DOES THE TYPE OF SURGERY IN BRAIN ABSCESS PATIENTS INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME? ANALYSIS BASED ON THE PROPENSITY SCORE METHOD.

There are different options for surgical treatment of brain abscess, mainly standard craniotomy and stereotactic aspiration. It has not yet been established which of these options is associated with a more favorable outcome under similar baseline conditions of patients. Demographic characteristics, microbiology, clinical presentation, and treatment outcome were analyzed for surgically treated adult patients with brain abscess over a 14-year period.

CROATIAN VERSION OF THE QUALITY OF RECOVERY QUESTIONNAIRE (QoR-40): TRANSCULTURAL ADAPTATION AND VALIDATION.

The Quality of Recovery-40 (QoR-40) questionnaire is a psychometric instrument designed to quantify postoperative recovery. It has been translated and validated in several countries but not in Croatia. The aim was to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate Croatian version of the QoR-40.

Reconstruction of a soft tissue defect of the back after myelomeningocele closure with modified V-Y plasty.

Myelomeningocele is a congenital defect in vertebral arches with cystic dilatation of meninges and structural or functional abnormality of spinal cord or cauda equina. It is a form of spinal dysraphisam with overlying skin defect (spina bifida aperta). That condition is related to other clinical complications such as infection that can produce furthermore complications.

The application of ultrasound in neuroendoscopic procedures: first results with the new tool "NECUP-2".

In this paper, our experience with originally constructed Neurosurgical Endoscopic Contact Ultrasound Probe "NECUP-2" in neuroendoscopy is reported. Between June 1997 and June 2007, 132 neuroendoscopic procedures have been performed: 102 endoscopic thrid ventriculostomies (ETV), 15 arachnoid cysts and 5 intraventricular tumours operations. The "NECUP-2" was applied effectively in all cases in which blunt perforation was not possible: 38/102 ETY, 10/10 septostomies, 15/15 arachnoid cysts.

The frequency of superficial mycoses according to agents isolated during a ten-year period (1999-2008) in Zagreb area, Croatia.

Fungal infections involving the skin, hair and nails represent one of the most common mucocutaneous infections. Significant changes in the epidemiology, etiology and clinical pattern of mycotic infections have been observed during the last years. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the incidence and the etiologic factors of superficial fungal infections in Zagreb area, Croatia, over a 10-year period (1999-2008).