Neurosurgical FocusThis is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader, such as GoogleReader, or to display this data on your own website or blog. Subscribe to this data using MyMedWorm.Subscribe to this data using GoogleReader.Subscribe to this data using Bloglines.Subscribe to this data using MyYahoo.

This page shows you the latest items in this publication.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

393 records returned

A review of therapeutic strategies for the management of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSIONS: Effective treatments exist for the management of CVST, and overall outcomes are more favorable than those for arterial stroke. Further research is necessary to determine the role of individual therapies; however, the rarity of the condition poses a significant limitation. PMID: 19883208 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - November 1, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Medel R, Monteith SJ, Crowley RW, Dumont AS Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Introduction: Venous brain circulation disorders.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Brain ischemia by arterial occlusion has been a focus of attention for decades, and cerebral venous disorders have been an underestimated condition of potentially good outcome if diagnosed and treated promptly. Recently, there has been considerable interest in cerebral injury following cerebral venous circulation disorders because diagnosis has improved as our understanding of the diseases and modern imaging technologies have advanced. PMID: 19877787 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - November 1, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Nakase H Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Microvascular decompression in patients with isolated maxillary division trigeminal neuralgia, with particular attention to venous pathology.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions The authors confirmed that patients with isolated V2 TN were more likely to be female, tended toward an atypical pain classification with venous pathology at surgery, and fared just as well as those presenting with typical pain. PMID: 19877788 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - November 1, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Sekula RF, Frederickson AM, Jannetta PJ, Bhatia S, Quigley MR, Abdel Aziz KM Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Protecting venous structures during radiosurgery for parasagittal meningiomas.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Symptomatic edema is a potential complication of meningioma radiosurgery. Parasagittal meningiomas are at a particular risk for symptomatic edema, suggesting a role for a venous occlusive complication. The authors sought to develop a strategy to optimize CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgical treatment parameters to reduce the irradiation of the peritumoral venous system. Multislice CT venography with 3D reconstructions was performed and coregistered with thin-section, contrast-enhanced, volumetric MR images. The tumor and critical volumes were contoured on the MR images. Venous anatomical details obtained from the CT v...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - November 1, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Conti A, Pontoriero A, Salamone I, Siragusa C, Midili F, La Torre D, Calisto A, Granata F, Romanelli P, De Renzis C, Tomasello F Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Spontaneous thrombosis of neonatal vein of Galen malformation.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Vein of Galen malformations are rare congenital intracranial vascular malformations. Based on reports in the literature, spontaneous thrombosis or regression of these lesions is rare. Patients have variable outcomes from an asymptomatic course to death. The reasons behind spontaneous thrombosis are not entirely understood. Here the authors present a case of an infant diagnosed with a vein of Galen malformation in utero that subsequently went on to thrombose or regress. A review of the published cases on this phenomenon and the potential causality are discussed. PMID: 19877790 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - November 1, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Moftakhar P, Danielpour M, Maya M, Alexander MJ Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Endovascular embolization with Onyx in the management of sinus pericranii: a case report.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Sinus pericranii (SP) is an uncommon and usually asymptomatic communication between intra- and extracranial venous drainage pathways in which blood flow can circulate bidirectionally through abnormal dilated veins through a skull defect. Diagnosis and evaluation of the venous drainage pattern is important if treatment is contemplated. Cerebral angiography with the use of Dyna CT can be helpful in the diagnosis of SP and its relationship with the skull defect. The authors report what is, to the best of their knowledge, the first case of SP treated by means of endovascular embolization with Onyx. PMID: 19877791 [PubM...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - November 1, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Rangel-Castilla L, Krishna C, Klucznik R, Diaz O Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Efficacy of endovascular stenting in dural venous sinus stenosis for the treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Multiple pathophysiological mechanisms have been proposed for the increased intracranial pressure observed in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). The condition is well characterized, with intractable headaches, visual obscurations, and papilledema as dominant features, mainly affecting obese women. With the advent of MR venography and increased use of cerebral angiography, there has been recent emphasis on the significant number of patients with IIH found to have associated nonthrombotic dural venous sinus stenosis. This has led to a renewed interest in endovascular stenting as a treatment for IIH. However, the...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - November 1, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Arac A, Lee M, Steinberg GK, Marcellus M, Marks MP Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

