Outcomes following pancreaticoduodenectomy for octogenarians: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: An increasing number of elderly patients are being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, with increasing need to consider pancreatic surgery. This study aims to provide an updated systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the outcomes following pancreaticoduodenectomy in octogenarians.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed via a search of Medline, PubMed and Cochrane databases.

Patient Wellbeing and Quality of Life After Nasoseptal Flap Closure for Endoscopic Skull Base Reconstruction.

Background: The endoscopic endonasal approach to the skull base avoids some of the surgical morbidity associated with a transcranial approach, however it often results in large skull-base defects requiring secure closure. The nasoseptal flap has become the preferred method for closure of such defects but may be associated with its own morbidity.

Methods: A consecutive cohort of patients with skull base pathology with prospectively collected quality of life data using ASBQ and SNOT was analysed.

Dynamic Posture-Related Preoperative Pain as a Single Clinical Criterion in Patient Selection for Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion Without Direct Decompression.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Objectives: Evidence on predicting the success of indirect decompression via extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) is scarce. The authors investigated if patients who could achieve a pain-free position preoperatively would derive clinical benefit from XLIF without direct decompression.

Interobserver Reliability of Spinal Adverse Events Severity System - Neuro (SAVES-N): A Prospective Adverse Event Reporting System for Neurosurgical Cases.

Background: The reporting of adverse events (AEs) in neurosurgery uses inconsistent definitions and subjective grading systems. A standardized system for recording and describing AEs would allow valid comparisons to be drawn between different institutions, using different technologies, at different times. The Spinal Adverse Events Severity System - Neuro (SAVES-N) system is a modification of the well-validated SAVES-V2 system that encompasses complications from both cranial and spinal surgery.

Perioperative care for lumbar microdiscectomy: a survey of Australasian neurosurgeons.

Background: Lumbar microdiscectomy is the most commonly performed spine surgery procedure. Over time it has evolved to a minimally invasive procedure. Traditionally patients were advised to restrict activity following lumbar spine surgery.

Pre-operative embolization of hypervascular spinal metastasis using percutaneous direct intra-tumoural injection with Onyx under local anesthesia.

Intra-operative blood loss remains a major cause of perioperative morbidity for patients with hypervascular spinal metastasis undergoing surgery. Pre-operative embolization is used to reduce intraoperative blood loss and operative time. This is commonly performed under general anesthesia via a trans-arterial approach, which carries a risk of spinal stroke.

Lumbar microdiscectomy and post-operative activity restrictions: a protocol for a single blinded randomised controlled trial.

Background: Lumbar microdiscectomy is the most commonly performed spinal surgery procedure, with over 300,000 cases performed annually in the United States alone. Traditionally, patients were advised to restrict post-operative activity as this was believed to reduce the risk of disc reherniation and progressive instability. However, this practice would often delay patients return to work.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with drug overdose requiring admission to Intensive Care Unit.

Objective: Approximately 20% of patients admitted to hospital with drug overdose will require intensive care unit (ICU) admission. An understanding of the characteristics of these patients may assist with their management and identify those patients at risk of multiple hospital presentations due to drug overdose. Our aim was to examine the characteristics of patients admitted to ICU following drug overdoses and identify the predictors of multiple hospital presentations due to drug overdose.

Ovine Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Model Utilizing a Lateral Retroperitoneal Drill Bit Injury.

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a significant contributor to the development of back pain and the leading cause of disability worldwide. Numerous animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration have been developed. The ideal animal model should closely mimic the human intervertebral disc with regard to morphology, biomechanical properties and the absence of notochordal cells.

Co-occurrence of Pituitary Adenoma with Suprasellar and Olfactory Groove Meningiomas.

Introduction: The co-existence of pituitary adenoma and meningioma is extremely rare. It is even rarer in patients with no previous known risk factors for either tumour. Here, we present a case of synchronous non-functioning pituitary adenoma with suprasellar and olfactory groove meningiomas in a patient without previous irradiation.

Migraine: Does aura require investigation?

Objectives: Migraine is a debilitating condition that affects approximately 15% of the general population. It represents a huge proportion of presentations to the emergency department and a significant number of neurology admissions. Patients are often investigated with imaging.