BACKGROUND:Surgery for intracranial aneurysm often results in postoperative neurologic deficits. We conducted a randomized trial at 30 centers to determine whether intraoperative cooling during open craniotomy would improve the outcome among patients with acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. METHODS:A total of 1001 patients with a preoperative World Federation of Neurological Surgeons score of I, II, or III ("good-grade patients"), who had had a subarachnoid hemorrhage no more than 14 days before planned surgical aneurysm clipping, were randomly assigned to intraoperative hypothermia (target temperature, 33 degrees C, with the use of surface cooling techniques) or normothermia (target temperature, 36.5 degrees C). Patients were followed closely postoperatively and examined approximately 90 days after surgery, at which time a Glasgow Outcome Score was assigned. RESULTS:There were no significant differences between the group assigned to intraoperative hypothermia and the group assigned to normothermia in the duration of stay in the intensive care unit, the total length of hospitalization, the rates of death at follow-up (6 percent in both groups), or the destination at discharge (home or another hospital, among surviving patients). At the final follow-up, 329 of 499 patients in the hypothermia group had a Glasgow Outcome Score of 1 (good outcome), as compared with 314 of 501 patients in the normothermia group (66 percent vs. 63 percent; odds ratio, 1.14; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.88 to 1.48; P=0.32). Postoperative bacteremia was more common in the hypothermia group than in the normothermia group (5 percent vs. 3 percent, P=0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Intraoperative hypothermia did not improve the neurologic outcome after craniotomy among good-grade patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of total drainage time on the risk of catheter infection, and the predictive value of standard laboratory examinations for the diagnosis of bacteriologically recorded cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) infection during external ventricular drainage. Methods: During a three year period, all patients of the neurosurgical intensive care unit (ICU), who received an external ventricular drain, were prospectivly studied. Daily CSF samples were obtained and examined for cell count, glucose and protein content. Bacteriological cultures were taken three times a week, and serum sepsis parameters were determined. Results: 130 patients received a total of 186 external ventricular drains. The ventricular catheters were in place from one to 25 days (mean 7.1 days). In 1343 days of drainage, the authors recorded 41 positive bacteriological cultures in 21 patients between the first and the 22nd drainage day (mean 6.4). No significant correlation was found between drainage time and positive CSF culture. The only parameter that significantly correlated with the occurrence of a positive CSF culture was the CSF cell count (unpaired t test, p<0.05). Conclusions: Drainage time is not a significant risk factor for catheter infection. Increasing CSF cell count should lead to the suspicion of bacteriological drainage contamination. Other standard laboratory parameters, such as peripheral leucocyte count, CSF glucose, CSF protein, or serum sepsis parameters, are not reliable predictors for incipient ventricular catheter infection.

Objective and Importance: We report the very rare case of a gliomyosarcoma that caused penetration failure in stereotactic biopsy and therefore led to misdiagnosis. This complication should be considered as a potential reason for diagnostic failure with uncommonly firm tumors in frame-based stereotactic biopsy.Clinical Presentation: An 83-year-old women presented with a 4-week history of right hemiparesis. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a left precentral lesion of 1 cm in diameter with moderate contrast uptake and perifocal edema.Intervention: Stereotactic biopsy was performed using the Cosman-Robert-Wells (CRW) system and a side-aspirating biopsy needle. Six tissue samples were taken;, however, histopathologic examination remained non-diagnostic. Because the hemiparesis had worsened, a magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) was taken four weeks later and clearly demonstrated an increase in size of the lesion. Neuronavigation-guided open surgery revealed a very firm, well-delimited tumor that was classified in the pathologic examination as a gliomyosarcoma. Repeated recalculations of the target coordinates, analysis of the CT scan that was taken 4 days after the stereotaxy, and finally, recognition of the extraordinary firmness of this gliomyosarcoma allowed us to presume with certainty that we had not penetrated the lesion with the biopsy cannula, but rather had merely pushed it ahead of the instrument while the tissue samples were taken. Conclusion: The reported case is both unique for its histopathologic diagnosis and for the complication it caused in stereotactic biopsy. The case also supports the implementation of image-guided interventions for diagnostic biopsy, rather than frame-based stereotaxy in the future.