The diploic venous system: surgical anatomy and neurosurgical implications.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions The pterional, orbitozygomatic, and supraorbital approaches place the FDV and ATDV at risk. The major anterior diploic system connects the SSS with the sphenoparietal sinus. The posterior diploic system connects the SSS with the transverse and sigmoid sinuses. PMID: 19877793 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - November 1, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: García-González U, Cavalcanti DD, Agrawal A, Gonzalez LF, Wallace RC, Spetzler RF, Preul MC Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: review of the demographics, pathophysiology, current diagnosis, and treatment.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare clinicopathological entity. The incidence of CVST in children and neonates has been reported to be as high as 7 cases per million people, whereas in adults the incidence is 3-4 cases per million. The predisposing factors to this condition are mainly genetic and acquired prothrombotic states and infection. The clinical picture of CVST is nonspecific, highly variable, and can mimic several other clinical conditions. Diagnosis of CVST is established with the implementation of neuroimaging studies, especially MR imaging and venography. Identification and elimination of the ...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - November 1, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Filippidis A, Kapsalaki E, Patramani G, Fountas KN Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

From presentation to follow-up: diagnosis and treatment of cerebral venous thrombosis.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Cerebral venous thrombosis is an uncommon cause of stroke but remains a challenge for physicians faced with this diagnosis largely due to the variability in presentation. Anticoagulation, typically with intravenous heparin, remains the mainstay of treatment for stable patients and is sufficient in the majority of cases. However, a significant mortality rate exists for cerebral venous thrombosis due to patients who deteriorate or do not adequately respond to initial treatments. It is in these patients that more aggressive interventions must be undertaken. The neurosurgeon is often called on, either acutely for initial e...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - November 1, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Bentley JN, Figueroa RE, Vender JR Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis associated with oral contraceptives: the case for neurosurgery.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis secondary to oral contraception in young women, including lesions in critical and deep regions, can be treated medically with acceptable morbidity. In spite of this, a subgroup of patients needed basic neurosurgical management of the lesions, including surgical measures for controlling raised ICP. PMID: 19877796 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - November 1, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Galarza M, Gazzeri R Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Direct thrombolysis for cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is an increasingly diagnosed disease with a wide range of symptoms, ranging from a mild headache to cerebral herniation. A potentially devastating syndrome, CVST has been associated with a mortality rate of 6-10%. In prospective studies, the overall rate of death and dependency from CVST ranges from 8.8 to 44.4%. Systemic anticoagulation remains the first-line treatment. However, a percentage of patients deteriorate despite medical therapy. These cases have resulted in the development of thrombolysis or endovascular treatment for CVST. Initial reports of the use of endovascular t...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - November 1, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Rahman M, Velat GJ, Hoh BL, Mocco J Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Vein of Galen malformation.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A vein of Galen malformation is a rare intracranial vascular lesion affecting the pediatric population. Its poor prognosis has been significantly improved with the development of endovascular embolization. In this paper the authors review the developmental mechanisms, clinical pathophysiology, and the available data on the management and outcome of the disease. PMID: 19877798 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - November 1, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Hoang S, Choudhri O, Edwards M, Guzman R Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

The putative role of the venous system in the genesis of vascular malformations.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Recent clinical and experimental evidence has challenged the traditional concept of the venous system as a "passive" element in the genesis and evolution of intracranial vascular malformations. The authors review the clinical and experimental evidence linking the venous system and its anomalies to the genesis of various intracranial vascular malformations, including dural arteriovenous fistulas, cavernous malformations, parenchymal arteriovenous malformations, and capillary telangiectasia. They also describe the potential significance of different associations of these vascular anomalies. PMID: 19877799 [PubMed - i...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - November 1, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Aboian MS, Daniels DJ, Rammos SK, Pozzati E, Lanzino G Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Introduction. Intraoperative neuromonitoring: an essential component of the neurosurgical and spinal armamentarium.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
PMID: 19795948 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - September 30, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Fehlings MG, Houldon D, Vajkoczy P Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Utility of intraoperative electromyography in microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm: a meta-analysis.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSIONS: The AMR should be monitored routinely in the operating room, and surgical decision-making in the operating room should be augmented by the AMR. PMID: 19795949 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - September 30, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Sekula RF, Bhatia S, Frederickson AM, Jannetta PJ, Quigley MR, Small GA, Breisinger R Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Intraoperative monitoring of cerebral blood flow by laser speckle contrast analysis.