The prognostic utility of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in paediatric brain tumours: a retrospective case control study.

Introduction: Paediatric brain tumours (PBT) are the most common cause of death among all childhood cancers. The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been shown to prognosticate many adult cancers. There is a paucity of literature on the NLR in PBTs.

Onboarding of siponimod in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis patients in Australia: Novel, real-world evidence from the MSGo digital support programme.

Background: Siponimod is approved for use in people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (pwSPMS). An integrated digital platform, MSGo, was developed for pwSPMS and clinicians to help navigate the multiple steps of the pre-siponimod work-up.

Objective: To explore real-world onboarding experiences of siponimod amongst pwSPMS in Australia.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with non-sinogenic Brain infections.

Background: Central Nervous System (CNS) suppurative infections are serious but rare conditions in the paediatric population. Data on long-term neurocognitive and quality of life outcomes in children recovering from these infections are lacking.

Methods: A retrospective cohort review of children <16 years with non-sinogenic infections undergoing neurosurgery was conducted.

Effectiveness of subtemporal decompression for the management of slit ventricle syndrome.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of subtemporal decompression in the management of slit ventricle syndrome.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of all patients with slit ventricle syndrome (SVS) who underwent subtemporal decompression (STD) at our centre between 2010 and 2021. Cases were identified using the hospital database.

Multiple Abscesses in the Frontal, Temporal and Brainstem regions in a 4.5-year-Old Girl- An Illustrative Case Report.

Background: Brainstem located abscesses are rare in the pediatric population. Diagnosis of brain abscess can be challenging as patients may present with nonspecific symptoms and the classical triad of headache, fever, and focal neurological deficit is not always present. Treatment can be conservative or a combination of surgical intervention with antimicrobial therapy.

Spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage secondary to 5-ALA-induced thrombocytopaenia in a paediatric patient: case report and literature review.

Introduction: The primary objective of neurosurgical management of malignant gliomas is maximal safe resection of the tumour. One of the main obstacles in achieving this is the ability to accurately discriminate between tumour edges and the surrounding healthy brain tissue. The use of fluorescence-guided surgery utilising 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), first introduced more than 20 years ago, has become an invaluable adjunct in high-grade glioma surgery in adults.

The Effect of Anesthetic Agent and Mean Arterial Pressure on Functional Outcome After General Anesthesia for Endovascular Thrombectomy.

Background: The optimal general anesthetic (GA) technique for stroke patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy (ET) is unclear. We compared favorable outcomes and mortality in patients receiving propofol or volatile GA during ET and assessed associations between mean arterial pressure (MAP) and outcome.

Methods: Ninety-three patients with anterior circulation stroke who received propofol or volatile GA during ET between February 2015 and February 2018 were included in this retrospective study.

Chiari Malformation Presenting as Headaches Associated with Laughter.

Presentation We describe the case of a 5 year old boy, referred to our outpatient department with a one year history of headaches associated with laughter. Diagnosis Investigation with MRI Brain revealed Chiari Type 1 Malformation (CM-1), with cerebellar tonsillar descent of 19mm below the foramen magnum. Treatment He is being managed conservatively with serial neuroimaging and symptom monitoring.

To Connect and Educate: Why Families Engage in Family-Professional Partnership Training Experiences.

Successful family-professional partnerships (FPP) have been shown to positively impact both satisfaction with care and health outcomes for children with disabilities and their families. Many healthcare training programs have recognized the benefit of FPP training and often include learning experiences that feature families as teachers or mentors. However, most research on FPP training has focused on professionals' experiences, and not on families' experience in the roles of mentors and experts.

Prenatal findings and associated survival rates in fetal ventriculomegaly: A prospective observational study.

Objectives: Fetal ventriculomegaly is associated with varying degrees of genetic and structural abnormalities. The objective was to present the experience of fetal ventriculomegaly in a large European center in relation to: 1. grade of ventriculomegaly; 2.

Concurrent management of suppurative intracranial complications of sinusitis and acute otitis media in children.

Objective: Intracranial complications of sinusitis and acute otitis media (AOM) are rare but life-threatening events. In children with suppurative intracranial complications, concurrent neurosurgical and otolaryngological (ORL) intervention has been recommended to optimize outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate outcomes following concurrent neurosurgical and ORL intervention.

Severe fetal ventriculomegaly: Fetal morbidity and mortality, caesarean delivery rates and obstetrical challenges in a large prospective cohort.

Introduction: Severe fetal ventriculomegaly (VM) is defined as an enlargement of the atria of the lateral cerebral ventricles (Vp) of greater than 15 mm. While it is well established that it confers significant risk of morbidity and mortality to the neonate, there is limited information pertaining to the caesarean delivery rates and the obstetric management of these complex cases. The aim of this study was twofold: firstly, to determine survival rates in fetuses with severe VM, and secondly to determine the caesarean delivery rates in continuing pregnancies.