Deadline: 04. Januar 2022 www.dgnc-kongress.de Joint Meeting mit der griechischen gesellschaft für neurochirurgie

OBJECTIVEConsidering the short remaining life expectancy with glioblastoma multiforme, numerous patients and their referring physicians are hesitant to use aggressive surgical treatment for fear of greater risk of neurological deterioration. The aim of our study was to determine whether surgical treatment of glioblastoma, utilizing modern microsurgical dissection techniques and tools, interferes with short-term quality of life.METHODSThe functional status before and after 67 microsurgical operations in 65 patients with glioblastomas was studied retrospectively. To evaluate the patients' quality of life, their functional neurological status was correlated with the Karnofsky performance scale (KPS). Post-operative evaluation was done within 7 days of surgery.RESULTSNo significant difference was found between the preoperative and the early postoperative functional status. Neither patient age nor the preoperative functional status determined a significant risk for postoperative functional deterioration. Patients with tumors involving so-called eloquent brain areas statistically worsened (p = 0.018); however, they showed only mild clinical impairment that was represented by a mean KPS status decline of less than -10. After total tumor resection, patients showed functional improvement.CONCLUSIONMicrosurgery is safe and effective in order to improve or preserve short-term quality of life in glioblastoma patients. Total tumor resection is not associated with a significantly greater risk for neurological deterioration, either in patients with preoperative functional impairment, or in functionally independent patients.

Resections of brain tumours in the left perisylvian area (LPA) carry a risk of language impairment. Thus, intraoperative language monitoring devices are used to explore the functional anatomy of the LPA and to detect beginning aphasia. Following recent approaches (Reulen et al. 1997, Herholz et al. 1997), the present study explored a combined monitoring procedure in 5 right-handed patients who were operated on brain tumours in and adjacent to the LPA. In addition, language and verbal memory was assessed pre- and postoperatively. Preoperatively, no patient was aphasic; however, most subjects showed minor impairments of language and memory. During the operation, which was performed in the wakeful patient, language functions were repeatedly tested using both, a clinical monitoring and an extended electrocortical mapping procedure. The extent of tumour resection (total or subtotal) was adapted to the patient's intraoperative language status. Following these safety procedures, the outcome of surgery was generally favourable. Only one patient suffered an aphasia intraoperatively from which she recovered completely; in the other subjects sporadical and minor impairments of language were observed which largely recovered over a period of several weeks. In subjects who had a preoperative deficit of immediate and long-term prose memory, an improvement of memory was evident on postoperative follow-up testing. Language functions can be effectively monitored using clinical tasks and electrocortical mapping during the removal of rumours in the LPA.

Background In noncontiguous spinal metastatic disease, anterior or combined anterior-posterior surgery is an effective treatment. The objective of this study is to investigate whether circumferential decompression through a single-stage posterior midline approach with individualized spinal reconstruction can still achieve comparable results for functional improvement and for maintenance of spinal alignment in the absence of the risks associated with the more invasive transcavitary or combined approaches.Method Seventeen patients with noncontiguous spinal metastases and plasmocytomas at one or two adjacent levels were included in this series. Circumferential decompression was obtained with anterior reconstruction and posterior fixation in ten patients, and with posterior instrumentation alone in seven patients. Postoperatively the patients were prospectively Followed, and their functional status and spinal alignment were periodically evaluated.Findings. Fourteen patients died From progression of their underlying cancer. Their mean survival time was 8 months (range: 1 to 21 months). Three survivors were evaluated at 10, 4 and 3 months respectively. At one month after surgery, 14 patients (82%) showed neurological improvement. Of 10 preoperative nonambulators, seven regained walking capacity. Five patients who were ambulatory with assistance improved to full functional independence. Local tumour recurrence was recorded in one patient after subtotal vertebrectomy for a plasmocytoma at L5, No other tumour recurrences were noted. In one patient a partial loss of correction occurred at T6 - without functional deterioration, however. Spinal alignment was maintained in all other patients who became or remained ambulatory. No major intra-operative complications or peri-operative deaths occurred. CSF leakage was recorded as the most common complication in four patients.Interpretation. Circumferential decompression and spinal reconstruction through a single-stage posterior midline approach is feasible and effective. The extent of surgery can be individualized by means of this technique to the patient's specific problem. In patients with limited life expectancy from metastatic neoplastic disease, the results compare favourably with the more invasive anterior or combined antero-posterior procedures.

Background. The standart surgical treatment of meningiomas is total resection of the tumour. The complete removal of skull base meningiomas can be difficult because of the proximity of cranial nerves. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an effective therapy, either for adjuvant treatment in case of subtotal or partial tumour resection, or as solitary treatment in asymptomatic meningiomas.

