Burrows, Anthony M.

Background Internal carotid artery (ICA) injury is a rare but potentially catastrophic complication of transsphenoidal resection (TSR) of pituitary tumors, potentially resulting in a host of deficits due to the risk of hemorrhage, ischemia, or even death. The endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) has gained considerable popularity in the modern era, with few busy neurosurgeons remaining committed to practicing transnasal pituitary microsurgery. Our objective was therefore to characterize the overall incidence of ICA injury in a large, longitudinal, single-surgeon microscopic TSR series conducted during the modern EEA era. Methods Retrospective case series. Results Overall TSR volume by the senior author (F.B.M.) was 817 pituitary tumors during the study period, 2002 to 2017. Within that cohort, two instances of ICA injury were identified (0.2%), including one each with Cushing's disease and acromegaly, both of whom ultimately recovered without residual neurologic deficit. No pediatric injuries were identified. Conclusion Vascular injury is an exceedingly rare complication of transsphenoidal pituitary surgery. Adjuncts to prevent this complication include careful review of the coronal magnetic resonance imaging, identification of the midline, as needed use of the Doppler, and initial caudal opening of the sellar dura. Although potentially disastrous, good neurologic outcomes may be obtained, with immediate judicious packing followed by immediate digital subtraction angiography to assess vessel patency and secondary complications such as pseudoaneurysm.

Objectives To present a rare case of traumatic facial neuroma involving the geniculate ganglion and review relevant literature. Patient Thirty-year-old man. Intervention Microsurgical resection via combined mastoid-middle fossa approach with great auricular nerve interpositional graft. Main Outcome Measures Patient demographics and pre- and postoperative facial nerve function. Results A 30-year-old man with a reported history of prior Bell's palsy developed progressive complete (House–Brackmann VI) right facial paralysis following blunt trauma. Imaging was strongly suggestive of a geniculate ganglion hemangioma. As the patient had no spontaneous improvement in his poor facial function over the course of 9 months, he underwent resection of the facial nerve lesion with great auricular nerve graft interposition via a combined mastoid-middle fossa approach. Histopathology demonstrated disorganized fascicles, with axonal clustering reminiscent of sprouting/regeneration following trauma. No cellular proliferation or vascular malformation was present. Conclusion Traumatic facial nerve neuromas can occur following temporal bone trauma and can closely mimic primary facial nerve tumors. Akin to the management of geniculate ganglion hemangioma and schwannoma, preoperative facial function largely dictates if and when surgery should be pursued.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Extradural approach to the cavernous sinus, the “Dolenc” approach recognizing its developing Dr. Vinko Dolenc, is a critically important skull base approach. However, resection of the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus, most commonly for cavernous sinus meningiomas, results commonly in a defect that often cannot be reconstructed in a water-tight fashion. This may result in troublesome pseudomeningocele postoperatively. OBJECTIVE: To describe a technique designed to mitigate the development of pseudomeningocele. METHODS: We found the Dolenc approach critical for resection of cavernous lesions. However, a number of pseudomeningoceles were managed with prolonged external pressure wrapping in the early cohort. Therefore, we incorporated subgaleal to muscular sutures, which were designed to close this potential space and retrospectively analyzed our results. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients treated with a Dolenc approach and resection of the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus over a 2-year period were included. Prior to incorporation of this technique, 12 patients were treated and 3 (25%) experienced postoperative pseudomeningoceles requiring multiple clinic visits and frequent dressing. After incorporation of subgaleal retention sutures, no patient (0%) experienced this complication. CONCLUSION: Although basic, subgaleal to temporalis muscle retention sutures likely aid in eliminating this potential dead space, thereby preventing patient distress postoperatively. This technique is simple and further emphasizes the importance of dead space elimination in complex closures.

