A novel equine-derived pericardium membrane for dural repair: A preliminary, short-term investigation.

BACKGROUND: A large variety of biological and artificial materials are employed in dural repair, each of them with major limitations. Autologous grafts have limited availability and require an additional incision and surgical time. Cadaveric preparations and heterologous materials entail the risk of iatrogenic transmission of prions, whereas synthetic substitutes have been reported to cause inflammatory reactions and graft rejection. An equine-derived pericardium membrane has been developed (Heart(®), Bioteck, Vicenza, Italy) with mechanical and safety-related features that could make it suitable for neurosurgical application. AIMS: This preliminary study aimed to evaluate the short-term safety and efficacy of the Heart(®) membrane in dural repair procedures following meningioma surgeries. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Medical records of patients who were surgically treated for an intracranial meningioma and underwent duraplasty with the Heart(®) membrane were reviewed retrospectively. The occurrence of any graft-related complications such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, postoperative hematoma, wound infection, meningitis, and neurological symptoms was analyzed. RESULTS: Eight patients were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria. A watertight closure was achieved in all of them. Postoperatively, no patients exhibited CSF leak, cerebral contusion, hemorrhage, or wound infection. The 1-month radiological follow-up revealed no evidence of pseudomeningocele, wound breakdown, or meningitis. Neurologic complications were observed in three patients but not directly imputable to the dural substitute or its application. CONCLUSIONS: In all the patients, the pericardium membrane enabled achievement of a watertight dural closure without graft-related adverse events. Further investigations should be performed to assess medium- and long-term clinical outcomes in a larger set of patients.

Orbital glomangioma.

Glomangioma is a vascular hamartomatous tumor originating from the glomus body, a specialized thermoregulatory organ localized in the dermis and precoccygeal soft tissue. Glomus tumors are characteristically found in the hands and are very rarely reported in the head region. Here we describe a 29-year-old woman presenting with acute proptosis and pain in the left eye. A computed tomography scan of the orbit revealed a well-defined circumscribed mass, displacing the globe and lateral rectus muscle inferotemporally. The tumour was surgically removed through a lateral Kronlein approach. On histology, the lesion consisted of cavernous vascular spaces, partly filled with blood and thrombotic material, and a mixture of capillary-sized vessels and tumor cells; immunostaining for smooth actin showed a strong positivity in the cytoplasm of tumor cells, consistent with a diagnosis of glomangioma. Our case adds to the very few cases of orbital glomangioma reported in the literature and demonstrates that this tumor can be safely removed.

Prevention of post-operative infections in spine surgery by wound irrigation with a solution of povidone-iodine and hydrogen peroxide.

INTRODUCTION: Starting from January 2009, we systematically irrigated the surgical wounds of patients undergoing spine surgery with a solution of povidone-iodine (PVP-I) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). METHOD: We prospectively recorded the clinical data of patients who underwent spine surgery during 2009 and we compared the results with retrospectively reviewed clinical records of patients operated during 2008. Patients were analyzed for preoperative risk factors, type of surgical procedure, onset of the infection, clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome. We performed 460 spine surgeries during 2008 and 490 during 2009. RESULTS: We recorded seven post-operative infections in 2008 compared to none in 2009. CONCLUSION: We consider the solution of PVP-I plus H(2)O(2) effective in further reducing the rate of post-operative infection in spine surgery.

Lateral supraorbital approach applied to olfactory groove meningiomas: experience with 66 consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVE: The lateral supraorbital approach for safely and completely removing olfactory groove meningiomas was assessed. METHODS: Between September 1997 and June 2008, a total of 656 meningiomas were operated on by the senior author (JH) at the Department of Neurosurgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital; 66 were olfactory meningiomas. We retrospectively analyze the clinical data, radiological findings, surgical treatment, histology, and outcome of all the olfactory groove meningioma patients and discuss the operative techniques used. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients were operated on by the lateral supraorbital approach. The median preoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale score was 80 (range, 40-100). Three patients were redo cases in which the primary operation had been performed elsewhere. Seemingly complete tumor removal was achieved in 60 patients (91%); there was no surgical mortality. Postoperatively, 6 patients (9%) had cerebrospinal fluid leakage, 5 (8%) had new visual deficits, 4 (6%) had wound infections, 4 (6%) had cotton granulomas, and 1 (2%) had a postoperative hematoma. The median Karnofsky score at discharge was 80 (range, 40-100). Six patients had recurrent tumors; 3 underwent reoperations after an average of 21 months (range, 1-41 months); 1 was treated with radiosurgery, and 2 were only followed. During the median follow-up time of 45 months (range, 2-128 months), there were 4 recurrences (6%) diagnosed on average 32 months (range, 17-59 months) after surgery. CONCLUSION: The lateral supraorbital approach can be used safely for olfactory groove meningiomas of all sizes with no mortality and relatively low morbidity. Surgical results and tumor recurrence with this fast and simple approach are similar to those obtained with more extensive, complex, and time-consuming approaches.

Complete loop of the posterior cerebral artery with ruptured aneurysm at the origin of the medial posterior choroidal artery. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Anatomical anomalies of the PCA are unusual and their association with an aneurysm is exceptional. A unique case of a complete loop of the posterior cerebral artery associated with a ruptured aneurysm is presented. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 69-year-old woman with a subarachnoid hemorrhage in World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies grade IV was diagnosed with a loop of the right PCA with an aneurysm at the apex of the loop. At surgery, the aneurysm was found to arise at the origin of the MPChA and it was clipped. Three months later, after improving to Glasgow Outcome Scale 3, the patient died of unrelated cause. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, a complete loop of the PCA associated with an aneurysm at the origin of the MPChA has never been described. Microneurosurgical approach via subtemporal craniotomy was safe and effective in displaying the anomalous anatomy and allowing perfect clipping of the aneurysm.

Microsurgical management of pineal region lesions: personal experience with 119 patients.

BACKGROUND: Lesions of the pineal region are histopathologically heterogeneous but often accompanied with severe progression of clinical signs. Surgical treatment remains challenging because of the close vicinity of the deep venous system and the mesencephalo-diencephalic structures in this region. We present the surgical approaches and techniques in a consecutive series of 119 patients treated by the senior author (J.H.) between 1980 and 2007 at 2 different neurosurgical university centers in Kuopio and Helsinki, Finland. METHODS: Of the included patients, 107 (90%) presented with pineal region tumors and 12 (10%) with vascular malformations. The ITSC route was used for removal of the lesion in 111 (93%) patients and the OIH approach in 8 (7%) patients. All except one patient were operated on in a sitting position. RESULTS: We reviewed all clinical data and radiographic images and analyzed all surgical videos. The pineal lesions were removed completely in most cases (88%). There was no surgical mortality. Twenty-two (18%) of the patients had complications in the postoperative period; these included 1 epidural hematoma, 9 transient Parinaud syndrome, 2 meningitis, 3 wound infections, 2 transient memory disturbances, 2 mild hemiparesis, 1 CSF fistula, and 2 cranial nerves palsies (IV and VI). During a 3.5-year follow-up, 12 patients with malignant lesions died; all patients with benign tumors survived. CONCLUSIONS: The ITSC route is a safe and effective surgical approach, associated with low morbidity, complete lesion removal, and definitive histopathologic diagnosis. Considering risk vs benefit, we therefore believe that the surgical treatment can be offered in most cases as the first treatment option for pineal tumors.