National multicentered retrospective review of clinical and intraoperative factors associated with the development of cerebellar mutism after pediatric posterior fossa tumor resection.

BACKGROUND: Cerebellar mutism (CM) is characterized by a significant loss of speech in children following posterior fossa (PF) surgery. The biological origin of CM remains unclear and is the subject of ongoing debate. Significant recovery from CM is less likely than previously described despite rigorous multidisciplinary neuro-rehabilitational efforts. METHODS: A national multi-centered retrospective review of all children undergoing PF resection in four midsized Canadian academic pediatric institutions was undertaken. Patient, tumor and surgical factors associated with the post-operative development of CM were reviewed. Retrospective identification of PF surgery patients including those developing and those that did not (internal control). RESULTS: The study identified 258 patients across the 4 centers between 2010 and 2020 (mean age 6.73 years; 42.2% female). Overall, CM was experienced in 19.5% of patients (N = 50). Amongst children who developed CM histopathology included medulloblastoma (35.7%), pilocytic astrocytoma (32.6%) and ependymoma (17.1%). Intraoperative impression of adherence to the floor of the 4th ventricle was positive in 36.8%. Intraoperative abrupt changes in blood pressure and/or heart rate were identified in 19.4% and 17.8% of cases. The clinical resolution of CM was rated to be complete, significant resolution, slight improvement, no improvement and deterioration in 56.0%, 8.0%, 20.0%, 14.0% and 2.0%, respectively. In the cohort of children who experienced post-operative CM as compared to their no-CM counterpart, proportionally more tumors were felt to be adherent to the floor of the 4th ventricle (56.0% vs 49.5%), intraoperative extent of resection was a GTR (74% vs 68.8%) and changes in heart rate were noted (≥ 20% from baseline) (26.0% vs 15.9%). However, a multiple regression analysis identified only abrupt changes in HR (OR 5.97, CI (1.53, 23.1), p = 0.01) to be significantly associated with the development of post-operative CM. CONCLUSION: As a devastating surgical complication after posterior fossa tumor surgery with variable clinical course, identifying and understanding the operative cues and revising intraoperative plans that optimizes the child's neurooncological and clinical outcome are essential.

Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Treatment for Pediatric Patients With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Importance: The decision to withdraw life-sustaining treatment for pediatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is challenging for clinicians and families with limited evidence quantifying existing practices. Given the lack of standardized clinical guidelines, variable practice patterns across trauma centers seem likely. Objective: To evaluate the factors influencing decisions to withdraw life-sustaining treatment across North American trauma centers for pediatric patients with severe TBI and to quantify any existing between-center variability in withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment practices. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study used data collected from 515 trauma centers through the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program between 2017 and 2020. Pediatric patients younger than 19 years with severe TBI and a documented decision for withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment were included. Data were analyzed from January to May 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures: A random intercept multilevel logistic regression model was used to quantify patient, injury, and hospital characteristics associated with the decision to withdraw life-sustaining treatment; the median odds ratio was used to characterize residual between-center variability. Centers were ranked by their conditional random intercepts and quartile-specific adjusted mortalities were computed. Results: A total of 9803 children (mean [SD] age, 12.6 [5.7]; 2920 [29.8%] female) with severe TBI were identified, 1003 of whom (10.2%) had a documented decision to withdraw life-sustaining treatment. Patient-level factors associated with an increase in likelihood of withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment were young age (younger than 3 years), higher severity intracranial and extracranial injuries, and mechanism of injury related to firearms. Following adjustment for patient and hospital attributes, the median odds ratio was 1.54 (95% CI, 1.46-1.62), suggesting residual variation in withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment between centers. When centers were grouped into quartiles by their propensity for withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, adjusted mortality was higher for fourth-quartile compared to first-quartile centers (odds ratio, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.45-1.88). Conclusions and Relevance: Several patient and injury factors were associated with withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment decision-making for pediatric patients with severe TBI in this study. Variation in withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment practices between trauma centers was observed after adjustment for case mix; this variation was associated with differences in risk-adjusted mortality rates. Taken together, these findings highlight the presence of inconsistent approaches to withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in children, which speaks to the need for guidelines to address this significant practice pattern variation.

Suicidal ideation and attempts in brain tumor patients and survivors: A systematic review.

