Effectiveness and reliability of hypnosis in stereotaxy: a randomized study.

Background: Patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD) may experience pain during stereotactic frame (SF) fixation in deep brain stimulation (DBS). We assessed the role of hypnosis during the SF fixation in PD patients undergoing awake bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) DBS.

Methods: N = 19 patients were included (N = 13 males, mean age 63 years; N = 10 allocated to the hypnosis and N = 9 allocated to the control groups).

The impact of a history of status epilepticus for epilepsy surgery outcome.

Objective: Patients with focal drug resistant epilepsy are excellent candidates for epilepsy surgery. Status epilepticus (SE) and seizure clusters (SC), described in a subset of patients, have both been associated with extended epileptogenic cerebral networks within one or both hemispheres. In this retrospective study, we were interested to determine if a history of SE or SC is associated with a worse surgical outcome.

Focused ultrasounds: What is their future in epileptology? A critical review.

High intensity focused ultrasounds (HIFU) are being increasingly advocated as a useful tool in the management of focal drug-resistant epilepsy. Our aim was to review current literature on the topic and perform an inventory of open trials assessing HIFU effectiveness and safety in epilepsy management. To do so, a review was conducted and yielded one prospective clinical trials, two case reports and one safety study were retrieved, indicating that HIFU is still in its infancy when it comes to focal drug-resistant epilepsy therapy.

Implantation and reimplantation of intracranial EEG electrodes in patients considering epilepsy surgery.

In patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who are considering surgery, intracranial EEG (iEEG) helps delineate the putative epileptogenic zone. In a minority of patients, iEEG fails to identify seizure onsets. In such cases, it might be worthwhile to reimplant more iEEG electrodes.

Validation of Lead-DBS β-Oscillation Localization with Directional Electrodes.

In deep brain stimulation (DBS) studies in patients with Parkinson's disease, the Lead-DBS toolbox allows the reconstruction of the location of β-oscillations in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) using Vercise Cartesia directional electrodes (Boston Scientific). The objective was to compare these probabilistic locations with those of intraoperative monopolar β-oscillations computed from local field potentials (0.5-3 kHz) recorded by using shielded single wires and an extracranial shielded reference electrode.

Quality of Life After Poor-Grade Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Background: Poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is associated with high mortality and poor disability outcome. Data on quality of life (QoL) among survivors are scarce because patients with poor-grade aSAH are underrepresented in clinical studies reporting on QoL after aSAH.

Objective: To provide prospective QoL data on survivors of poor-grade aSAH to aid clinical decision making and counseling of relatives.

Multidisciplinary management of posterior fossa dural arteriovenous fistula: A single-center experience.

Purpose: The management of posterior fossa dural arteriovenous fistulas (pfDAVFs) is challenging. Here, we show how multidisciplinarity leads to their successful management, even in complex cases.

Methods: All pfDAVFs managed from 2010 to 2019 at our center were reviewed.

Management of cavernous sinus meningiomas: Consensus statement on behalf of the EANS skull base section.

Introduction: The evolution of cavernous sinus meningiomas (CSMs) might be unpredictable and the efficacy of their treatments is challenging due to their indolent evolution, variations and fluctuations of symptoms, heterogeneity of classifications and lack of randomized controlled trials. Here, a dedicated task force provides a consensus statement on the overall management of CSMs.

Research Question: To determine the best overall management of CSMs, depending on their clinical presentation, size, and evolution as well as patient characteristics.

Management of Recurrent Meningiomas: State of the Art and Perspectives.

Background: While meningiomas often recur over time, the natural history of repeated recurrences and their management are not well described. Should recurrence occur, repeat surgery and/or use of adjuvant therapeutic options may be necessary. Here, we summarize current practice when it comes to meningioma recurrence after initial surgical management.

Herniation World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies Scale Improves Prediction of Outcome in Patients With Poor-Grade Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Background: Favorable outcomes are seen in up to 50% of patients with World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grade V aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Therefore, the usefulness of the current WFNS grading system for identifying the worst scenarios for clinical studies and for making treatment decisions is limited. We previously modified the WFNS scale by requiring positive signs of brain stem dysfunction to assign grade V.

