Surgical specialists face higher a risk for malpractice compared to their non-surgical colleagues.

In previous studies, surgical specialties accounted for most malpractice claims. The objective of the present study was to determine the risk for malpractice claims for physicians working in hospitals. A retrospective observational study using anonymized closed malpractice claims between 2007 up to 2021 from two Dutch insurers was carried out.

Medical Malpractice in Neurosurgery: An Analysis of Claims in the Netherlands.

Background And Objectives: Studying malpractice claims is important to improve quality of health care and patient safety and to educate the individual healthcare providers. The objective of this study was to describe characteristics of neurosurgical claims in the Netherlands.

Methods: A nationwide retrospective observational study of neurosurgery-related claims closed by Centramed and MediRisk, 2 major insurance companies in the Netherlands, was performed.

Differences in the Prognostic Role of Age, Extent of Resection, and Tumor Grade between Astrocytoma IDHmt and Oligodendroglioma: A Single-Center Cohort Study.

Purpose: IDH-mutant glioma is classified as oligodendroglioma or astrocytoma based on 1p19q-codeletion. Whether prognostic factors are similar between these tumor types is not well understood.

Experimental Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Clinical and Imaging Characteristics, Care Pathways, and Outcomes of Traumatic Epidural Hematomas: A Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury Study.

Background And Objectives: Guideline recommendations for surgical management of traumatic epidural hematomas (EDHs) do not directly address EDHs that co-occur with other intracranial hematomas; the relative rates of isolated vs nonisolated EDHs and guideline adherence are unknown. We describe characteristics of a contemporary cohort of patients with EDHs and identify factors influencing acute surgery.

Methods: This research was conducted within the longitudinal, observational Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury cohort study which prospectively enrolled patients with traumatic brain injury from 65 hospitals in 18 European countries from 2014 to 2017.

Quantifying dysmorphologies of the neurocranium using artificial neural networks.

Background: Craniosynostosis, a congenital condition characterized by the premature fusion of cranial sutures, necessitates objective methods for evaluating cranial morphology to enhance patient treatment. Current subjective assessments often lead to inconsistent outcomes. This study introduces a novel, quantitative approach to classify craniosynostosis and measure its severity.

Cognition and health-related quality of life in long-term survivors of high-grade glioma: an interactive perspective from patient and caregiver.

Background: The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and cognition are important indicators for the quality of survival in patients with high-grade glioma (HGG). However, data on long-term survivors and their caregivers are scarce. We aim to investigate the interaction between cognition and HRQoL in long-term survivors, their caregivers' evaluations, and the effect on caregiver strain and burden.

3D Analysis of the Cranial and Facial Shape in Craniosynostosis Patients: A Systematic Review.

With increasing interest in 3D photogrammetry, diverse methods have been developed for craniofacial shape analysis in craniosynostosis patients. This review provides an overview of these methods and offers recommendations for future studies. A systematic literature search was used to identify publications on 3D photogrammetry analyses in craniosynostosis patients until August 2023.

An autologous ex vivo model for exploring patient-specific responses to viro-immunotherapy in glioblastoma.

Oncolytic virus (OV) clinical trials have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in subsets of patients with glioblastoma (GBM). However, the lack of tools to predict this response hinders the advancement of a more personalized application of OV therapy. In this study, we characterize an ex vivo co-culture system designed to examine the immune response to OV infection of patient-derived GBM neurospheres in the presence of autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Health-related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents With Sagittal Synostosis.

Background: This study evaluated the health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in patients with sagittal synostosis (SS), and the influence of frequent headaches and surgical techniques on the HR-QoL.

Method: Patients with SS aged 8 to 18 years were invited to participate between June 2016 and February 2017. The Child Health Questionnaire was used to assess the HR-QoL.

Standardized mortality ratios for regionalized acute cardiovascular care.

Background: Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMRs) are case-mix adjusted mortality rates per hospital and are used to evaluate quality of care. However, acute care is increasingly organized on a regional level, with more severe patients admitted to specialized hospitals. We hypothesize that the current case-mix adjustment insufficiently captures differences in case-mix between non-specialized and specialized hospitals.

Ex vivo drug sensitivity screening predicts response to temozolomide in glioblastoma patients and identifies candidate biomarkers.

Background: Patient-derived glioma stem-like cells (GSCs) have become the gold-standard in neuro-oncological research; however, it remains to be established whether loss of in situ microenvironment affects the clinically-predictive value of this model. We implemented a GSC monolayer system to investigate in situ-in vitro molecular correspondence and the relationship between in vitro and patient response to temozolomide (TMZ).

Methods: DNA/RNA-sequencing was performed on 56 glioblastoma tissues and 19 derived GSC cultures.

