Health-Related Quality of Life Outcomes in Meningioma Patients Based upon Tumor Location and Treatment Modality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Patients with meningiomas may have reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL) due to postoperative neurological deficits, cognitive dysfunction, and psychosocial burden. Although advances in surgery and radiotherapy have improved progression-free survival rates, there is limited evidence regarding treatment outcomes on HRQoL. This review examines HRQoL outcomes based on tumor location and treatment modality.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) for craniotomies in the treatment of brain tumors: A systematic review.

Introduction: Postoperative complications after craniotomy for brain tumors include pain, nausea/vomiting, and infection. A standardized enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol is not widely accepted for this common neurosurgical procedure. Few studies have explored its application.

Surgical Outcomes of Awake Craniotomy for Treatment of Arteriovenous Malformations in Eloquent Cortex: A Systematic Review.

Objective: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) located in eloquent brain regions are historically associated with a poor prognosis. Awake craniotomy (AC) with the adjunct of brain mapping has the potential of identifying non-eloquent gyri to maximize resection, thereby theoretically decreasing the risk of neurologic deficits. With limited evidence regarding the efficacy of AC in treatment of eloquent AVMs, this review aims to investigate its surgical outcomes.

Co-administration of Ketamine in Pediatric Patients with Neurologic Conditions at Risk for Intracranial Hypertension.

Background: Ketamine has traditionally been avoided as an induction agent for tracheal intubation in patients with neurologic conditions at risk for intracranial hypertension due to conflicting data in the literature. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of ketamine versus other medications as the primary induction agent on peri-intubation neurologic, hemodynamic and respiratory associated events in pediatric patients with neurologic conditions at risk for intracranial hypertension.

Methods: This retrospective observational study enrolled patients < 18 years of age at risk for intracranial hypertension who were admitted to a quaternary children's hospital between 2015 and 2020.

Stereoelectroencephalography before 2 years of age.

Objective: Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) is a widely used technique for localizing seizure onset zones prior to resection. However, its use has traditionally been avoided in children under 2 years of age because of concerns regarding pin fixation in the immature skull, intraoperative and postoperative electrode bolt security, and stereotactic registration accuracy. In this retrospective study, the authors describe their experience using SEEG in patients younger than 2 years of age, with a focus on the procedure's safety, feasibility, and accuracy as well as surgical outcomes.

Neurosurgical management of patients with neurocutaneous melanosis: a systematic review.

Objective: Neurocutaneous melanocytosis (NCM), also referred to as neurocutaneous melanosis, is a rare neurocutaneous disorder characterized by excess melanocytic proliferation in the skin, leptomeninges, and cranial parenchyma. NCM most often presents in pediatric patients within the first 2 years of life and is associated with high mortality due to proliferation of melanocytes in the brain. Prognosis is poor, as patients typically die within 3 years of symptom onset.

Surgical management and outcomes of intracranial metastatic Wilms' tumor in the pediatric population: a case series.

Purpose: Approximately 1 to 2% of patients with Wilms' tumor (WT), or nephroblastoma, will have metastasis to the brain. Due to the rarity of intracranial metastasis, the clinical characteristics, prognosis, and a standardized treatment approach to this occurrence remain poorly understood. Here we review the surgical management and treatment outcome of WT patients with intracranial metastasis at our institution.

Urgent Neurosurgical Interventions in the COVID-19-Positive Pediatric Population.

Background: Urgent neurosurgical interventions for pediatric patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are rare. These cases pose additional stress on a potentially vulnerable dysregulated inflammatory response that can place the child at risk of further clinical deterioration. Our aim was to describe the perioperative course of SARS-CoV-2-positive pediatric patients who had required an urgent neurosurgical intervention.

Treatment of Persistent Hemiballism with Deep Brain Stimulation of the Globus Pallidus Internus: Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: Hemiballism is a rare hyperkinetic movement disorder characterized by involuntary, high-amplitude, unilateral flailing of upper or lower extremities or both. In the case of hemiballism refractory to pharmaceutical interventions, deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective primary neurosurgical treatment. DBS targets for hemiballism include the thalamus, subthalamic nucleus, and globus pallidus internus (GPi).