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions In this study LASCA offered noninvasive and rapid intraoperative assessment of relative CBF, which can be used for optimizing neurovascular procedures. PMID: 19795950 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - September 30, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Hecht N, Woitzik J, Dreier JP, Vajkoczy P Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Neurophysiological intraoperative monitoring in neurosurgery: aid or handicap? An international survey.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSIONS: Neurophysiological IOM represents an established tool in neurosurgery. Although the importance of IOM is emphasized by the majority of neurosurgeons, the relevance of this tool to the course of the operation changes with increasing neurophysiological IOM experience. PMID: 19795951 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - September 30, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Cabraja M, Stockhammer F, Mularski S, Suess O, Kombos T, Vajkoczy P Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Neurophysiological basis of direct cortical stimulation and applied neuroanatomy of the motor cortex: a review.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Intraoperative electrical stimulation of the motor cortex is a sensitive method for intraoperative mapping and monitoring of this region. Two different stimulation techniques have been established, the bipolar and monopolar techniques. Controversy exists regarding the most suitable method. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages and different electrophysiological backgrounds. The present study is a review of the electrophysiological basis of direct cortical electrical stimulation of the motor cortex. Both methods are discussed and their field of application is presented. PMID: 19795952 [PubMed - in process] ...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - September 30, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Kombos T, Süss O Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Intraoperative mapping and monitoring of brain functions for the resection of low-grade gliomas: technical considerations.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Low-grade gliomas ([LGGs] WHO Grade II) are slow-growing intrinsic cerebral lesions that diffusely infiltrate the brain parenchyma along white matter tracts and almost invariably show a progression toward malignancy. The treatment of these tumors forces the neurosurgeon to face uncommon difficulties and is still a subject of debate. At the authors' institution, resection is the first option in the treatment of LGGs. It requires the combined efforts of a multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, neuropsychologists, and neurophysiologists, who together contribute to the definition of the location, exten...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - September 30, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Bertani G, Fava E, Casaceli G, Carrabba G, Casarotti A, Papagno C, Castellano A, Falini A, Gaini SM, Bello L Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Subcortical mapping and monitoring during insular tumor surgery.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSIONS: The technique presented here is a safe method. It allows a quantitative monitoring of motor function and functional mapping of the pyramidal tract during insular surgery. PMID: 19795954 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - September 30, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Kombos T, Süss O, Vajkoczy P Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring during spine surgery: a review.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Spinal surgery involves a wide spectrum of procedures during which the spinal cord, nerve roots, and key blood vessels are frequently placed at risk for injury. Neuromonitoring provides an opportunity to assess the functional integrity of susceptible neural elements during surgery. The methodology of obtaining and interpreting data from various neuromonitoring modalities-such as somatosensory evoked potentials, motor evoked potentials, spontaneous electromyography, and triggered electromyography-is reviewed in this report. Also discussed are the major benefits and limitations of each modality, as well as the strength o...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - September 30, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Gonzalez AA, Jeyanandarajan D, Hansen C, Zada G, Hsieh PC Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Impact of anesthesia on transcranial electric motor evoked potential monitoring during spine surgery: a review of the literature.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSIONS: In general, selecting the appropriate anesthetic regimen with maintenance of a stable concentration of inhalational or intravenous anesthetics optimizes TcMEP monitoring. PMID: 19795956 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - September 30, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Wang AC, Than KD, Etame AB, La Marca F, Park P Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in vestibular schwannoma surgery: advances and clinical implications.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSIONS: Recent advances in electrophysiological technology have considerably contributed to improvement in functional outcome of vestibular neuroma surgery in terms of hearing preservation and facial nerve paresis. Perioperative intravenous nimodipine and hydroxyethyl starch may be valuable additions to surgery. PMID: 19795957 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - September 30, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Youssef AS, Downes AE Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Introduction: a view of neurosurgery's legacy in technology.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
PMID: 19722811 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - August 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Prestigiacomo CJ, Preul MC Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