How I do it: the trans-laminar, facet-joint sparing minimal invasive approach for ventral dural repair in spontaneous intracranial hypotension-a 2-dimensional operative video.

Background: We describe the minimally invasive, facet-sparing postero-lateral approach to the thoracic spine for a ventral dural repair in a patient with intracranial hypotension secondary to a spontaneous dural breach.

Methods: We performed a minimally invasive approach using a short paramedian posterior skin incision followed by a 10 × 10 mm targeted trans-laminar approach, to achieve a microsurgical repair of a symptomatic ventral dural defect causing severe disability.

Conclusion: The facet-sparing postero-lateral approach is safe and effective in the surgical management of thoracic dural tears, even in the most anterior ones, and avoids the traditional costotransversectomy.

Acute Stenting and Concomitant Tirofiban Administration for the Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke Related to Intracranial Artery Dissections: A Single Center Experience and Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background: Intracranial artery dissection is an uncommon cause of acute ischemic stroke. Although acute stenting of the dissected arterial segment is a therapeutic option, the associated antiplatelet regimen remains a matter of debate.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acute intracranial stenting together with concomitant intravenous administration of tirofiban and to perform a systematic review of the literature.

STA-MCA Bypass in Carotid Stenosis after Radiosurgery for Cavernous Sinus Meningioma.

Background: Cavernous sinus meningiomas (CSM) are mostly non-surgical tumors. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or radiotherapy (SRT) allow tumor control and improvement of pre-existing cranial nerve (CN) deficits. We report the case of a patient with radiation-induced internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis.

Evidence accumulation relates to perceptual consciousness and monitoring.

A fundamental scientific question concerns the neural basis of perceptual consciousness and perceptual monitoring resulting from the processing of sensory events. Although recent studies identified neurons reflecting stimulus visibility, their functional role remains unknown. Here, we show that perceptual consciousness and monitoring involve evidence accumulation.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery strategies for elective craniotomy: a systematic review.

Objective: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) has led to a paradigm shift in perioperative care through multimodal interventions. Still, ERAS remains a relatively new concept in neurosurgery, and there is no summary of evidence on ERAS applications in cranial neurosurgery.

Methods: The authors systematically reviewed the literature using the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases for ERAS protocols and elements.

Functional outcome and quality of life after meningioma surgery: a systematic review.

Assessment of long-term functional outcomes after meningioma surgery is important. We systematically reviewed the literature on health-related quality of life (HrQoL) and functional disability (FD) of patients after surgery for intracranial meningiomas. Using PRISMA 2015 guidelines, we screened 289 abstracts and 43 titles were retained for full-paper screening.

Association of Medical Comorbidities With Objective Functional Impairment in Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease.

Study Design: Analysis of a prospective 2-center database.

Objectives: Medical comorbidities co-determine clinical outcome. Objective functional impairment (OFI) provides a supplementary dimension of patient assessment.

Incidence and Outcome of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: The Swiss Study on Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (Swiss SOS).

Background And Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess nationwide incidence and outcomes of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The Swiss SOS (Swiss Study on Subarachnoid Hemorrhage) was established in 2008 and offers the unique opportunity to provide this data from the point of care on a nationwide level.

Methods: All patients with confirmed aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage admitted between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2014, within Switzerland were recorded in a prospective registry.

How I do it: minimally invasive resection of a sub-ependymoma of the fourth ventricle.

Background: A 54-year-old female was referred to our clinic with a lesion of the lower fourth ventricle extending to the median aperture. Here, we report the use a minimally invasive sub-occipital approach (MISA) as a safe and effective surgical management.

Method: We performed a MISA using a short midline incision and a 1-cm sub-occipital craniectomy.

Resection of meningiomas in octogenarians: a comparison with a younger geriatric population.

Objective: Intracranial meningiomas (ICMs) may be diagnosed in octogenarians. Since the lesions are rarely life-threatening, surgery is a questionable choice in this age group. The authors' aim in this study was to analyze factors associated with the extent of resection (EOR), overall survival (OS), and postoperative complications in octogenarians undergoing ICM surgery, by using a cohort of septuagenarians as a reference.