Hemopatch® as a primary dural sealant in cranial neurosurgery: Technical note and a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness and safety of Hemopatch® as a primary dural sealant in preventing CSF leakage following cranial surgery. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks occur in cranial operations and are associated with significant patient burden and expense. The use of Hemopatch® as a dural sealant in cranial neurosurgical procedures is described and analyzed in this study. METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected from all patients who underwent a craniotomy for various neurosurgical indications where Hemopatch® was used as the primary dural sealant between June 2017 and June 2022. Infection and CSF leak were the main indicators evaluated after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 119 consecutive patients met our inclusion criteria. The median was age 41.5 years, and 52.5% were female. The mean follow-up period was 2.3 years (7 months to 6 years). There were 110 (92.44%) supratentorial and 9 (7.56%) infratentorial craniotomies. Postoperative CSF leak was reported in 2 patients (1.68%), one in each cohort. Postoperative infection occurred in one patient (0.84%). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that using Hemopatch® as a dural sealant in cranial surgery is effective and safe. After supra-/infratentorial craniotomies, the rate of postoperative adverse events in our sample was within the range of known surgical revision rates. Future randomized clinical studies are required to confirm our encouraging findings.

The Endoscopic Resection of Sellar and Suprasellar Epidermoid Cyst in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Epidermoid cysts are benign congenital tumors that originate from the ectodermal tissue. The sellar/suprasellar region is an infrequent location for epidermoid cysts and such cases are rarely reported in pediatric patients, as these become symptomatic only when they reach 30 years of age. Surgical intervention is considered the ideal treatment option in patients with suprasellar epidermoid cysts, either via open or endonasal approach. We discuss a case of a 12-year-old male who presented with left visual impairment and was treated with successful resection through an endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA). We also engage in a literature review of the use of EEA in the management of sellar/suprasellar epidermoid cysts in the pediatric age group.

Electronic Cigarettes: Impact on Lung Function and Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide Among Healthy Adults.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are rapidly becoming an alternative form of nicotine consumption worldwide and a disruptive element in the global health diplomacy. This study aimed to investigate the impact of e-cigarettes on lung function and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) among young healthy male adults. Sixty apparently healthy male volunteers were recruited and divided into two groups. Group 1 (e-cigarette-exposed group) consisted of 30 males who were daily e-cigarette users (age 27.07 ± 6.00 [mean ± SD] years). Group 2 (control group) consisted of 30 males who were not e-cigarette users (age 25.90 ± 7.72 [mean ± SD] years). Both groups were neither current nor former traditional tobacco users. Age, ethnicity, height, weight, and socioeconomic status were considered using a matched design to investigate the impact of e-cigarette use on lung function and FeNO. The lung function test parameters that were found to be significantly decreased in e-cigarette users compared to their control group were forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), forced expiratory ratio (FEV1/FVC), forced expiratory flow-25% (FEF25%), forced expiratory flow-50% (FEF50%), forced expiratory flow-75% (FEF75%), forced expiratory flow-25%-75% (FEF25%-75%), and forced expiratory flow-75%-85% (FEF75%-85%). FeNO was also decreased in e-cigarette users, but it did not reach the level of significance. The use of e-cigarettes significantly impaired various lung function parameters and the pattern of impairment exhibited a peripheral obstructive airway involvement. These findings have a general message for the global health community on the potential harm of e-cigarettes on lung function.