Long-Term Success of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy in the Pediatric Population with Aqueductal Stenosis.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term success rate of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in the treatment of hydrocephalus due to aqueductal stenosis in the pediatric population.

Methods: Between January 2007 and June 2023, a total of 82 children underwent ETV surgery for hydrocephalus and met the inclusion criteria for our study. The children's medical records were reviewed, and cases requiring additional surgery in the months and years following surgery for ventriculostomy failure were reviewed.

Intracranial leptomeningeal CNS ganglioneuroblastoma. First report and review of the literature.

Background: CNS ganglioneuroblastoma in an extremely rare embryonal tumour, specifically in the pediatric population. Bad prognosis is documented due to aggressiveness and absence of protocolized treatment at the moment.

Clinical Description: We present the case of a 5-year-old boy who presented with sudden loss of consciousness.

Endoscopy-Assisted Craniosynostosis Surgery without Postoperative Helmet Molding Therapy.

Objective: Endoscopy-assisted craniosynostosis surgery (EACS) yields excellent surgical outcomes by minimizing blood loss, operative time, and hospital stays. Postoperative helmet therapy (PHT), commonly employed for head shape correction, involves frequent adjustments, potential complications, and high costs. Given the rising cost of helmet therapy, reduced insurance coverage, and limited availability in low- and middle-income countries, understanding success rates without helmet use is crucial.

Real-World Data on the Usage of Hemopatch® as a Hemostat and Dural Sealant in Cranial and Spinal Neurosurgery.

Background and objectives Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is a significant complication in cranial and spinal interventions. Hemostatic patches such as Hemopatch are therefore used to support the watertight closure of the dura mater. Recently, we published the results of a large registry documenting the effectiveness and safety of Hemopatch in various surgical specialties, including neurosurgery.

Brain Organoids to Evaluate Cellular Therapies.

Animal models currently used to test the efficacy and safety of cell therapies, mainly murine models, have limitations as molecular, cellular, and physiological mechanisms are often inherently different between species, especially in the brain. Therefore, for clinical translation of cell-based medicinal products, the development of alternative models based on human neural cells may be crucial. We have developed an in vitro model of transplantation into human brain organoids to study the potential of neural stem cells as cell therapeutics and compared these data with standard xenograft studies in the brain of immunodeficient NOD.

Presigmoid approach preserving the superior petrosal sinus in a pontine cavernous malformation associated to abnormal venous drainage of the brainstem: how I do it.

Background: The presigmoid approach classically includes the ligature and section of the superior petrosal sinus to get a wider visibility window to the antero-lateral brainstem surface. In some cases, the separation of this venous structure should not be performed.

Method: We present our experience getting safely to a pontine cavernous malformation through a conventional mastoidectomy presigmoid approach preserving an ingurgitated superior petrosal sinus because the association with an abnormal venous drainage of the brainstem.

Contactless Ultrasonic Cavitation for the Prevention of Shunt Obstruction in Hydrocephalus: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Background: Obstructive failure of implanted shunts is the most common complication in the treatment of hydrocephalus. Biological material and debris accumulate in the inner walls of the valve and catheters block the normal flow of the drained cerebrospinal fluid causing severe symptoms with high morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, at present, there is no effective preventive protocol or cleaning procedure available.

Hemopatch is effective and safe to use: real-world data from a prospective European registry study.

Surgical procedures are often impeded by bleeding and/or leakage of body fluids. These complications cannot always be resolved by conventional surgical techniques. Hemopatch is a hemostatic patch that also functions as a sealant.

Optical imaging spectroscopy for rapid, primary screening of SARS-CoV-2: a proof of concept.

Effective testing is essential to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission. Here we report a-proof-of-concept study on hyperspectral image analysis in the visible and near-infrared range for primary screening at the point-of-care of SARS-CoV-2. We apply spectral feature descriptors, partial least square-discriminant analysis, and artificial intelligence to extract information from optical diffuse reflectance measurements from 5 µL fluid samples at pixel, droplet, and patient levels.

Modeling chronic cervical spinal cord injury in aged rats for cell therapy studies.

With an expanding elderly population, an increasing number of older adults will experience spinal cord injury (SCI) and might be candidates for cell-based therapies, yet there is a paucity of research in this age group. The objective of the present study was to analyze how aged rats tolerate behavioral testing, surgical procedures, post-operative complications, intra-spinal cell transplantation and immunosuppression, and to examine the effectiveness of human iPSC-derived Neural Progenitor Cells (IMR90-hiPSC-NPCs) in a model of SCI. We performed behavioral tests in rats before and after inducing cervical hemi-contusions at C4 level with a fourth-generation Ohio State University Injury Device.

Bilateral chiasm and optic nerve micro-decompression in a child with extensive cranial fibrous dysplasia: how I do it.

