Comparison of Preoperative Hypertonic Saline versus Mannitol for Intraoperative Brain Relaxation and Early Postoperative Outcome among Patients with Cerebral Low-grade Glioma: A Prospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: Hypertonic saline (HS) has an important role in the treatment of raised intracranial pressure after traumatic brain injury. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of HS and its impact on the postoperative course of patients undergoing craniotomy for low-grade gliomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients with supratentorial low-grade glioma were enrolled. All patients were anesthetized and operated with the same team and protocol. They successively received either HS or mannitol just before surgery. The amount of brain edema was classified according to the dural tension score (I-III) just after craniotomy and before dural opening. Other intraoperative measurements (such as urine output, need, and dosage of other diuretic agents) and postoperative findings (intensive care unit [ICU] and hospital stay, corticosteroid demand, and confusion period) were also assessed. Pre- and postoperative serum S100B levels were documented in both groups. RESULTS: The dural tension score was not significantly different among the two groups: severe tension in six and five patients in the mannitol and HS groups, respectively. HS group had a significantly lower amount of diuresis (609 vs. 725 ml) during surgery. Patients in the HS group had shorter ICU stay (16.3 vs. 27.9 h) and shorter duration of corticosteroid therapy after surgery (3.4 vs. 5.2 days). CONCLUSION: HS infusion just before the onset of craniotomy is at least as effective as mannitol in controlling intraoperative brain edema in patients with supratentorial glioma. Improved early postoperative course and lower degrees of S100B rise after craniotomy seen in the HS group needs to be explained in more detailed studies.

Bilateral Ischemic Stroke Due to Carotid Artery Compression by Abnormally Elongated Styloid Process at Both Sides: A Case Report.

Abnormal elongation of styloid process (Eagle syndrome) may cause compression of the adjacent structures in the neck, the most important of which is the carotid artery. This condition may cause damage to the wall of carotid artery and result in cerebrovascular ischemic event. Bilateral carotid artery damage and cerebral stroke because of overgrown styloid processes at both sides is a rare condition. In this article, we report a case of bilateral ischemic stroke because of carotid compression by elongated styloid process at both sides treated by surgical resection of both processes.

Bilateral Fusiform Aneurysms of the Internal Carotid Arteries Presenting with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Fusiform aneurysms of cerebral arteries are less prevalent than saccular aneurysms and are rarely associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). In this article, we report SAH due to a rare case of bilateral fusiform aneurysm of the supraclinoid segment of the internal carotid arteries (ICAs) (C4 segment of the ICA).

Application of Awake Craniotomy and Intraoperative Brain Mapping for Surgical Resection of Insular Gliomas of the Dominant Hemisphere.

BACKGROUND: Radical resection of dominant insular gliomas is difficult because of their close vicinity with internal capsule, basal ganglia, and speech centers. Brain mapping techniques can be used to maximize the extent of tumor removal and to minimize postoperative morbidities by precise localization of eloquent cortical and subcortical areas. METHODS: Patients with newly diagnosed gliomas of dominant insula were enrolled. The exclusion criteria were severe cognitive disturbances, communication difficulty, age greater than 75 years, severe obesity, difficult airways for intubation and severe cardiopulmonary diseases. All were evaluated preoperatively with contrast-enhanced brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional brain MRI, and diffusion tensor tractography of language and motor systems. All underwent awake craniotomy with the same anesthesiology protocol. Intraoperative monitoring included continuous motor-evoked potential, electromyography, electrocorticography, direct electrical stimulation of cortex, and subcortical tracts. The patients were followed with serial neurologic examination and imaging. RESULTS: Ten patients were enrolled (4 men, 6 women) with a mean age of 43.6 years. Seven patients suffered from low-grade glioma, and 3 patients had high-grade glioma. The most common clinical presentation was seizure followed by speech disturbance, hemiparesis, and memory loss. Extent of tumor resection ranged from 73% to 100%. No mortality or new major postoperative neurologic deficit was encountered. Seizure control improved in three fourths of patients with medical refractory epilepsy. In one patient with speech disorder at presentation, the speech problem became worse after surgery. CONCLUSION: Brain mapping during awake craniotomy helps to maximize extent of tumor resection while preserving neurologic function in patients with dominant insular lobe glioma.

Extracranial aneurysm of the distal PICA presenting as isolated fourth ventricular hemorrhage: case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysms are relatively uncommon, comprising only 0.5-3% of all intracranial aneurysms. Distal PICA aneurysms are much more uncommon, with more than 200 cases being reported in the literature. The finding of an extracranially located aneurysm of distal PICA is considered a true rarity. METHODS AND DISCUSSION: A rare case of extracranially located PICA aneurysm presenting with isolated fourth ventricular hemorrhage is presented and the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges discussed.