Treatment of communicating hydrocephalus by a lumbo-omental shunt: case report.

Based on preliminary experiences from the early 1970s, a patient with chronic and severe communicating hydrocephalus has been successfully treated with transposition of an omental pedicle to the lumbar subarachnoidal space. This patient, who suffered from congenital toxoplasmosis, at the age of 29 years had undergone no fewer than 82 shunt revisions. In the 5-year follow-up after treatment, she has had no further surgery or other treatment.

Late onset bradyarrhythmia during vagus nerve stimulation.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is widely used to treat refractory epilepsy. It is usually safe and has few side effects. Cardiac arrhythmia has been reported during lead tests performed during implantation of the device, but never during regular treatment.

Endoscopically harvested stem cells: a putative method in future autotransplantation.

Objective: The discovery of stem cells in the adult human brain and developing stem cell technology open a possible future scenario of autotransplantation, where stem cells are harvested from the patient and propagated in vitro before they are used as transplants. The objectives of this study were: 1) to investigate the feasibility of harvesting tissue containing neural stem cells by endoscopy; 2) to study the possibility of propagating and multiplying stem cells from this tissue efficiently in vitro; and 3) to examine whether the stem cells differentiate into functional neurons.

Methods: In 13 patients with hydrocephalus undergoing routine neurosurgical procedures, we used an endoscope and a 3-mm biopsy forceps (Medtronic) to harvest the small piece of the ventricular wall that is detached by the introduction of the endoscope.