Publications by authors named "Brian Curry"

Background And Purpose: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is the standard for acute ischemic stroke from large vessel occlusion, but post-EVT functional independence varies. Brain atrophy, linked to higher cerebrospinal fluid volume (CSFV), may affect outcomes. Baseline CSFV could predict EVT benefit by assessing brain health.

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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been associated with negative cardiovascular effects and negative outcomes following cardiovascular surgery in the adult population. Our objective was to evaluate if there is a similar association in children. Single center retrospective matched cohort study, we collected data on patients aged 1-18 who were admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) between Jan 2012 and Dec 2021.

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Background: There is increasing recognition of connective tissue disorders and their influence on disease in the general population. A conserved clinical phenotype involving connective tissue disorders and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and associated cerebral venous outflow disorders (CVD) has not been previously described.

Methods: A single-institution retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of patients with connective tissue disorders and CVD was performed.

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Introduction: Craniotomy and craniectomy are common neurosurgical procedures with wide applications in both civilian and military practice. Skill maintenance for these procedures is required for military providers in the event they are called to support forward deployed service members suffering from combat and non-combat injuries. The presents investigation details the performance of such procedures at a small, overseas military treatment facility (MTF).

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Background: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is the standard-of-care treatment for stroke patients with emergent large vessel occlusions. Despite this, little is known about physician decision making regarding MT and prognostic accuracy.

Methods: A prospective multicenter cohort study of patients undergoing MT was performed at 11 comprehensive stroke centers.

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Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) frequently features degeneration and instability of the cervical spine. Rarely, this degeneration manifests as symptoms of bow hunter syndrome (BHS), a dynamic cause of vertebrobasilar insufficiency.

Observations: The authors reviewed the literature for cases of RA associated with BHS and present a case of a man with erosive RA with intermittent syncopal episodes attributable to BHS as a result of severe extrinsic left atlantooccipital vertebral artery compression from RA-associated cranial settling.

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  • Retroperitoneal nerve sheath tumors are challenging to remove surgically, and traditional methods may risk damaging nearby nerves, leading to neurological issues.
  • This study reviews existing literature and analyzes a case series involving robotic surgery using a special probe to identify and preserve key nerve fascicles during tumor removal.
  • The results showed that robotic surgery was successful for all patients, improving their preoperative symptoms without complications, demonstrating that this approach is both safe and effective for these types of tumors.
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Traumatic brain injury is a rapidly increasing source of morbidity and mortality across the world. As such, the evaluation and management of traumatic brain injuries ranging from mild to severe are under active investigation. Over the last two decades, quantitative pupillometry has been increasingly found to be useful in both the immediate evaluation and ongoing management of traumatic brain injured patients.

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  • A 24-year-old woman with severe headaches and progressive vision loss was diagnosed with fulminant idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and transverse sinus stenosis.
  • She underwent a stenting procedure that successfully restored normal flow in the superior ophthalmic veins (SOV) and significantly lowered her intracranial pressure.
  • The case suggests that reversed SOV flow can indicate serious venous sinus stenosis, and correcting this flow post-procedure may signal successful treatment of IIH.
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  • Duplicated origin of the vertebral artery (VA) is an uncommon anatomical variation that can increase the risk of vascular issues like dissections and aneurysms.
  • A case study details a 61-year-old man with lower extremity weakness who was found to have a duplicated left VA and a spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) during diagnostic procedures.
  • This incident highlights a possible connection between duplicated VA origins and vascular malformations, contributing to the understanding of their clinical significance.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has altered preexisting patient treatment algorithms and referral patterns, which has affected neurosurgical care worldwide. Brain arteriovenous malformations are complex vascular lesions that frequently present with intracerebral hemorrhage. Care for these patients is best performed at large medical centers by specialists with high volumes.

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  • Medical malpractice lawsuits in the military have been limited for a long time because of a rule called the Feres Doctrine, established in 1950, which says active military members can't sue for malpractice.
  • This rule has been challenged more often recently, as many malpractice cases have been thrown out.
  • In 2020, a new law created a group to review and settle these medical malpractice claims in the military's healthcare system, marking the first big change to the Feres Doctrine in 70 years.
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Introduction: The advancement of interventional neuroradiology has drastically altered the treatment of stroke and trauma patients. These advancements in first-world hospitals, however, have rarely reached far forward military hospitals due to limitations in expertise and equipment. In an established role III military hospital though, these life-saving procedures can become an important tool in trauma care.

