Image-guided transthoracic transpedicular microdiscectomy for a giant thoracic disc herniation: patient series.

Background: This case series reports on five consecutive patients who underwent image-guided transpedicular transthoracic microdiscectomy. The authors retrospectively reviewed five patients who had undergone Stealth image-guided transpedicular transthoracic microdiscectomy between 2015 and 2021.

Observations: Image guidance with O-arm verified critical anatomical landmarks in the setting of large central calcified and/or soft tissue disc prolapse.

Endoscopic-Assisted Spinal Arachnoiditis Adhesiolysis and Placement of a Spinal Cysto-Subarachnoid Shunt.

Background: Spinal arachnoiditis and associated arachnoid adhesions can cause debilitating neurological symptoms due to nerve root and spinal cord compression or tethering. Adhesiolysis using a microscopic approach has traditionally been used for this condition. This procedure has been further refined in recent years with the use of flexible endoscopes.

Leib ohne Seele (Body Without Soul).

In this brief essay, the Austrian artist Harald Koeck offers an introduction to his painting series "Leib ohne Seele," a selection of which is reproduced. "Leib ohne Seele" is concerned with nature of the autopsy, the people who are the subjects of autopsies, and so with death, and with contemporary attitudes towards and taboos concerning death. While not making an overtly philosophical contribution, Koeck touches on important issues that have been discussed by philosophers as diverse as Martin Heidegger and Peter Singer.

Measurement of indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate by two different dosages.

Objective: While using a transcutaneous system for assessment of liver function by indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate (ICG-PDR) in critically ill patients, we compared the agreement between ICG-PDR obtained by the recommended standard ICG dosage (0.5 mg/kg) and a reduced dosage (0.25 mg/kg).