Background: Subsequent to a diagnosis of a brain tumor, psychological distress has been associated with negative effects on mental health as well as suicidality. The magnitude of such impact has been understudied in the literature. We conducted a systematic review to examine the impact of a brain tumor on suicidality (both ideation and attempts). Methods: In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, we searched for relevant peer-reviewed journal articles on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from inception to October 20, 2022. Studies investigating suicide ideation and/or attempt among patients with brain tumors were included. Results: Our search yielded 1,998 articles which were screened for eligibility. Seven studies consisting of 204,260 patients were included in the final review. Four studies comprising 203,906 patients (99.8%) reported elevated suicidal ideation and suicide attempt incidence compared with the general population. Prevalence of ideation and attempts ranged from 6.0% to 21.5% and 0.03% to 3.33%, respectively. Anxiety, depression, pain severity, physical impairment, glioblastoma diagnosis, male sex, and older age emerged as the primary risk factors associated with increased risk of suicidal ideation and attempts. Conclusion: Suicidal ideation and attempts are increased in patients and survivors of brain tumors compared to the general population. Early identification of patients exhibiting these behaviors is crucial for providing timely psychiatric support in neuro-oncological settings to mitigate potential harm. Future research is required to understand pharmacological, neurobiological, and psychiatric mechanisms that predispose brain tumor patients to suicidality.

Characteristics of shunt failure in 38,095 adult shunt insertion surgeries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The management of excess CSF in patients with hydrocephalus typically requires using a shunt to divert CSF. Unfortunately, there is a high rate of shunt failure despite improvements in device components and insertion techniques. Reoperation is frequently necessary, which contributes to patient harm and increased healthcare costs. While factors affecting shunt failure are well defined in the pediatric population, information regarding adults is lacking. The authors undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine how shunt failure in the adult population is reported and investigated the etiologies of shunt failure. METHODS: This review is reported according to PRIMSA and utilized the MEDLINE, Embase, and Google Scholar databases. Abstracts were screened by two independent reviewers, and data were extracted in duplicate by two independent reviewers. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS and Stata. RESULTS: The pooled rates of shunt failure were 10% (95% CI 5%-15%) in studies with a mean follow-up time of less than 1 year, 12% (95% CI 8%-14%) with a follow-up time between 1 and 2 years, and 32% in studies with a follow-up time of 2 years or greater (95% CI 19%-43%). The pooled rate of failure was 17% across all studies. The most common cause of shunt failure was obstruction at 3.0% (95% CI 2%-4%), accounting for 23.2% of shunt failures. Infection was the second most common at 2.8% (95% CI 2%-3%), accounting for 22.5% of shunt failures. The most common location of shunt failure was the distal catheter, with a failure rate of 4.0% (95% CI 3%-5%), accounting for 33.4% of shunt failures. The definition of shunt failure was heterogeneous and varied depending on institutional practices. The combination of symptoms with either CT or MRI was the most frequently reported method for assessing shunt failure. CONCLUSIONS: Important variation regarding how to define, investigate, and report shunt failure was identified. The overall shunt failure rate in adults is at least 32% after 2 years, which, while lower than that typically reported in the pediatric population, is significant. The most common causes of shunt failure in adults are infection and obstruction. The most common site of failure occurred at the distal catheter, highlighting the need to develop strategies to both report and mitigate distal shunt failure in adult shunt patients.

A standardized infection prevention bundle for reduction of CSF shunt infections in adult ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery performed without antibiotic-impregnated catheters.

OBJECTIVE: Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt insertion and revision surgeries are some of the most common procedures that are performed by neurosurgeons. Shunt infections within the adult population are associated with significant morbidity and mortality and rates remain high. The objective of the current study was to use quality improvement (QI) methodology to create a standardized infection prevention bundle aimed at reducing the rate of shunt infections. METHODS: A prospective, single-center, single-surgeon QI study was undertaken. Patients were included if they were 18 years of age or older and were undergoing a VP shunt insertion or revision. The primary outcome of the study was the development of a shunt-related surgical site infection, within 1 year of surgery, as defined according to the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program guidelines. There was no standardized protocol prior to July 2013. A bundle coined as the Calgary Adult Shunt Infection Prevention Protocol (CASIPP) was implemented on July 1, 2013, and updated on July 1, 2015, when 2% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% isopropyl alcohol replaced povidone-iodine for preoperative skin antisepsis. Protocol compliance was regularly monitored using a standardized process. No antibiotic-impregnated catheters were used. RESULTS: A total of 621 consecutive VP shunt insertions and revisions were included in the study. The rate of shunt infection was 5.8% during the period in which there was no standardized shunt protocol. After the implementation of the CASIPP the infection rate decreased to 4.0%, and after introduction of the chlorhexidine/alcohol skin antisepsis, the infection rate was 0% in 379 consecutive procedures (p < 0.0001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the use of chlorhexidine/alcohol with CASIPP was associated with a significant reduction in the odds of developing a shunt infection (OR 0.032, 95% CI 0-0.19, p = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a standardized shunt infection prevention bundle within the adult population, without the use of antibiotic-impregnated catheters, significantly reduced the rate of shunt infections which was sustained over many years. The use of 2% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% isopropyl alcohol for preoperative antisepsis may have played a significant role. Multicenter studies should be completed to verify the effectiveness of the authors' protocol.

