Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Perception of Paresthesia during Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery for Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has become a well-established treatment for the management of Parkinson's disease (PD). The most common method of lead targeting utilizes microelectrode recording (MER) and intraoperative macrostimulation to confirm accurate placement of the lead. This has been significantly aided by the use of dexmedetomidine (DEX) sedation during the procedure.

Inherited genetic syndromes and meningiomas.

Meningiomas arising with inherited genetic syndromes occur nearly exclusively in the context of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). NF2 is an autosomal dominant familial neoplasia syndrome that results from a mutation in the NF2 tumor suppressor gene located on the long arm of chromosome 22. The NF2 gene encodes for the protein merlin (moesin-ezrin-radixin-like protein), which has tumor suppressive effects that are reduced/inactivated in NF2-associated tumors.

Validation of the Surgical Intervention for Traumatic Injury scale in the pediatric population.

Objective: While the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) has been effective in describing severity in traumatic brain injury (TBI), there is no current method for communicating the possible need for surgical intervention. This study utilizes a recently developed scoring system, the Surgical Intervention for Traumatic Injury (SITI) scale, which was developed to efficiently communicate the potential need for surgical decompression in adult patients with TBI. The objective of this study was to apply the SITI scale to a pediatric population to provide a tool to increase communication of possible surgical urgency.

Direct Comparison of Posterior Subthalamic Area Stimulation versus Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease.

In this case report, we describe successful tremor capture via stimulation of the posterior subthalamic area (PSA) for a patient with tremor-predominant Parkinson's disease. In this scenario, the patient had a deep brain stimulation (DBS) lead placed in the PSA of the right hemisphere and a DBS lead placed in the subthalmic nucleus (STN) of the left hemisphere. Therefore, we were able to directly compare tremor capture in the same patient receiving stimulation in two different brain areas.

Spinal cord intramedullary pressure in thoracic scoliotic deformity: a cadaveric study.

Study Design: In vitro cadaveric study of thoracic spinal cord intramedullary pressure (IMP) in scoliotic deformity.

Objective: To define the relationship between thoracic scoliotic deformity and spinal cord IMP.

Summary Of Background Data: Clinical studies of patients with thoracic scoliosis without other spinal pathology (spinal stenosis, etc.

Full-band electrocorticography of spreading depolarizations in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Cortical spreading depolarizations (CSDs) are a pathologic mechanism occurring in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and may contribute to delayed cerebral ischemia. We conducted a pilot study to determine the durations of depolarizations as measured by the negative direct current shifts in electrocorticography. Cortical electrode strips were placed in six patients (aged 35-63 years, Fisher grade 4, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies [WFNS] 3-4) with ruptured aneurysms treated by clip ligation.