The anterior decompressive procedure in which spinal fusion is performed is considered an effective treatment for thoracolumbar fractures and tumors. However, it is also known to be associated with considerable surgery-related trauma. The purpose of this study was to show that lumbar corpectomy and anterior reconstruction can be performed via a minimally invasive retroperitoneal approach (MIRA) and therefore the surgical approach-related trauma can be reduced. The authors studied retrospectively the hospital records and radiological studies obtained in five patients (mean age 67.4 years, range 59-76 years) who underwent lumbar corpectomy and spinal fusion via an MIRA followed by posterior fixation. Four patients presented with osteoporotic compression fractures at L-2 and L-3, and one patient presented with metastatic disease in L-4 from prostate cancer. Neurological deficits due to cauda equina compression were demonstrated in all patients. The MIRA provided excellent exposure to facilitate complete decompression and anterior reconstruction in all patients, as verified on follow-up radiographic studies. All patients improved clinically. A 1-year follow-up record is available for four patients and a 6-month follow-up record for the fifth patient; continuing clinical improvement has been observed in all. Radiography demonstrated anatomically correct reconstruction in all patients, as well as a solid fusion or a stable compound union in the four patients for whom 1-year follow-up records were available. The MIRA allows the surgeon to perform anterior lumbar spine surgery via a less invasive approach. The efficacy and safety of this technique and its potential to reduce perioperative morbidity compared with conventional retroperitoneal lumbar spine surgery should be further investigated in a larger series.

OBJECTIVE:Patients with increased intracranial pressure or vasospasm after subarachnoidal haemorrhage with decreased cerebral perfusion present a special problem on developing respiratory insufficiency, since kinetic therapy or extracorporal life support are contraindicated. Superimposed High Frequency Jet Ventilation (SHFJV) has been shown to be of benefit in ventilating patients with pulmonary insufficiency. The aim of this study was to evaluate if SHFJV could be safely applied in patients with critical cerebral blood flow; if so, SHFJV might be beneficial when pulmonary insufficiency occurs concomitantly.METHODS:The study was performed in 14 patients (3 with pulmonary insufficiency) applying first moderate hyperventilation (paCO2 31 to 36 mmHg) followed by increased hyperventilation (paCO2 27 to 30 mmHg) with CMV and SHFJV and measuring intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) and blood flow velocity (BFV) of the middle cerebral artery. BFV of the middle cerebral artery which correlates closely to the cerebral blood flow, was measured continuously with transcranial Doppler ultrasound.RESULTS:CMV: Increased hyperventilation leads to a statistically significant increase in paO2 (121.3 to 147.2 mmHg, p < 0.05), SaO2 (98.5% to 99.2%, p < 0.05) and decrease in BFV (systole 115.9 to 89.6 cm/s, diastole 44.6 to 31.8 cm/s, p < 0.05). Heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, ICP and ventilation parameters did not show any statistically significant differences. SHFJV: During SHFJV the parameters demonstrated similar patterns as during CMV. However, none of the changes were statistically significant (paO2 111.9 to 125.9 mmHg, SaO2 97.9 to 98.8, BFV systole 106 to 95 cm/s, diastole 52.7 to 42.4 cm/s, n.s.). After calculating the mean BFV according to the Markwalder formula to a standard paCO2 of 40 mmHg CMV and SHFJV were compared to one another. No statistical difference was seen between the two different ventilation techniques.CONCLUSION:In patients with increased ICP, pulmonary complications such as pneumonia or ARDS are frequently observed. Since there are indications that SHFJV is of benefit in pulmonary insufficiency, the study was conducted to demonstrate that SHFJV can be safely applied in patients with increased ICP.

During the years 1985 to 1992, we encountered 59 patients with meningiomas involving the space of the cavernous sinus. In 29 of these patients, meningiomas were primarily located within the space of the cavernous sinus and were operated on without mortality and with low morbidity. A small subtemporal surgical approach was favored, which allowed initial tumor resection from the posterior aspect, where the Parkinson's triangle is wide, thus avoiding the additional morbidity of large-scale approaches. According to the relationships of the all-important cranial nerves passing within the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus, we divided the primary intracavernous meningiomas into four types, which reflected not only the preoperative cranial nerve deficit but also the feasibility of surgical resection. Cranial nerve function deteriorated after operations in 14% of oculomotor nerves, in one abducent nerve, in 58% of trochlear nerves, and in 21% of trigeminal nerves. We encountered improvement of function in 43% of oculomotor nerves, in 50% of abducent nerves, and in approximately 30% of the second and third but in only 7% of the first branches of trigeminal nerves. There was no improvement in trochlear nerve function. Improvement of oculomotor nerve function was observed only in moderately impaired nerves, which indicates that surgery should be undertaken early to preserve or improve oculomotor nerve function.