Can quantitative susceptibility mapping help diagnose and predict recovery of concussion in children? An A-CAP study.

BACKGROUND: Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) is an MRI technique that is a potential biomarker for concussion. We performed QSM in children following concussion or orthopaedic injury (OI), to assess QSM performance as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. METHODS: Children aged 8-17 years with either concussion (N=255) or OI (N=116) were recruited from four Canadian paediatric emergency departments and underwent QSM postacutely (2-33 days postinjury) using 3 Tesla MRI. QSM Z-scores within nine regions of interest (ROI) were compared between groups. QSM Z-scores were also compared with the 5P score, the current clinical benchmark for predicting persistent postconcussion symptoms (PPCS), at 4 weeks postinjury, with PPCS defined using reliable change methods based on both participant and parent reports. RESULTS: Concussion and OI groups did not differ significantly in QSM Z-scores for any ROI. Higher QSM Z-scores within frontal white matter (WM) independently predicted PPCS based on parent ratings of cognitive symptoms (p=0.001). The combination of frontal WM QSM Z-score and 5P score was better at predicting PPCS than 5P score alone (p=0.004). The area under the curve was 0.72 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.81) for frontal WM susceptibility, 0.69 (95% CI 0.59 to 0.79) for the 5P score and 0.74 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.83) for both. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that QSM is a potential MRI biomarker that can help predict PPCS in children with concussion, over and above the current clinical benchmark, and thereby aid in clinical management. They also suggest a frontal lobe substrate for PPCS, highlighting the potential for QSM to clarify the neurophysiology of paediatric concussion.

Work-up and Management of Asymptomatic Extracranial Traumatic Vertebral Artery Injury.

BACKGROUND: Non-penetrating head and neck trauma is associated with extracranial traumatic vertebral artery injury (eTVAI) in approximately 1-2% of cases. Most patients are initially asymptomatic but have an increased risk for delayed stroke and mortality. Limited evidence is available to guide the management of asymptomatic eTVAI. As such, we sought to investigate national practice patterns regarding screening, treatment, and follow-up domains. METHODS: A cross-sectional, electronic survey was distributed to members of the Canadian Neurosurgical Society and Canadian Spine Society. We presented two cases of asymptomatic eTVAI, stratified by injury mechanism, fracture type, and angiographic findings. Screening questions were answered prior to presentation of angiographic findings. Survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: One hundred-eight of 232 (46%) participants, representing 20 academic institutions, completed the survey. Case 1: 78% of respondents would screen for eTVAI with computed topography angiography (CTA) (97%), immediately (88%). The majority of respondents (97%) would treat with aspirin (89%) for 3-6 months (46%). Respondents would follow up clinically (89%) or radiographically (75%), every 1-3 months. Case 2: 73% of respondents would screen with CTA (96%), immediately (88%). Most respondents (94%) would treat with aspirin (50%) for 3-6 months (35%). Thirty-six percent of respondents would utilize endovascular therapy. Respondents would follow up clinically (97%) or radiographically (89%), every 1-3 months. CONCLUSION: This survey of Canadian practice patterns highlights consistency in the approach to screening, treatment, and follow-up of asymptomatic eTVAI. These findings are relevant to neurosurgeons, spinal surgeons, stroke neurologists, and neuro-interventionalists.