History of cervical disc arthroplasty.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Enthusiasm for cervical disc arthroplasty is based on the premise that motion-preserving devices attenuate the progression of adjacent-segment disease (ASD) in the cervical spine. Arthrodesis, on the other hand, results in abnormal load transfer on adjacent segments, leading to the acceleration of ASD. It has taken several decades of pioneering work to produce clinically relevant devices that mimic the kinematics of the intervertebral disc. The goal of this work is to trace the origins of cervical arthroplasty technology and highlight the attributes of devices currently available in the market. PMID: 19722812 [PubM...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - August 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Baaj AA, Uribe JS, Vale FL, Preul MC, Crawford NR Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Neuronavigation: geneology, reality, and prospects.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Currently, neuronavigation is an indivisible and indispensable part of the neurosurgical reality with a significant potential impact in each neurosurgical procedure. The history of neuronavigation is quite short (< 3 decades), but full of highly promising achievements. The advent of neuronavigation would be unimaginable without the development of imaging technology, electronics, robotics, and space technology. The history of neuroradiology is reviewed briefly parallel with the detailed evolution of frame-based stereotaxy and its successor-neuronavigation. The historic milestones and the state of the art of neuronavi...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - August 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Enchev Y Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Early history of the stereotactic apparatus in neurosurgery.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Stereotactic neurosurgery has a rich history, beginning with the first stereotactic frame described by Horsley and Clarke in 1908. It is now widely used for delivery of radiation, surgical targeting of electrodes, and resection to treat tumors, epilepsy, vascular malformations, and pain syndromes. These treatments are now available due to the pioneering efforts of neurosurgeons and scientists in the beginning of the 20th century. Their efforts focused on the development of stereotactic instruments for accurate lesion targeting. In this paper, the authors review the history of the stereotactic apparatus in the early 20t...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - August 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Rahman M, Murad GJ, Mocco J Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Stereotactic radiosurgery and the linear accelerator: accelerating electrons in neurosurgery.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The search for efficacious, minimally invasive neurosurgical treatment has led to the development of the operating microscope, endovascular treatment, and endoscopic surgery. One of the most minimally invasive and exciting discoveries is the use of targeted, high-dose radiation for neurosurgical disorders. Radiosurgery is truly minimally invasive, delivering therapeutic energy to an accurately defined target without an incision, and has been used to treat a wide variety of pathological conditions, including benign and malignant brain tumors, vascular lesions such as arteriovenous malformations, and pain syndromes such ...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - August 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Rahman M, Murad GJ, Bova F, Friedman WA, Mocco J Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Anatomy, technology, art, and culture: toward a realistic perspective of the brain.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In the 15th century, brain illustration began to change from a schematic system that involved scant objective rendering of the brain, to accurate depictions based on anatomical dissections that demanded significant artistic talent. Notable examples of this innovation are the drawings of Leonardo da Vinci (1498-1504), Andreas Vesalius' association with the bottega of Titian to produce the drawings of Vesalius' De humani corporis fabrica (1543), and Christopher Wren's illustrations for Thomas Willis' Cerebri Anatome (1664). These works appeared during the Renaissance and Age of Enlightenment, when advances in brain imagi...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - August 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Cavalcanti DD, Feindel W, Goodrich JT, Dagi TF, Prestigiacomo CJ, Preul MC Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Factors influencing the genesis of neurosurgical technology.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
For any new technology to gain acceptance, it must not only adequately fill a true need, but must also function optimally within the confines of coexisting technology and concurrently available support systems. As an example, over the first decades of the 20th century, a number of drill designs used to perform cranial bone cuts appeared, fell out of favor, and later reappeared as certain supportive technologies emerged. Ultimately, it was the power source that caused one device to prevail. In contrast, a brilliant imaging device, designed to demonstrate an axial view of the lumbar spine, was never allowed to gain accep...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - August 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Bergman WC, Schulz RA, Davis DS Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Operating microscopes: past, present, and future.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The operating microscope is a fixture of modern surgical facilities, and it is a critically important factor in the success of many of the most complex and difficult surgical interventions used in medicine today. The rise of this key surgical tool reflects advances in understanding the principles of optics and vision that have occurred over centuries. The development of reading spectacles in the late 13th century led to the construction of early compound microscopes in the 16th and 17th centuries by Lippershey, Janssen, Galileo, Hooke, and others. Perhaps surprisingly, Leeuwenhoek's simple microscopes of this era offer...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - August 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Uluç K, Kujoth GC, Başkaya MK Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Vagus nerve stimulation.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a key tool in the treatment of patients with medically refractory epilepsy. Although the mechanism of action of VNS remains poorly understood, this modality is now the most widely used nonpharmacological treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy. The goal of this work is to review the history of VNS and provide information on recent advances and applications of this technology. PMID: 19722820 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - August 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Lulic D, Ahmadian A, Baaj AA, Benbadis SR, Vale FL Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Aura of technology and the cutting edge: a history of lasers in neurosurgery.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this historical review the authors examine the important developments that have led to the availability of laser energy to neurosurgeons as a unique and sometimes invaluable tool. They review the physical science behind the function of lasers, as well as how and when various lasers based on different lasing mediums were discovered. They also follow the close association between advances in laser technology and their application in biomedicine, from early laboratory experiments to the first clinical experiences. Because opinions on the appropriate role of lasers in neurosurgery vary widely, the historical basis for s...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - August 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Ryan RW, Spetzler RF, Preul MC Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