Background: Surgical decompression to the optic-chiasmatic region in craneofacial fibrous dysplasia (CFD) must be performed safely to improve or stabilize visual loss.

Method: We describe a technical nuance when facing on a huge, deformed skull with potentially imbricated dura mater. Craniectomy was performed in concentric arches allowing to expose surgical field and elevated step by step.

Posterolateral trans dentate approach to anterior extensive extramedullary tumor of the cervical spine in a pediatric case: how I do it.

Background: Extramedullary anterior cervical canal tumors can be challenging lesions to reach. The posterolateral trans dentate approach offers an alternative route.

Method: Classic posterior laminoplasty is done to expose the medulla; the dentate ligament is identified as a fibrous structure running from the lateral pial surface of the medulla to the lateral dura between nerve roots spaces.

Hyperspectral image processing for the identification and quantification of lentiviral particles in fluid samples.

Optical spectroscopic techniques have been commonly used to detect the presence of biofilm-forming pathogens (bacteria and fungi) in the agro-food industry. Recently, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy revealed that it is also possible to detect the presence of viruses in animal and vegetal tissues. Here we report a platform based on visible and NIR (VNIR) hyperspectral imaging for non-contact, reagent free detection and quantification of laboratory-engineered viral particles in fluid samples (liquid droplets and dry residue) using both partial least square-discriminant analysis and artificial feed-forward neural networks.

Technical Nuances in Neuroendoscopic Lavage for Germinal Matrix Hemorrhage in Preterm Infants: Twenty Tips and Pearls after More than One Hundred Procedures.

Introduction: Posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in preterm infants is a serious entity related to high mortality and morbidity. Neuroendoscopic lavage (NEL) is a suitable alternative for the management of this pathology. However, as with every endoscopic technique, it requires some experience and several cases to master.

Basilar Artery Injury During Endonasal Surgery: Stepwise to Control Bleeding.

Background: Intraoperative injury during endoscopic endonasal surgery of the carotid artery has been previously described in the literature. However, the accidental damage of the basilar artery in such scenario is not defined.

Objective: To define the protocol of action for massive bleeding from an artery in the posterior fossa.

Diastematobulbia type II without associated dermoid tumor: case report.

Split cord malformation (SCM) is a term used for all double spinal cords. It represents 3.8%-5% of spinal dysraphisms.

Two-Stage Approach for Unstable Pediatric Craniocervical Junction Anomalies with a Halo Vest and Delayed Occipitocervical Fusion: Technical Note, Case Series, and Literature Review.

Objective: Malformations in the craniocervical junction (CCJ) are rare in the pediatric population but often need surgical treatment. We present a pediatric case series of patients treated with a 2-stage surgical approach with a halo vest and occipitocervical fusion and review complications and outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of a single-center case series was performed.

Chest Implantation of Adjustable Gravitational Valves: An Easy, Safe, and Stable Alternative to Control Symptomatic Overdrainage in Shunted Children.

Objective: Shunt overdrainage is a potential complication in pediatric hydrocephalus. The addition of adjustable gravitational units to previous shunt systems has been proposed as effective management for this problem. These devices have been traditionally implanted over the occipital bone.

Cranial expansion and aqueductoplasty for combined isolated fourth ventricle and slit-ventricle syndrome: a surgical alternative.

Introduction: An isolated fourth ventricle (IFV) is a rare entity observed in shunted patients and its treatment is still uncertain. Endoscopic aqueductoplasty has shown good results for restoring CSF flux between the third and fourth ventricles. However, it needs some grade of ventricular dilation to be performed.

Correction to: Combined microsurgical fluorescence for optimizing resection in refractory empyema and cerebritis.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained an error. The corresponding author did not notice that one of the co-authors "Javier Márquez Márquez Rivas" was incorrectly presented. The correct name is "Javier Márquez Rivas".

Combined microsurgical fluorescence for optimizing resection in refractory empyema and cerebritis.

Purpose: Due to the generalization of new microsurgical equipment, intraoperative fluorescence techniques have extended in neurosurgical practice, mainly in neurovascular and neuro-oncology patients. The aim of identifying pathological tissue and also differentiating from the normal brain helps neurosurgeons to approach other kinds of intracranial entities such as infections.

Methods: It is described in the case of an 11-year-old patient who underwent a subdural empyema by performing a craniotomy and evacuation of the purulent collection.

Retrieval of germinal zone neural stem cells from the cerebrospinal fluid of premature infants with intraventricular hemorrhage.

Intraventricular hemorrhage is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in premature infants. The rupture of the germinal zone into the ventricles entails loss of neural stem cells and disturbs the normal cytoarchitecture of the region, compromising late neurogliogenesis. Here we demonstrate that neural stem cells can be easily and robustly isolated from the hemorrhagic cerebrospinal fluid obtained during therapeutic neuroendoscopic lavage in preterm infants with severe intraventricular hemorrhage.