groups. The found significantly lower smooth muscle actin expression in the patients with PT of ICA than in the controls was suggestive of the decreased levels of smooth muscle cells. Confocal microscopy analysis showed high elastin and low MMP-9 expressions in the control group and, on the contrary, low elastin and high proteinase levels in the PT group (р<0.05). CONCLUSION: One of the causes of PT is impairment in vascular elastic properties due to the destruction of elastic fibers and to their fragmentation, as well as to the decreased count of smooth muscle cells, which in turn causes enhanced MMP-9 activity and tissue matrix degradation.

Midrapidity antiproton-to-proton ratio in pp collisons at sqrt[s]=0.9 and 7 TeV measured by the ALICE experiment.

The ratio of the yields of antiprotons to protons in pp collisions has been measured by the ALICE experiment at sqrt[s]=0.9 and 7 TeV during the initial running periods of the Large Hadron Collider. The measurement covers the transverse momentum interval 0.45