Search

Objective: Meningitis after microsurgery for vestibular schwannoma (VS) is a severe complication that results in high morbidity. However, few studies have focused on meningitis after VS surgery. The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for meningitis after VS surgery., Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of all VS patients who underwent microsurgery and survived for at least 7 days after surgery, between 1 June 2015 and 30 November 2018 at West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for postoperative meningitis (POM)., Results: We enrolled 410 patients, 27 of whom had POM. Through univariate analysis, the factors of hydrocephalus (p = 0.018), Koos grade IV (p = 0.04), operative duration > 3 hours (p = 0.03) and intraoperative bleeding volume ≥400 ml (p = 0. 02) were significantly correlated with POM. The multivariate analysis showed that Koos grade IV (p = 0.04; OR = 3.19; 95% CI 1.032-3.190), operation duration > 3 hours (p = 0.03; OR = 7.927; 95% CI 1.043-60.265), and intraoperative bleeding volume ≥ 400 ml (p = 0.02; OR = 2.551; 95% CI 1.112-5.850) were the independent influencing factors of POM., Conclusions: Koos grade IV, operation duration > 3 hours, and intraoperative blood loss ≥ 400 ml were identified as independent risk factors for POM after microsurgery for VS. POM also caused a prolonged hospital stay., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Context: Microsurgery is considered to be the optimal treatment for brainstem cavernous malformations (BCMs); however, the high surgery-related morbidity requires further assessment of therapeutic protocols., Aims: The surgical experience and the optimal surgical strategy for the management of brainstem cavernous malformations is discussed., Materials and Methods: From September 2007 to August 2014, a total of 120 patients with BCMs underwent surgical treatment in our hospital. The clinical features and neurological outcome of these patients were retrospectively analysed, and our institutional surgical strategy was discussed., Results: The preoperative annual hemorrhage and rehemorrhage rates were 4.2% and 42.9%, respectively. Gross total resection was achieved in 116 patients (96.7%) and subtotal resection in 4 (3.3%). After a mean follow-up of 50.7 ± 26.5 months (range: 18-90 months), the neurological status showed improvement in 71 patients (67.0%) and remained stable in 24 (22.6%). The postoperative new-onset or worsened symptoms occurred in 53 cases. During the follow-up period, 58.5% of these symptoms improved and 32.1% remained stable. The mean modified Rankin score (mRS) score was 2.51 ± 0.90 preoperatively, 2.73 ± 0.83 postoperatively, and 1.71 ± 0.98 at the recent follow-up. The surgery-related mortality was 1.7% (n = 2), and two patients suffered from recurrence during the follow-up period. The preoperative mRS was considered to be an independent predictive factor of the neurological outcome (P = 0.003)., Conclusions: Safe resection and a favourable outcome can be achieved via a standardized surgical strategy based on appropriate surgical indications, optimal selection of safe trajectories, and application of advanced supplementary techniques in the surgical treatment of BCMs.

Background: Surgical treatment of giant vestibular schwannomas (GVS) is challenging. The philosophy of incomplete tumor resection may balance the preservation of facial nerve function and long-term tumor control., Objective: We aimed to evaluate the outcome of facial nerve function and tumor control in treating GVS via our institutional surgical strategy., Methods: From September 2009 to August 2014, 218 patients who underwent surgical treatment of GVS were enrolled in our study. The clinical features, extent of resections, facial nerve outcome, and the tumor regrowth free rate of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. The treatment strategy of this disease was discussed., Results: All patients had anatomic preservation of the facial nerve. Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 58 patients (28.6%), near-total resection (NTR) in 103 (50.7%), and subtotal resection (STR) in 42 (20.7%). Two patients died because of postoperative complications. After a mean follow-up of 39.7 ± 18.3 months, a favorable facial nerve outcome was achieved in 58.6%, 79.6%, and 83.3% of patients who underwent GTR, NTR, and STR, respectively. During follow-up, 20 patients had tumor regrowth and were treated by stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and tumor regrowth free rates were 96.6%, 92.2%, and 76.2% in GTR, NTR, and STR, respectively. The extent of resection was the independent risk factor for poor facial nerve function (P = 0.006)., Conclusions: A surgical philosophy of prioritizing facial nerve preservation over total tumor resection was recommended in treatment of GVS. Favorable facial nerve outcome and tumor control were achieved after NTR of the tumors., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Surgical treatment of cavernous malformations (CMs) involving medulla oblongata is more difficult than the CMs in other sites because of the surrounding vital structures. However, the distinctive features and treatment strategies have not been well illustrated. Therefore, we enrolled a total of 19 patients underwent surgical treatment of CMs involving medulla oblongata in our hospital from August 2008 to August 2014. The clinical features, surgical management and clinical outcome of these patients were retrospectively analyzed, while our institutional surgical indications, approaches and microsurgical techniques were discussed. In our study, gross total resection was achieved in 17 patients and subtotal resection in 2. Two patients underwent emergency surgeries due to severe and progressive neurological deficits. The postoperative new-onset or worsened neurological deficits occurred in 6 patients. After a mean follow-up of 45.8 ± 22.2 months, the neurological status was improved in 10 patients and remained stable in 7. The mean modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was 2.58 ± 1.26 preoperatively, 3.11 ± 0.99 postoperatively and 1.84 ± 1.42 at the recent follow-up, respectively. During the follow-up period, no rehemorrhage and recurrence occurred, and the residual lesions remained stable. We recommended surgical resection of symptomatic CMs involving medulla oblongata via optimal approaches, feasible entry zones and meticulous microsurgical techniques in attempting to achieve safe resection and favorable outcome. The clinical features, surgical indications, timing and microsurgical techniques of this special entity should be distinctive from the brainstem cavernous malformations in other sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Microsurgery is considered to be the optimal treatment for brainstem cavernous malformations (BCMs); however, the high surgery-related morbidity requires further assessment of therapeutic protocols.Aims: The surgical experience and the optimal surgical strategy for the management of brainstem cavernous malformations is discussed.Materials and Methods: From September 2007 to August 2014, a total of 120 patients with BCMs underwent surgical treatment in our hospital. The clinical features and neurological outcome of these patients were retrospectively analysed, and our institutional surgical strategy was discussed.Results: The preoperative annual hemorrhage and rehemorrhage rates were 4.2% and 42.9%, respectively. Gross total resection was achieved in 116 patients (96.7%) and subtotal resection in 4 (3.3%). After a mean follow-up of 50.7 ± 26.5 months (range: 18-90 months), the neurological status showed improvement in 71 patients (67.0%) and remained stable in 24 (22.6%). The postoperative new-onset or worsened symptoms occurred in 53 cases. During the follow-up period, 58.5% of these symptoms improved and 32.1% remained stable. The mean modified Rankin score (mRS) score was 2.51 ± 0.90 preoperatively, 2.73 ± 0.83 postoperatively, and 1.71 ± 0.98 at the recent follow-up. The surgery-related mortality was 1.7% (n = 2), and two patients suffered from recurrence during the follow-up period. The preoperative mRS was considered to be an independent predictive factor of the neurological outcome (P = 0.003).Conclusions: Safe resection and a favourable outcome can be achieved via a standardized surgical strategy based on appropriate surgical indications, optimal selection of safe trajectories, and application of advanced supplementary techniques in the surgical treatment of BCMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]