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Objectives: This study addresses the survival of consecutive patients with high-grade gliomas treated at the same institution over a period of 10 years. We analyse the importance of associated factors and the role of salvage surgery at the time of progression., Methods: We retrospectively analysed a series of patients with World Health Organization (WHO) grade III/IV gliomas treated between 2008 and 2017 at Hospital Gregorio Marañón (Madrid, Spain). Clinical, radiological, and anatomical pathology data were obtained from patient clinical histories., Results: Follow-up was completed in 233 patients with HGG. Mean age was 62.2 years. The median survival time was 15.4 months. Of 133 patients (59.6%) who had undergone surgery at the time of diagnosis, 43 (32.3%) underwent salvage surgery at the time of progression. This subgroup presented longer overall survival and survival after progression. Higher Karnofsky Performance Status score at diagnosis, a greater extent of surgical resection, and initial diagnosis of WHO grade III glioma were also associated with longer survival., Conclusions: About one-third of patients with HGG may be eligible for salvage surgery at the time of progression. Salvage surgery in this subgroup of patients was significantly associated with longer survival., (Copyright © 2020 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

A 52-year-old woman with no relevant previous medical history was diagnosticated of an infratentorial bulky cerebellar mass. The mass showed restricted diffusion on MR images, which was consistent with cerebellar abscess. The patient had undergone a minor dental procedure three weeks before. Microbiological analysis after surgical evacuation of the mass confirmed the presence of Streptococcus intermedius., (Copyright © 2019 Sociedad Española de Neurocirugía. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

A 72-year-old female with no relevant medical history consulted in the emergency room for a two-week history of headache, vomiting and gait disturbance. Head CT scan revealed obstructive hydrocephalus secondary to a pineal mass with compression of the third ventricle. Magnetic Resonance showed another mass located in the right Lushcka foramen. Endoscopic third-ventriculostomy and biopsy of pineal mass were performed. Pathological analysis was consistent with metastasis of carcinoma. Full-body CT scan showed a lung mass related to primary carcinoma. The patient received systemic treatment for metastatic lung cancer. She died two months after diagnosis., (Copyright © 2019 Sociedad Española de Neurocirugía. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Aim: The 30-day readmission rate has become an important indicator of health care quality. This study focuses on the incidence of 30-day readmission in neurosurgical patients and related risk factors., Material and Methods: A retrospective review was performed on patients treated in a neurosurgery department between 1 January 2012 and the 31 December 2013. Patients requiring readmission within 30 days of discharge and the readmission diagnosis were identified, and the factors related to their readmission were analysed., Results: A total of 1,854 interventions were carried out on 1,739 patients during the aforementioned (study) period. Of the remaining patients, 174 (10.2%) required readmission within 30 days of discharge. The main causes of readmission were problems related to the surgical wound (21.2% of all readmissions), followed by respiratory processes (18.8%). A total of 73.9% of readmissions occurred in patients who had undergone cranial surgery. Multiple comorbidities estimated by Charlson comorbidity index and length of hospital stay were identified as factors related to a higher readmission rate., Conclusions: The 30-day readmission rate observed in our series was 10.2%. Multiple comorbidity expressed by the Charlson comorbidity index and length of hospital stay were related to readmission., (Copyright © 2017 Sociedad Española de Neurocirugía. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To analyse the results of the anterior and anterolateral approaches in the treatment of thoracic and lumbar spine metastasis., Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent surgery between 2003 and 2012 in our institution using an anterior or an anterolateral approach for the treatment of thoracic or lumbar spine metastasis were retrospectively reviewed., Results: Twenty-two patients with median age of 49.5 years (26-73 years) and median follow-up of 9.5 months (0-96 months) were analysed. The most common primary malignancies were renal cell carcinomas and breast adenocarcinomas. Before the intervention, 12 (54.5%) patients were able to walk (Frankel D and E). Preoperative arteriography was performed in 14 (63.6%) patients, and 7 (31.8%) of them underwent tumour embolisation. Medical complications occurred in 5 (22.7%) patients during the immediate postoperative period, 2 (9.1%) of whom died. At the end of follow-up, 16 (72%) of the remaining 20 patients were able to walk (Frankel D and E). Ninety percent of the patients could reduce at least 50% of their analgesic drug requirements. During follow-up 16 patients died, with a median survival of 10 months (range 0-48 months)., Conclusions: Resection of thoracolumbar vertebral metastases by an anterior/anterolateral approach, despite its considerable risk of morbidity and mortality, offers the possibility of significant improvement in the quality of life of the patient; and it does so not only by preserving or restoring their ability to walk but also by ameliorating pain. Preoperative angiography, considering the embolisation of the lesion, is an important tool., (Copyright © 2014 Sociedad Española de Neurocirugía. Published by Elsevier España. All rights reserved.)