OBJECTIVE Hypothalamic hamartomas (HHs) are associated with gelastic seizures and the development of medically refractory epilepsy. Magnetic resonance imaging–guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRg-LITT) is a minimally invasive ablative treatment that may have applicability for these deep-seated lesions. Here, the authors describe 3 patients with refractory HHs who they treated with MRg-LITT. METHODS An institutional review board–approved prospective database of patients undergoing Visualase MRg-LITT was retrospectively reviewed. Demographic and historical medical data, including seizure and medication histories, previous surgeries, procedural details, and surgical complications, along with radiological interpretation of the HHs, were recorded. The primary outcome was seizure freedom, and secondary outcomes included medication reduction, seizure frequency, operative morbidity, and clinical outcome at the latest follow-up. RESULTS All 3 patients in the multi-institutional database had developed gelastic seizures related to HH at the ages of 7, 7, and 9 years. They presented for further treatment at 25, 28, and 48 years of age, after previous treatments with stereotactic radiosurgery in all cases and partial hamartoma resection in one case. One ablation was complicated by a small tract hemorrhage, which was stable on postoperative imaging. One patient developed hyponatremia and experienced weight gain, which were respectively managed with fluid restriction and counseling. At the most recent follow-up at a mean of 21 months (range 1–32 months), one patient was seizure free while another had meaningful seizure reduction. Medication was reduced in one case. CONCLUSIONS Adults with gelastic seizures despite previous treatments can undergo MRg-LITT with reasonable safety and efficacy. This novel therapy may provide a minimally invasive alternative for primary and recurrent HH as the technique is refined.

Study Design Retrospective study. Objective Efficient use of operating room time is important, as delays during induction or recovery increase time not spent operating while in the operating room. We identified factors that increase anesthetized, nonoperative time by utilizing a database of over 5,000 consecutive neurosurgical spine cases. Methods Surgical records were searched to identify all spine surgeries performed between January 2010 and July 2012. Anesthetized, nonoperative time was calculated from the anesthesia record and compared with both patient and procedure characteristics to determine any significant relationships Results There were 5,515 surgical cases with a mean age of 60.5 and mean body mass index (BMI) of 29.7; 3,226 (58%) were male subjects. There were 1,176 (21%) fusion cases, and level of pathology was predominantly lumbar (4,010 cases, 73%). Fusion cases had a significantly longer total anesthetized, nonoperative time (fusion: 98 minutes, nonfusion: 76 minutes, mean difference: 22 minutes, p < 0.0001). Significant factors affecting anesthetized, nonoperative time in nonfusion cases include age greater than 65 years (mean difference 5 minutes, p < 0.0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, and BMI (BMI < 25: 72 ± 1.2 minutes, BMI 25 to 29: 74 ± 0.6 minutes, BMI 30 to 39: 79 ± 0.6 minutes, BMI 40 + : 87 ± 1.8 minutes, p < 0.0001). Similarly, for fusion operations, age > 65 years significantly increased nonoperative time (mean difference 6 minutes, p < 0.01), as did increasing ASA (mean difference 9 minutes, p < 0.0001) and increasing BMI. Conclusion Patient and surgical factors, including ASA grade, BMI, level of pathology, and surgical approach, have noticeable effects on anesthetized, nonoperative times in spine surgery.

Object Flow diversion has emerged as a promising treatment alternative for cerebral aneurysms. As a new device, treatment-related events and complications are currently being characterized. Methods Data on 100 consecutive procedures with the intention to use flow diversion were prospectively collected and analyzed retrospectively. Results Ninety-five aneurysms were treated in 93 patients during 100 consecutive procedures in which the intention was to treat an intracranial aneurysm with flow diversion. Death occurred in 1% and permanent morbidity in 1%. However, periprocedural technical complications occurred in 35% of the procedures and included proximal device migration in 12%, incomplete device expansion in 9%, catheter-induced vasospasm in 6%, and artery perforation from the wire in 3%. Perioperative clinical events were seen in 28% (thromboembolism and access site complications were the most common, being observed in 6.5% of patients). Worsened extraocular motility was seen in 5.4% and resolved in 4/5 patients. Mean clinical follow-up was 17 months. There were no late clinical or technical issues resulting in permanent deficits, although one patient suffered worsening ataxia. Overall, using very strict angiographic criteria, complete angiographic obliteration was 50% at 6 months and 69% after 1 year. Conclusions Flow diversion for intracranial aneurysms is a safe and effective treatment. Technical and clinical events are common in the perioperative period. Careful perioperative care and proper management of technical and clinical events encountered is key to achieving low morbidity and mortality. Late clinical events can occur but are unlikely to result in permanent complications.