Clinical outcomes in pediatric hydrocephalus patients treated with endoscopic third ventriculostomy and choroid plexus cauterization: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy and choroid plexus cauterization (ETV+CPC) is a novel procedure for infant hydrocephalus that was developed in sub-Saharan Africa to mitigate the risks associated with permanent implanted shunt hardware. This study summarizes the hydrocephalus literature surrounding the ETV+CPC intraoperative abandonment rate, perioperative mortality rate, cerebrospinal fluid infection rate, and failure rate. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed a prespecified protocol and abides by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive search strategy using MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychInfo, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted from database inception to October 2019. Studies included controlled trials, cohort studies, and case-control studies of patients with hydrocephalus younger than 18 years of age treated with ETV+CPC. Pooled estimates were calculated using DerSimonian and Laird random-effects modeling, and the significance of subgroup analyses was tested using meta-regression. The quality of the pooled outcomes was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS: After screening and reviewing 12,321 citations, the authors found 16 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The pooled estimate for the ETV+CPC failure rate was 0.44 (95% CI 0.37-0.51). Subgroup analysis by geographic income level showed statistical significance (p < 0.01), with lower-middle-income countries having a lower failure rate (0.32, 95% CI 0.28-0.36) than high-income countries (0.53, 95% CI 0.47-0.60). No difference in failure rate was found between hydrocephalus etiology (p = 0.09) or definition of failure (p = 0.24). The pooled estimate for perioperative mortality rate (n = 7 studies) was 0.001 (95% CI 0.00-0.004), the intraoperative abandonment rate (n = 5 studies) was 0.04 (95% CI 0.01-0.08), and the postoperative CSF infection rate (n = 5 studies) was 0.0004 (95% CI 0.00-0.003). All pooled outcomes were found to be low-quality evidence. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and meta-analysis provides the most comprehensive pooled estimate for the ETV+CPC failure rate to date and demonstrates, for the first time, a statistically significant difference in failure rate by geographic income level. It also provides the first reported pooled estimates for the risk of ETV+CPC perioperative mortality, intraoperative abandonment, and CSF infection. The low quality of this evidence highlights the need for further research to improve the understanding of these critical clinical outcomes and their relevant explanatory variables and thus to appreciate which patients may benefit most from an ETV+CPC. Systematic review registration no.: CRD42020160149 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/).

Quality of life and satisfaction in surgical versus conservative treatment of nonsyndromic children with craniosynostosis.

OBJECTIVE: Craniosynostosis represents the second most common reason for referral to pediatric neurosurgery. However, the quality of life and neurodevelopmental impact of leaving this physical disorder uncorrected is poorly understood. METHODS: This multicenter cross-sectional study identified previously managed nonsyndromic infants (< 24 months of age) with single-suture craniosynostosis at both pediatric neurosurgical centers in Alberta, Canada. The primary variable of interest was the allocated treatment (surgical vs conservative). The primary outcome was the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), a validated measure of quality of life examining physical, emotional, social, and school functioning. Treatment decision satisfaction and the reasons for selected management were quantified and collected directly from caregivers. RESULTS: One hundred fourteen children met the inclusion criteria: 78% underwent surgery and 22% had conservative treatment. The most common suture affected was sagittal (54%), followed by metopic (33%), coronal (10%), and lambdoid (3%). Caregivers most commonly opted for surgery because of severe appearance (80%). Seventy-six percent and 72% of the caregivers of children with conservative management did so due to concerns of surgical risks and mild appearance, respectively. There was a statistically significant relationship between both the parents' (p < 0.001) and the surgeon's (p = 0.001) impression of a severe head shape and surgical management. Parental satisfaction with their child's appearance as well as satisfaction with their treatment decision did not differ between management types. Regarding quality of life, on univariate analysis, the conservative group had a statistically higher physical summary score (p = 0.01), psychosocial summary score (p = 0.004), and mean total scale score (p = 0.003) compared to the surgical group. However, after adjusting for severity and age at consult, no significant independent associations between management type and any of the PedsQL summary scores were found. CONCLUSIONS: Alberta families have a high number of children with craniosynostosis treated with conservative management. Conservatively managed infants were largely minimally affected patients, particularly those with metopic synostosis. The study found no independent association between management type (surgery vs conservative) and quality of life when adjusted for important patient factors.

Reducing the risks of proximal and distal shunt failure in adult hydrocephalus: a shunt outcomes quality improvement study.

