Surgery in octogenarians with intracranial meningiomas improves functional outcome at 1 year.

Purpose: The population is aging, and age remains an important factor in deciding surgical candidacy for intracranial tumors. The natural history and surgical behavior of meningiomas in octogenarians are not well understood. We evaluated the surgical and functional outcomes, including survival, among octogenarians with intracranial meningiomas in a single institution.

Octogenarian Brain Tumor Registry: Single-Institution Surgical Outcomes and Mortality Study.

Background: Surgical intervention for brain tumor patients aged 80 to 89 years is controversial, as the comorbidities and physiology associated with aging are often thought to increase surgical risks. Surgical outcomes, however, are not well characterized for octogenarians. This review therefore assessed the outcomes and mortality risk associated with tumor removal in octogenarians at our academic institution.

Predictors of extended length of stay related to craniotomy for tumor resection.

Background: Hospital length of stay (LOS) related to craniotomy for tumor resection (CTR) is a marker of neurosurgical quality of care. Limiting LOS benefits both patients and hospitals. This study examined which factors contribute to extended LOS (eLOS) at our academic center.

Targeting Accuracy of the Leksell Vantage Stereotactic System for Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery: A Retrospective Review.

Background: Compared with the Leksell G frame, the new Leksell Vantage stereotactic headframe offers many benefits during deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedures.

Objective: To define the "real-world" targeting accuracy of the Vantage frame for performing DBS lead implants.

Methods: Retrospective review of all patients who underwent DBS using the Vantage frame with our surgeon between July 2021 and May 2022.

Pulmonary valve-in-valve implants: how long do they prolong reintervention and what causes them to fail?

Background: The valve-in-valve (VinV) procedure is a minimally invasive, transcatheter, off-pump, alternative to conventional valve replacement, which uses a failing bioprosthesis to anchor a second transcatheter-delivered prosthesis. This technique appears effective for prolonging freedom from reintervention and treating early device failure. However, it is unknown as to how long reintervention can be avoided.

Characterizing the inflammatory reaction in explanted Medtronic Freestyle stentless porcine aortic bioprosthesis over a 6-year period.

Background: The Medtronic Freestyle valve is a stentless porcine valve with reportedly excellent clinical and hemodynamic results, but little has been reported about its long-term pathology.

Methods: Seventeen Freestyle valves were explanted (from 2003 to 2009) and reviewed to assess reasons for bioprosthesis failure. All valves were examined in detail, using histochemistry and immunohistochemistry to identify morphological changes, as well as cellular and humoral responses.

Giant cell aortitis: a difficult diagnosis assessing risk for the development of aneurysms and dissections.

A significant location affected by giant cell (GC) arteritis is the ascending aorta, where aneurysms may develop and catastrophic ruptures and acute dissections can occur. Herein, we discuss three cases of GC aortitis discovered at pathological examination of surgically excised aortic aneurysmal tissue. There was no clinical suspicion of any underlying inflammatory process.

Incidental finding of cor triatriatum sinister in an adult post-myocardial infarction.

We report a case of a 51-year-old man who was transferred from a community hospital to our institution in cardiogenic shock after thrombolytic therapy for myocardial infarction. At autopsy, a cor triatriatum sinister was found. This may have contributed to his poor outcome post infarction.