German neuroendoscopy above the skull base.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Endoscopy plays an important part in current minimally invasive neurosurgery. The concepts, indications, and standards of current neuroendoscopy were developed in the beginning of the 1990s by several groups of neurosurgeons. Several factors contributed to its success and acceptance, including technical development, influence of other disciplines, and adaptation to neurosurgical requirements. This historical survey focuses on the period when this technique initially emerged, including the scientific discussions of each group as well as the arguments and reasons that led to present intraventricular neuroendoscopy. Inter...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - August 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Grunert P, Gaab MR, Hellwig D, Oertel JM Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

The historical evolution of transsphenoidal surgery: facilitation by technological advances.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Over the past century, pituitary surgery has undergone multiple evolutions in surgical technique and technological advancements that have resulted in what practitioners now recognize as modern transsphenoidal surgery (TSS). Although the procedure is now well established in current neurosurgical literature, the historical maze that led to its development continues to be of interest because it allows a better appreciation of the unique contributions by the pioneers of the technique, and of the innovative spirit that continues to fuel neurosurgery. The early events in the history of TSS have already been well documented. ...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - August 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Gandhi CD, Christiano LD, Eloy JA, Prestigiacomo CJ, Post KD Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Minimally invasive spine technology and minimally invasive spine surgery: a historical review.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this report the authors present a chronological, historical perspective of minimal access spine technique and minimally invasive technologies in the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine from 1967 through 2009. Due to a low rate of complications, minimal soft tissue trauma, and reduced blood loss, more spine procedures are being performed in this manner. Spine surgery now entails shorter hospital stays and often is carried out on an outpatient basis. With education, training, and further research, more of our traditional open surgical management will be augmented or replaced by these technologies and approaches in the fu...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - August 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Oppenheimer JH, DeCastro I, McDonnell DE Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Introduction: surgery of limbic and paralimbic gliomas.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
PMID: 19645557 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - July 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Meyer B Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Embryological development of the human insula and its implications for the spread and resection of insular gliomas.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The human insular cortex, or the lobus insularis, is considered the developmentally most primitive lobe of the telencephalon. Covered by an overlying cortical lid, the insula has functions that are distinct from yet related to those of the adjacent temporal lobe and deep limbic structures. In the first part of this paper the authors outline the development of the human insula, including the cellular heterogeneity comprising the various parts of the insular lobe. Using the understanding gained from the development of the insula they then address implications of insular development for cortical development and connection...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - July 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Kalani MY, Kalani MA, Gwinn R, Keogh B, Tse VC Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Surgical anatomy and functional connectivity of the limbic system.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge obtained using the various imaging techniques contributes substantially to understanding the disease processes in a way that drastically improves surgical planning. PMID: 19645559 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - July 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Lövblad KO, Schaller K Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Tumor-associated epilepsy.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Tumor-associated epilepsy is an important contributor to morbidity in patients with brain tumors. Proposed pathophysiological mechanisms to explain these effects range from neuronal and glial dysfunction to deranged vascular homeostasis, to ionic and pH changes. Perilesional tissue alterations play a vital role in the generation of tumor-associated seizures. Clinical studies have determined that tumor-associated seizures are usually focal with secondary generalization and often resistant to antiepileptic drugs. Tumor histopathological characteristics and location are independent factors that impact seizure burden. Furt...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - July 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Rajneesh KF, Binder DK Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Brain tumors in the mesial temporal lobe: long-term oncological outcome.