OBJECTIVE: Patient outcomes of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery, the mainstay treatment for hydrocephalus in adults, are poor because of high shunt failure rates. The use of neuronavigation or laparoscopy can reduce the risks of proximal or distal shunt catheter failure, respectively, but has less independent effect on overall shunt failures. No adult studies to date have combined both approaches in the setting of a shunt infection prevention protocol to reduce shunt failure. The goal of this study was to determine whether combining neuronavigation and laparoscopy with a shunt infection prevention strategy would reduce the incidence of shunt failures in adult hydrocephalic patients. METHODS: Adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) undergoing VP shunt surgery at a tertiary care institution prior to (pre-Shunt Outcomes [ShOut]) and after (post-ShOut) the start of a prospective continuous quality improvement (QI) study were compared. Pre-ShOut patients had their proximal and distal catheters placed under conventional freehand approaches. Post-ShOut patients had their shunts inserted with neuronavigational and laparoscopy assistance in placing the distal catheter in the perihepatic space (falciform technique). A shunt infection reduction protocol had been instituted 1.5 years prior to the start of the QI initiative. The primary outcome of interest was the incidence of shunt failure (including infection) confirmed by standardized criteria indicating shunt revision surgery. RESULTS: There were 244 (115 pre-ShOut and 129 post-ShOut) patients observed over 7 years. With a background of shunt infection prophylaxis, combined neuronavigation and laparoscopy was associated with a reduction in overall shunt failure rates from 37% to 14%, 45% to 22%, and 51% to 29% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively (HR 0.44, p < 0.001). Shunt infection rates decreased from 8% in the pre-ShOut group to 0% in the post-ShOut group. There were no proximal catheter failures in the post-ShOut group. The 2-year rates of distal catheter failure were 42% versus 20% in the pre- and post-ShOut groups, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Introducing a shunt infection prevention protocol, placing the proximal catheter under neuronavigation, and placing the peritoneal catheter in the perihepatic space by using the falciform technique led to decreased rates of infection, distal shunt failure, and overall shunt failure.

Interhemispheric arachnoid cyst.

BACKGROUND: Interhemispheric arachnoid cysts are uncommon and typically associated with other midline neurodevelopmental disorders, such as complete or partial agenesis of the corpus callosum. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a case of a 27-year-old woman with worsening headache, memory deficit, and radiological progression of an interhemispheric arachnoid cyst. The treatment consisted of craniotomy for interhemispheric cyst fenestration into both the interhemispheric cistern and lateral ventricle. The postoperative course was unremarkable, with considerable clinical improvement and significant reduction in cyst size. CONCLUSION: We successfully treat a patient with an enlarging arachnoid cyst and associated progressive symptoms with microsurgical fenestration.

The relationship between Chiari 1.5 malformation and sleep-related breathing disorders on polysomnography.

OBJECTIVE: Chiari 1.5 malformation is a subgroup of the Chiari malformation in which tonsillar descent into the foramen magnum is accompanied by brainstem descent. No data exist on whether operative decompression in patients with Chiari 1.5 improves sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs) and whether there are radiological parameters predicting improvement. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective cohort study of consecutive pediatric patients with Chiari 1.5 malformation and SRBDs at the Alberta Children's Hospital. An SRBD was characterized using nocturnal polysomnography (PSG), specifically with the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), the obstructive apnea index, and the central apnea index. Preoperative values for each of these indices were compared to those following surgical decompression. The authors also compared preoperative radiographic factors as predictors to both preoperative AHI and the change in AHI with surgery. Radiological factors included tonsillar and obex descent beneath the basion-opisthion line, the presence of syringomyelia, the frontooccipital horn ratio, the pB-C2 line, and the clivoaxial angle. RESULTS: Seven patients (5 males, 2 females) met inclusion criteria. One patient had two surgical decompressions, each with pre- and postoperative PSG studies (n = 8). The median age was 9 years. Before surgical decompression, 75% underwent tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy. The majority (87.5%) experienced snoring/witnessed apnea preoperatively. The median tonsillar and obex descent values were 21.3 mm and 11.2 mm, respectively. The median values for the pB-C2 line and clivoaxial angle were 5.4 mm (interquartile range [IQR] 4.5 mm, 6.8 mm) and 144° (IQR 139°, 167°), respectively. There was a statistically significant change from preoperative to postoperative AHI (19.7 vs 5.1, p = 0.015) and obstructive apnea index (4.5 vs 1.0, p = 0.01). There was no significant change in the central apnea index with surgery (0.9 vs 0.3, p = 0.12). No radiological factors were statistically significant in predicting preoperative AHI and change in AHI. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first series of pediatric patients with Chiari 1.5 with SRBDs who demonstrated a marked improvement in their PSG results postdecompression. Sleep apnea has a significant impact on learning and development in children, highlighting the urgency to recognize Chiari 1.5 as a more severe form of the Chiari I malformation.