Local delivery of hrBMP4 as an anticancer therapy in patients with recurrent glioblastoma: a first-in-human phase 1 dose escalation trial.

Background: This Phase 1 study evaluates the intra- and peritumoral administration by convection enhanced delivery (CED) of human recombinant Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 (hrBMP4) - an inhibitory regulator of cancer stem cells (CSCs) - in recurrent glioblastoma.

Methods: In a 3 + 3 dose escalation design, over four to six days, fifteen recurrent glioblastoma patients received, by CED, one of five doses of hrBMP4 ranging from 0·5 to 18 mg. Patients were followed by periodic physical, neurological, blood testing, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and quality of life evaluations.

Music to prevent deliriUm during neuroSurgerY (MUSYC): a single-centre, prospective randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: Delirium is a serious complication following neurosurgical procedures. We hypothesise that the beneficial effect of music on a combination of delirium-eliciting factors might reduce delirium incidence following neurosurgery and subsequently improve clinical outcomes.

Design: Prospective randomised controlled trial.

Dexamethasone versus Surgery for Chronic Subdural Hematoma.

Background: The role of glucocorticoids without surgical evacuation in the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma is unclear.

Methods: In this multicenter, open-label, controlled, noninferiority trial, we randomly assigned symptomatic patients with chronic subdural hematoma in a 1:1 ratio to a 19-day tapering course of dexamethasone or to burr-hole drainage. The primary end point was the functional outcome at 3 months after randomization, as assessed by the score on the modified Rankin scale (range, 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]).

Functional imaging of the exposed brain.

When the brain is exposed, such as after a craniotomy in neurosurgical procedures, we are provided with the unique opportunity for real-time imaging of brain functionality. Real-time functional maps of the exposed brain are vital to ensuring safe and effective navigation during these neurosurgical procedures. However, current neurosurgical practice has yet to fully harness this potential as it pre-dominantly relies on inherently limited techniques such as electrical stimulation to provide functional feedback to guide surgical decision-making.

The effect of musicality on language recovery after awake glioma surgery.

Introduction: Awake craniotomy is increasingly used to resect intrinsic brain tumors while preserving language. The level of musical training might affect the speed and extend of postoperative language recovery, as increased white matter connectivity in the corpus callosum is described in musicians compared to non-musicians.

Methods: In this cohort study, we included adult patients undergoing treatment for glioma with an awake resection procedure at two neurosurgical centers and assessed language preoperatively (T1) and postoperatively at three months (T2) and one year (T3) with the Diagnostic Instrument for Mild Aphasia (DIMA), transferred to -scores.

Impact of an external ventricular shunt (EVD) handling protocol on secondary meningitis rates: a historical cohort study with propensity score matching.

Background: External ventricular drainage (EVD) is frequently used in neurosurgical procedures for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage. It is, however, associated with high infection rates, namely secondary meningitis and ventriculitis. Based on a previous high prevalence of these infections among patients with EVDs, we have proposed and implemented a protocol in an effort to decrease the infection rate.

Postoperative Delirium After Intracranial Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: The clinical relevance of postoperative delirium (POD) in neurosurgery remains unclear and should be investigated because these patients are vulnerable. Hence, we investigated the impact of POD, by means of incidence and health outcomes, and identified independent risk factors.

Methods: Adult patients undergoing an intracranial surgical procedure in the Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam between June 2017 and September 2020 were retrospectively included.

Impact of dedicated neuro-anesthesia management on clinical outcomes in glioblastoma patients: A single-institution cohort study.

Background: Glioblastomas are mostly resected under general anesthesia under the supervision of a general anesthesiologist. Currently, it is largely unkown if clinical outcomes of GBM patients can be improved by appointing a neuro-anesthesiologist for their cases. We aimed to evaluate whether the assignment of dedicated neuro-anesthesiologists improves the outcomes of these patients.

Efficacy and safety of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy with [Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE in 15 patients with progressive treatment-refractory meningioma.

Purpose: There is no evidence-based systemic therapy for patients with progressive meningiomas for whom surgery or external radiotherapy is no longer an option. In this study, the efficacy and safety of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) in patients with progressive, treatment-refractory meningiomas were evaluated.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of all meningioma patients treated with [Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE from 2000 to 2020 in our centre.

Impact of maximal extent of resection on postoperative deficits, patient functioning, and survival within clinically important glioblastoma subgroups.

Background: The impact of extent of resection (EOR), residual tumor volume (RTV), and gross-total resection (GTR) in glioblastoma subgroups is currently unknown. This study aimed to analyze their impact on patient subgroups in relation to neurological and functional outcomes.

Methods: Patients with tumor resection for eloquent glioblastoma between 2010 and 2020 at 4 tertiary centers were recruited from a cohort of 3919 patients.