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSIONS: Surgery is the principal treatment for MTL tumors, despite its technical difficulty. Complete tumor resection is strongly recommended for long-term tumor control. The MTL tumors are heterogeneous in their prognosis. Older age, short duration of epilepsy, and tumor size are all associated with poor outcome. Patients with these characteristics may have a more aggressive form of the disease than those with MTL tumors associated with chronic epilepsy. PMID: 19645561 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - July 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Phi JH, Chung CK Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Chronic epilepsy associated with temporal tumors: long-term surgical outcome.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSIONS: The authors' examination of the long-term follow-up data in patients with temporal lobe tumors causing chronic intractable epilepsy demonstrated excellent results in seizure improvement after surgery. PMID: 19645562 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - July 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Ruban D, Byrne RW, Kanner A, Smith M, Cochran EJ, Roh D, Whisler WW Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Functional outcome after language mapping for insular World Health Organization Grade II gliomas in the dominant hemisphere: experience with 24 patients.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSIONS: Although insular surgery was long believed to be too risky, the present results show that the rate of permanent deficit, especially dysphasia, following resection of Grade II gliomas involving the dominant insula has been dramatically reduced (none in this patient series), thanks to the systematic use of intraoperative awake mapping, even in cases of repeated operations. Furthermore, patient quality of life may be improved due to a decrease of epilepsy after surgery. Thus, the authors suggest systematically considering resection when an insular Grade II glioma is diagnosed after seizures in a patient with no o...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - July 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Duffau H, Moritz-Gasser S, Gatignol P Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Gliomas of the cingulate gyrus: surgical management and functional outcome.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSIONS: Gliomas arising from the cingulate gyrus are rare. A gross-total resection is often possible and acceptably safe; intraoperative monitoring and neuronavigation are helpful adjuncts. In case of resection of gliomas arising from the anterior cingulate gyrus a supplementary motor area syndrome has to be considered, particularly when the tumor extends to the supracingular cortex. PMID: 19645564 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - July 31, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: von Lehe M, Schramm J Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Introduction: advances in brain-machine interfaces.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
PMID: 19569884 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - June 30, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Patil PG Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Microscale recording from human motor cortex: implications for minimally invasive electrocorticographic brain-computer interfaces.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the conclusion that small regions of cortex investigated by ECoG recording may provide sufficient information about motor intentions to support brain-computer interface operations in the future. Given the small scale of the cortical region required, the requisite implanted array would be minimally invasive in terms of surgical placement of the electrode array. PMID: 19569885 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - June 30, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Leuthardt EC, Freudenberg Z, Bundy D, Roland J Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Decoding movement-related cortical potentials from electrocorticography.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSIONS: Two-dimensional control signals can be derived from ECoG. Local field potentials as measured by ECoG from subdural grids will be useful as control signals for a brain-machine interface. PMID: 19569886 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neurosurgical Focus)
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - June 30, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Reddy CG, Reddy GG, Kawasaki H, Oya H, Miller LE, Howard MA Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Classification of contralateral and ipsilateral finger movements for electrocorticographic brain-computer interfaces.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Electrocorticography (ECoG) offers a powerful and versatile platform for developing brain-computer interfaces; it avoids the risks of brain-invasive methods such as intracortical implants while providing significantly higher signal-to-noise ratio than noninvasive techniques such as electroencephalography. The authors demonstrate that both contra- and ipsilateral finger movements can be discriminated from ECoG signals recorded from a single brain hemisphere. The ECoG activation patterns over sensorimotor areas for contra- and ipsilateral movements were found to overlap to a large degree in the recorded hemisphere. Ipsil...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - June 30, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Scherer R, Zanos SP, Miller KJ, Rao RP, Ojemann JG Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals

Robust, long-term control of an electrocorticographic brain-computer interface with fixed parameters.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
All previous multiple-day brain-computer interface (BCI) experiments have dynamically adjusted the parameterization between the signals measured from the brain and the features used to control the interface. The authors present the results of a multiple-day electrocorticographic (ECoG) BCI experiment. A patient with a subdural electrode array implanted for seizure localization performed tongue motor tasks. After an initial screening and feature selection on the 1st day, 5 consecutive days of cursor-based feedback were performed with a fixed parameterization. Control of the interface was robust throughout all days, with...
Source: Neurosurgical Focus - June 30, 2009 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Blakely T, Miller KJ, Zanos SP, Rao RP, Ojemann JG Tags: Neurosurg Focus Source Type: journals