External ventricular drainage systems (EVDs), or external ventriculostomies, are challenging additions for the neurosurgical patient. An EVD involves a catheter placed in the ventricular space. It is used to drain off excess cerebrospinal fluid that is causing hydrocephalus and increased intracranial pressure. The cerebrospinal fluid is produced in the brain and flows through the four ventricles, to the arachnoid space around the spinal cord, then is absorbed by the arachnoid villi in the brain. The causes of hydrocephalus include tumors and hemorrhage. The nursing responsibilities include monitoring for infection, bleeding, herniation, documenting aspects of the drainage system and providing emotional support for the patient and family.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01376517-199806000-00006 | DOI Listing |
Mol Cell Biochem
January 2025
Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Center for Biomedicine, Universidad Mayor, Avenida Alemania 0281, 4780000, Temuco, La Araucanía, Chile.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia, beginning with early loss of dopaminergic neurons in the ventrolateral substantia nigra and advancing to broader neurodegeneration in the midbrain. The clinical heterogeneity of PD and the lack of specific diagnostic tests present significant challenges, highlighting the need for reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis. Alpha-synuclein (α-Syn), a protein aggregating into Lewy bodies and neurites in PD patients, has emerged as a key biomarker due to its central role in PD pathophysiology and potential to reflect pathological processes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
December 2024
Department of Neurosurgery, ProMedica Toledo Hospital, Toledo, USA.
A carotid cavernous fistula (CCF) is a disruption in the carotid arteries within the cavernous sinus. The pooling of blood in the sinus causes a myriad of neurological deficits. When correctly diagnosed, this condition can be easily managed through surgical intervention.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
December 2024
Department of Neurology, Cheikh Khalifa International University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mohamed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, MAR.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most prevalent long-term inflammatory condition affecting the central nervous system in adults. However, seizures are rarely described as the first presentation of MS or as a sole manifestation of radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). The diagnosis of MS typically requires clinical evidence of neurological deficits and supportive radiological findings; however, RIS is characterized by incidental magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings suggestive of MS in the absence of clinical symptoms.
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December 2024
Neurological Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, USA.
A cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) leak from the anterior skull base is a challenging neurosurgical issue that requires prompt recognition and treatment. Options for treatment include medical and surgical repair. A systematic review was performed screening for both retrospective and prospective clinical studies evaluating the efficacy of acetazolamide in the event of CSF leaks of the anterior skull base.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeliyon
December 2024
Department of Medical Oncology, Lung Cancer and Gastrointestinal Unit, Hunan Cancer Hospital/The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China.
Objective: This study assessed the impact of intrathecal pemetrexed (IP) in managing leptomeningeal metastases (LM) in previously treated patients with -mutant advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods: We analyzed the clinical and survival outcomes of 50 patients with LM who received 50 mg IP after disease progression with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) treatment between September 2021 and September 2023 at the Hunan Cancer Hospital. Treatment response was evaluated based on improvement in neurological symptoms/signs and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scores.
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