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Objective  Intracranial meningiomas constitute a third of all brain tumors and are among the most common indications for neurosurgical procedures performed worldwide. Most meningiomas present with an indolent, longstanding history. However, the data on outcomes of emergency surgeries for meningioma is limited. This study aims to present our experience of urgent surgical intervention in patients with meningiomas presenting acutely. We also analyze the factors influencing early neurological outcomes and complications. Materials and Methods  All nonelective meningioma surgeries done on an emergency basis between January 2015 and December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients' demography, clinical, and radiological details were recorded for analysis. The surgical procedure, complications, and follow-up outcomes were also included for statistical comparison. Results  Forty-four patients qualified for the study with a mean age of 49.4 ± 13.4 years. The average presenting Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was 13; 47.7% of cases presented with altered sensorium. The most common lesion location was convexity (25, 56.8%), and the mean tumor volume was 74.1 ± 36.5 mL. Gross peritumor edema with mass effect was seen in 16 patients (36.4%). The mean Karnofsky Performance Status at 3 months' follow-up was 89.3 ± 18.2. Patient age and tumor size did not affect outcomes. The presenting GCS of < 15 (odds ratio [OR] 8.8, confidence interval [CI] 0.95-80.72, p 0.03) and the occurrence of postoperative complications (OR 25.71, CI 2.65-249.2, p 0.001) were associated with unfavorable outcomes. Although not statistically significant, a poor tumor grade was also associated with worse clinical outcomes ( p 0.20). Conclusion  Emergency meningioma surgery has comparable outcomes and complication rates with routine elective procedures. Grade II/III meningiomas are more likely to present with acute neurological deterioration and carry a relatively worse prognosis. Poor presenting GCS and postoperative complications are the most critical factors associated with poor patient outcomes in our study., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest None declared., (Asian Congress of Neurological Surgeons. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ).)

Introduction: Side-to-side anastomoses are a relatively newer and more difficult technique used in neurovascular surgery for complex aneurysms/lesions. In view of the complex surgical technique and the infrequent clinical opportunities to acquire skills relevant to this surgery, laboratory training assumes great importance. The authors studied the feasibility of establishing a training model for performing side-to-side anastomosis using rat femoral vessels and compared the immediate and delayed patency rates in this animal model., Materials and Methods: After Institutional Animal Ethics Committee clearance, 16 Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this prospective study between August 2013 and March 2015. Using the standard groin incision, the femoral vessels were dissected. After applying temporary clamps, opening of approximately 3-4 mm (at least double the diameter of the wider vessel) of length was made on the facing surfaces of both vessels. 10-0 nylon was used for anastomosis. The clamps were released, and the anastomoses patency confirmed. Leg movements following the anastomoses were studied. The animals were subsequently sacrificed to assess delayed patency., Results: The immediate patency rate was 87.5% (14/16). The delayed patency rate (mean follow-up 209 days) was 53.8% (7/13). Three rats died during the follow-up period. The mean clamp duration and suturing time was 57.25 and 41.50 min in the first eight cases and 57.50 and 36.75 min in the last eight experiments, respectively., Conclusion: This animal model was found to be extremely useful for training in the difficult art of side-to-side anastomoses. The need of the hour is to establish well-planned training programs in centers with animal research facilities and use such models. This will promote younger colleagues and trainees to take up and perfect this difficult art. The present work could be used as a baseline study in this direction., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.