Publications by authors named "Rachyl M Shanker"
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate outcomes in patients with tumors in the third ventricle by analyzing surgical interventions performed at Loyola University Medical Center from 1986 to 2021.
- A total of 97 patients underwent 123 surgeries, with the results indicating that a higher extent of tumor removal (EOR) correlated with improved patient performance status post-surgery.
- No significant differences were found between the outcomes of open versus endoscopic surgical techniques, suggesting that the type of approach may not impact long-term recovery as much as the extent of tumor resection.
Background: While previous studies have assessed patient reported quality of life (QOL) of various vestibular schwannoma (VS) treatment modalities, few studies have assessed QOL as related to the amount of residual tumor and need for retreatment in a large series of patients. Objective: To assess patient reported QOL outcomes following VS resection with a focus on extent of resection and retreatment.
Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed using single-center institutional data of adult patients who underwent VS resection by the senior authors between 1989-2018 at Loyola University Medical Center.
Article Synopsis
- The study examines the evolution of acoustic neuroma (AN) surgical care, focusing on balancing effective tumor removal with the preservation of neurological function.
- An analysis of 860 surgeries from 1988 to 2018 finds that improvements in postoperative facial function, measured by House-Brackmann scores, significantly increased over time, particularly in the first 400 surgeries.
- The results suggest that continuous improvement in surgical outcomes persists even after decades of practice, highlighting the importance of lifelong learning for medical professionals.
Study Design: Retrospective cohort.
Background: Over 44 million adults are estimated to have either osteoporosis or osteopenia. Adult spinal deformity (ASD) is estimated to affect between 32 and 68% of the elderly population.
Background: While cases of trigeminal neuralgia induced by a brainstem infarct have been reported, the neurosurgical literature lacks clear treatment recommendations in this subpopulation.
Observations: The authors present the first case report of infarct-related trigeminal neuralgia treated with pontine descending tractotomy that resulted in durable pain relief after multiple failed surgical interventions, including previous microvascular decompressions and stereotactic radiosurgery. A neuronavigated pontine descending tractotomy of the spinal trigeminal tract was performed and resulted in successful pain relief for a 50-month follow-up period.
Background: While several studies explore the impact of smoking tobacco on spinal fusion outcomes, there is a paucity of literature on the influence of modern smoking cessation therapies on such outcomes in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).
Objective: Our study explores the outcomes of single-level ACDF surgery in nonsmokers, active smokers, and smokers undergoing cessation therapy.
Methods: MARINER30, an all-payer claims database, was utilized to identify patients undergoing single-level ACDF between 2010 and 2019.
Background: Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) is a costly agent commonly used in spine surgery. Its effectiveness and complication profile have never been studied in a large, propensity-matched population following its approval by the Food and Drug Administration for use in single-level anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) surgeries.
Objective: To investigate the rate of symptomatic pseudarthrosis or need for revision surgery after single-level stand-alone ALIFs with and without the use of BMP.
Objective: Methods of reducing complications in individuals electing to undergo anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) rely upon understanding at-risk patient populations, among other factors. This study aims to investigate the interplay between social determinants of health (SDOH) and postoperative complication rates, length of stay, revision surgery, and rates of postoperative readmission at 30 and 90 days in individuals electing to have single-level ACDF.
Methods: Using MARINER30, a database that contains claims information from all payers, patients were identified who underwent single-level ACDF between 2010 and 2019.
Background: Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) consist of abnormal connections between arteries and veins via an interposing nidus. While hemorrhage is the most common presentation, unruptured AVMs can present with headaches, seizures, neurological deficits, or be found incidentally. It remains unclear as to what AVM characteristics contribute to pain generation amongst unruptured AVM patients with headaches.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Vertical sleeve gastrectomy is one of the most common bariatric procedures worldwide, but the impact of social determinants of health on postoperative outcomes for this procedure has not been well characterized. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact that social determinants of health have on postoperative outcomes after vertical sleeve gastrectomy.
Method: This was a population-based study using the MARINER-15 database, an all-payer claims database.
Background: Although cases of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) induced by brainstem infarct have been reported, the neurosurgical literature lacks a comprehensive review for this subpopulation of patients. We present the first systematic review of the literature to discuss pathology, surgical management, and future directions for therapeutic innovation in this population.
Methods: Our systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines.
Background: We aimed to evaluate the long-term complication profile associated with port-a-catheter placement.
Methods: Patients undergoing port-a-catheter placement from 2007 to 2012 with 5-year follow up were identified. Descriptive statistics, tests, and multivariate regression models were analyzed.
Article Synopsis
- The study evaluates outcomes between laparoscopic-assisted and traditional laparotomy methods for placing distal shunt catheters during ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) surgeries in Medicare patients from 2004 to 2014.
- Results indicated that laparoscopic-assisted VPS had lower odds of needing distal revision at both 6 and 12 months post-surgery compared to laparotomy, especially in patients with obesity and abdominal surgery history.
- The findings suggest that the laparoscopic technique may help reduce complications for patients with certain risk factors, indicating its potential benefits in VPS procedures.
Study Design: Retrospective cohort.
Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze association between social determinants of health (SDH) disparity on postoperative complication rates, and 30-day and 90-day all-cause readmission in patients undergoing single-level lumbar fusions.
Summary Of Background Data: Decreasing postoperative complication rates is of great interest to surgeons and healthcare systems.
Transposable elements (TEs) dominate the landscapes of most plant and animal genomes. Once considered junk DNA and genetic parasites, these interspersed, repetitive DNA elements are now known to play major roles in both genetic and epigenetic processes that sponsor genome variation and regulate gene expression. Knowledge of TE consensus sequences from elements in species whose genomes have not been sequenced is limited, and the individual TEs that are encountered in clones or short-reads rarely represent potentially canonical, let alone, functional representatives.
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