Predicting outcomes in Dandy-Walker malformation: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM) is a disorder that most neurologists and neurosurgeons will manage at some point during their careers. It is characterized by partial or complete dysgenesis of the cerebellar vermis. Outcomes are highly variable and range from functionally normal to severely disabled.

Secondary traumatic stress, burnout, compassion satisfaction, and perceived organizational trauma readiness in forensic science professionals.

Secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and compassion satisfaction have been described since the 1980s and extensively studied in first responders, law enforcement, legal professionals, and human service providers. There are few studies in forensic science professionals. To determine levels of secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and compassion satisfaction and relate these to demographics and job characteristics, we administered online a modified version of the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) questionnaire to professionals in crime laboratories and medical examiner offices.

Intrathecal baclofen pumps in the management of hypertonia in childhood: a UK and Ireland wide survey.

Background: Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) is a useful treatment for hypertonia where non-invasive treatments have been ineffective or poorly tolerated. There is an absence of national guidance on selection criteria and a lack of literature regarding patient characteristics and treatment details for children and young people (CYP) receiving ITB therapy in the UK and Ireland. We aimed to gather patient and treatment characteristics for CYP receiving ITB in the UK and Ireland.

Are Developmental Monitoring and Screening Better Together for Early Autism Identification Across Race and Ethnic Groups?

National Surveys of Children's Health (NSCH, 2016-2018) data were analyzed to determine if conjoint monitoring and screening showed stronger associations with children under 5 identified with ASD compared to monitoring alone, screening alone or no monitoring or screening; and investigate relationships between monitoring and screening across racial/ethnic subgroups. 86 of 332 children with ASD received their diagnosis in a timeframe suggesting potential monitoring and screening for identification purposes. Analyses showed that conjoint monitoring and screening and monitoring alone, but not screening alone, was associated with early identified ASD cases across race groups.

Endoscopic extended transsphenoidal surgery for newly diagnosed paediatric craniopharyngiomas.

Purpose: Endoscopic extended transsphenoidal surgery (EETSS) has gained popularity for treatment of craniopharyngiomas. The aim of this study is to assess the outcome of endoscopic extended transsphenoidal surgery (EETSS) for newly diagnosed paediatric craniopharyngiomas.

Methods: Patient details were obtained from a prospective database of all endoscopic transnasal operations performed by a single surgeon.

A multidisciplinary fetal neurosurgical service-5 years of fetal outcomes from a national referral centre.

Background: A specialist fetal neurosurgical clinic was set up in order to improve patient care in a tertiary referral fetal medicine centre. The clinic provides a targeted clinical service for women diagnosed with fetal neurological abnormalities. The service consists of fetal MRI, fetal ultrasound and joint assessment and counselling from neurosurgery and fetal medicine teams.

Characteristics of Platelet Lysate Compared to Autologous and Allogeneic Serum Eye Drops.

Purpose: Platelet lysate produced from platelet apheresis components has been proposed as an alternative to serum eye drops in the treatment of ocular surface disease. This study compared the effects of platelet lysate and serum on growth factor, cytokine and nanoparticle concentrations, and corneal epithelial cell proliferation.

Methods: The concentration of growth factors, cytokines, and nanoparticles in platelet lysates manufactured from either fresh or expired platelet apheresis concentrations collected with Trima or Haemonetics technology was characterized and compared with those of allogeneic, autologous, and fetal calf serum.

Moyamoya disease and moyamoya syndrome in Ireland: patient demographics, mode of presentation and outcomes of EC-IC bypass surgery.

Background: There are no previously published reports regarding the epidemiology and characteristics of moyamoya disease or syndrome in Ireland.

Aims: To examine patient demographics, mode of presentation and the outcomes of extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery in the treatment of moyamoya disease and syndrome in Ireland.

Methods: All patients with moyamoya disease and syndrome referred to the National Neurosurgical Centre during January 2012-January 2019 were identified through a prospective database.

Role of routine post-operative CT brain following evacuation of extradural haematoma in children: a single-centre experience.

Purpose: Extradural haematoma (EDH) is a serious neurosurgical emergency in children, which confers significant morbidity and mortality rates. The objective of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the role of post-operative imaging in children with EDH who were managed surgically in a national paediatric neurosurgical unit over a 9-year period (January 2008 to December 2016).

Methods: A retrospective case review of paediatric patients who underwent surgical evacuation of extradural haematoma between January 2008 and December 2016 was performed.

Primary External Ventricular Drains in the Management of Open Myelomeningocele Repairs in the Neonatal Setting in Ireland.

Aim The aim of this study is to outline the role of primary external ventricular drains (EVD) in the management of open myelomeningoceles in the neonatal setting in Ireland. Methods Retrospective cohort study involving all infants who underwent open myelomeningocele repair in a teritary centre in Ireland between January 2009 and April 2016. Medical charts and laboratory data was reviewed on all infants meeting the inclusion criteria.