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This report describes the case of a 5-year-old male with intractable hydrocephalus secondary to neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage who was ultimately managed with the placement of a ventriculo-ureteral (VU) shunt. He had previously failed numerous attempts at cerebrospinal fluid shunting, choroid plexus cauterization, and endoscopic third ventriculostomy. The patient had a history of end stage renal disease, and had previously undergone renal transplant.

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  • The text talks about how war affects medicine, especially how doctors treat brain injuries.
  • It focuses on the special field of neurosurgery, which is surgery on the brain.
  • Finally, it highlights new techniques and improvements in treating brain injuries that have come from America's wars in the 21st century.
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  • The opioid epidemic is worsening, prompting the Department of Defense and Veterans Health Agency to recommend the elimination of long-acting opioids and benzodiazepines in pain management, leading to changes in postoperative care.
  • A study was conducted on single-level TLIF patients to compare outcomes between those receiving benzodiazepines and long-acting opioids versus those receiving non-benzodiazepine, opioid-sparing medications.
  • Results showed that removing benzodiazepines and long-acting opioids did not change inpatient pain scores but led to reduced opioid use, fewer trigger medications, and shorter hospital stays for patients.
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Although decompressive surgery following traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is recommended, adequate surgical decompression is rarely verified via imaging. We utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to analyze the rate of spinal cord decompression after surgery. Pre-operative (within 8 h of injury) and post-operative (within 48 h of injury) MRI images of 184 motor complete patients (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale [AIS] grade A = 119, AIS grade B = 65) were reviewed to verify spinal cord decompression.

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We describe a new cryptic species of leopard frog from the New York City metropolitan area and surrounding coastal regions. This species is morphologically similar to two largely parapatric eastern congeners, Rana sphenocephala and R. pipiens.

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  • Anatomical variations around the thyroid gland can lead to accidental injuries during surgery.
  • A unique case was observed in an 83-year-old female cadaver, showing a small pyramidal lobe in the thyroid and unusual muscular structures.
  • Surgeons and clinicians should be aware of these variations to avoid complications during neck procedures involving the thyroid.
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The crista terminalis (CT) is an important anatomic landmark due its close association with the sinoatrial node artery and the origin of the pectinate muscles (PM). However, the gross anatomy of the PM in relation to the CT has not been well described. The aim of our study has been to investigate the location and the morphology of PM in relation to the CT.

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A consensus concerning the incidence, course and distribution of the posterior gastric artery (PGA) has yet to be reached. Recent literature has explored and subsequently demonstrated the importance of the identification of this vessel in surgical procedures such as subtotal gastrectomy, splenectomy and pancreatic transplantation. The gross anatomy of the PGA was examined in 120 adult human cadavers.

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With recent laparoscopic advancements in retroperitoneal and thoracic surgical procedures, familiarity with major lymphatic structures, such as including the cisterna chyli (CC) and thoracic duct (TD), has proven beneficial in avoiding misdiagnosis and iatrogenic intraoperative injury. In this light, the aim of our study was to explore and delineate the topography of the CC, classify the different patterns of lymphatic tributaries, and categorize its varying location with respect to the vertebral bodies. The anatomy of the CC was examined in 120 adult human cadavers.

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  • Hippocrates is often hailed as the father of medicine, but knowledge of the cardiovascular system before him is largely unknown.
  • Pre-Hippocratic civilizations, including the Chinese, Indians, Egyptians, and Ancient Greeks, viewed health through a religious lens, attributing bodily functions to divine powers rather than scientific exploration.
  • Despite their misconceptions, these early thinkers recognized structures resembling arteries and connected them to air transport, a term that continues to be used today.
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The majority of anatomical textbooks offer very little information concerning the anatomy and distribution of the superior phrenic artery (SPA). However, in the last decade, a number of reports have appeared with reference to the transcatheter arterial chemoembolization of the collateral arterial supply of hepatic carcinoma (HC). Considering the potential role of the SPA as a source of collateral blood supply to HC, the aim of this study was to identify the origin and distribution of the SPA.

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