The quality of YouTube videos on endoscopic third ventriculostomy and endoscopic third ventriculostomy with choroid plexus cauterization procedures available to families of patients with pediatric hydrocephalus.

OBJECTIVE: YouTube has become an important information source for pediatric neurosurgical patients and their families. The goal of this study was to determine whether the informative quality of videos of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and endoscopic third ventriculostomy with choroid plexus cauterization (ETV + CPC) is associated with metrics of popularity. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used comprehensive search terms to identify videos pertaining to ETV and ETV + CPC presented on the first 3 pages of search results on YouTube. Two pediatric neurosurgeons, 1 neurosurgery resident, and 2 patient families independently reviewed the selected videos. Videos were assessed for overall informational quality by using a validated 5-point Global Quality Score (GQS) and compared to online metrics of popularity and engagement such as views, likes, likes/views ratio, comments/views ratio, and likes/dislikes ratio. Weighted kappa scores were used to measure agreement between video reviewers. RESULTS: A total of 58 videos (47 on ETV, 7 on ETV + CPC, 4 on both) of 120 videos assessed met the inclusion criteria. Video styles included "technical" (62%), "lecture" (24%), "patient testimonial" (4%), and "other" (10%). In terms of GQS, substantial agreement was seen between surgeons (kappa 0.67 [95% CI 0.55, 0.80]) and excellent agreement was found between each surgeon and the neurosurgical resident (0.77 [95% CI 0.66, 0.88] and 0.89 [95% CI 0.82, 0.97]). Only fair to moderate agreement was seen between professionals and patient families, with weighted kappa scores ranging from 0.07 to 0.56. Academic lectures were more likely to be rated good or excellent (64% vs 0%, p < 0.001) versus surgical procedure and testimonial video types. There were significant associations between a better GQS and more likes (p = 0.01), views (p = 0.02), and the likes/dislikes ratio (p = 0.016). The likes/views ratio (p = 0.31) and comments/views ratio (p = 0.35) were not associated with GQS. The number of likes (p = 0.02), views (p = 0.03), and the likes/dislikes ratio (p = 0.015) were significantly associated with video style (highest for lecture-style videos). CONCLUSIONS: Medical professionals tended to agree when assessing the overall quality of YouTube videos, but this agreement was not as strongly seen when compared to parental ratings. The online metrics of likes, views, and likes/dislikes ratio appear to predict quality. Neurosurgeons seeking to increase their online footprint via YouTube would be well advised to focus more on the academic lecture style because these were universally better rated.

Management of Venous Sinus Thrombosis.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare subtype of cerebrovascular disease representing 0.5% of strokes. The signs and symptoms of CVST are often nonspecific, and variable in duration, with the common results being delayed diagnosis and treatment. Increased awareness in the medical community and advancements in imaging modalities have produced faster diagnosis with improved patient outcomes. The preferred initial treatment is with a low molecular weight heparin. After the acute stage of CVST, treatment with a vitamin K antagonist (oral anticoagulant therapy) is recommended. Current evidence suggests that in the future, factor Xa inhibitor drugs may be used for long-term therapy.

Sodium Bicarbonate for Control of ICP: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to perform a systematic review of the literature on the use of intravenous sodium bicarbonate for intracranial pressure (ICP) reduction in patients with neurologic illness. METHODS: Data sources: articles from MEDLINE, BIOSIS, EMBASE, Global Health, Scopus, Cochrane Library, the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (inception to April 2015), reference lists of relevant articles, and gray literature were searched. DATA EXTRACTION: 2 reviewers independently extracted data including population characteristics and treatment characteristics. The strength of evidence was adjudicated using both the Oxford and Grading of Recommendation Assessment Development and Education methodology. RESULTS: Our search strategy produced a total 559 citations. Three original articles were included in the review. There were 2 prospective studies, 1 randomized control trial and 1 single arm, and 1 retrospective case report.Across all studies there were a total of 19 patients studied, with 31 episodes of elevated ICP being treated. Twenty-one of those episodes were treated with sodium bicarbonate infusion, with the remaining 10 treated with hypertonic saline in a control model. All elevated ICP episodes treated with sodium bicarbonate solution demonstrated a significant drop in ICP, without an elevation of serum partial pressure of carbon dioxide. No significant complications were described. CONCLUSIONS: There currently exists Oxford level 4, Grading of Recommendation Assessment Development and Education D evidence to support an ICP reduction effect with intravenous sodium bicarbonate in TBI. No comments on its impact in other neuropathologic states, or on patient outcomes, can be made at this time.