BACKGROUND Several studies have proven the benefit of a greater extent of resection on progression-free survival and overall survival in glioblastoma (GBM). Possible reasons for incomplete tumor resection might be wrong interpretation of fading fluorescence or overseen fluorescent tumor tissue by a lacking line of sight between tumor tissue and the microscope. OBJECTIVE To evaluate if an endoscope being capable of inducing fluorescence might overcome some limitations of microscopic fluorescence-guided (FG) resection. METHODS 5-Aminolevulinic acid (20 mg/kg) was given 4 h before surgery. Microsurgical resection of all fluorescent tissue was performed. Then, the resection cavity was scanned with the endoscope. Fluorescent tissue, not being visualized by the microscope, was additionally removed and histopathologically examined separately. Neuronavigation was used for defining the sites of additional tumor resection. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging within 48 h after surgery. RESULTS Twenty patients with GBM were operated using microscopic and endoscopic FG resection. In all patients, additional fluorescent tissue was detected with the endoscope. This tissue was completely resected in 19 patients (95%). Eloquent localization precluded complete resection in the remaining patient. In 19 patients (95%), histopathological examination confirmed tumor in the additionally resected tissue. In 19 patients (95%), complete resection was confirmed. In all patients, endoscopic FG resection reached beyond the borders of contrast-enhancing tumor. CONCLUSION Endoscopic FG resection of GBM allows increasing the complete resection rate substantially and therefore is a useful adjunct to microscopic FG resection.

In this retrospective study we could not reproduce the findings from large RCTs on intracranial stenting. Our data could be considered as a basis for a prospective study on patient selection for PTAS in the basilar artery.

Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and disability in Europe. The European Stroke Action Plan (ESAP) defines four main targets for the years 2018 to 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the use of innovative technologies and created pressure to improve internet networks. Moreover, 5G internet network will be helpful for the transfer and collecting of extremely big databases. Nowadays, the speed of internet connection is a limiting factor for robotic systems, which can be controlled and commanded potentially from various places in the world. Innovative technologies can be implemented for acute stroke patient management soon. Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are used increasingly often without the exception of medicine. Their implementation can be achieved in every level of stroke care. In this article, all steps of stroke health care processes are discussed in terms of how to improve them (including prehospital diagnosis, consultation, transfer of the patient, diagnosis, techniques of the treatment as well as rehabilitation and usage of AI). New ethical problems have also been discovered. Everything must be aligned to the concept of “time is brain”.

Background and purpose The purpose of this article is to report on the long-term success rates of Silk flow-diverter (FD) treatment in a multicenter prospective study for the treatment of complex aneurysms. Methods Between May 2008 and January 2011, all consecutive patients featuring complex intracranial aneurysms eligible for FD treatment with the Silk in three neurovascular centers were included. Clinical and imaging data were assessed during hospitalization and follow-up. Results Five patients were initially asymptomatic, 20 patients showed various neurological symptoms. Twenty-eight FDs were implanted in 25 patients treating 28 aneurysms. The immediate procedure-related morbidity was 8% (two of 25), mortality 0%. One procedure-related death was observed during follow-up (in-stent thrombosis). Compared to the immediate result nearly two of three aneurysms improved during follow-up; all angiographically confirmed inflow changes took place within six months after treatment. Final anatomic outcome in 24 aneurysms of 22 patients comprised 14 (59%) with complete occlusion, seven (29%) with a neck remnant, two (8%) with residual filling <50%, none with residual filling >50% and one (4%) unchanged in comparison to its pretreatment status. Postinterventional recanalizations were seen in three of 13 (23%) aneurysms treated with FD alone; none were observed in 15 aneurysms treated with adjunctive coiling. Conclusion Anatomic presentation and location are key for successful FD treatment. The rate of successful occlusion increases during follow-up. Postinterventional monitoring for at least six months is paramount, as anatomic outcome is not reliably predictable and recanalizations may occur in initially completely occluded aneurysms.

Purpose Image-based blood flow simulations are increasingly used to investigate the hemodynamics in intracranial aneurysms (IAs). However, a strong variability in segmentation approaches as well as the absence of individualized boundary conditions (BCs) influence the quality of these simulation results leading to imprecision and decreased reliability. This study aims to analyze these influences on relevant hemodynamic parameters within IAs. Methods As a follow-up study of an international multiple aneurysms challenge, the segmentation results of five IAs differing in size and location were investigated. Specifically, five possible outlet BCs were considered in each of the IAs. These are comprised of the zero-pressure condition (BC1), a flow distribution based on Murray’s law with the exponents n = 2 (BC2) and n = 3 (BC3) as well as two advanced flow-splitting models considering the real vessels by including circular cross sections (BC4) or anatomical cross sections (BC5), respectively. In total, 120 time-dependent blood flow simulations were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, focusing on five representative intra-aneurysmal flow and five shear parameters such as vorticity and wall shear stress. Results The outlet BC variation revealed substantial differences. Higher shear stresses (up to Δ9.69 Pa), intrasaccular velocities (up to Δ0.15 m/s) and vorticities (up to Δ629.22 1/s) were detected when advanced flow-splitting was applied compared to the widely used zero-pressure BC. The tendency of outlets BCs to over- or underestimate hemodynamic parameters is consistent across different segmentations of a single aneurysm model. Segmentation-induced variability reaches Δ19.58 Pa, Δ0.42 m/s and Δ957.27 1/s, respectively. Excluding low fidelity segmentations, however, (a) reduces the deviation drastically (>43%) and (b) leads to a lower impact of the outlet BC on hemodynamic predictions. Conclusion With a more realistic lumen segmentation, the influence of the BC on the resulting hemodynamics is decreased. A realistic lumen segmentation can be ensured, e.g., by using high-resolved 2D images. Furthermore, the selection of an advanced outflow-splitting model is advised and the use of a zero-pressure BC and BC based on Murray’s law with exponent n = 3 should be avoided.

ObjectiveCerebral vasospasm (CVS) represents one of the multiple contributors to delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Especially the management of CVS, refractory to medical treatment, is a challenging task during the acute phase after aSAH. Endovascular rescue therapies (ERT), such as medical and mechanical dilation, are possible treatment options on an individual basis. However, data about the influence on the patients' functional outcomes are limited. This study aims to assess the impact of ERT on the long-term functional outcome in aSAH-patients with refractory CVS.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of aSAH patients treated between 2012 and 2018. CVS was considered refractory, if it persisted despite oral/intravenous nimodipine application and induced hypertension. The decision to perform ETR was made on an individual basis, according to the detection of “tissue at risk” on computed tomography perfusion (CTP) scans and CVS on computed tomography angiography (CTA) or digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The functional outcome was assessed according to the modified Rankin scale (mRS) 3 months after the ictus, whereas an mRS ≤ 2 was considered as a good outcome.ResultsA total of 268 patients were included. Out of these, 205 patients (76.5%) were treated without ERT (group 1) and 63 patients (23.5%) with ERT (group 2). In 20 patients (31.8%) balloon dilatation was performed, in 23 patients (36.5%) intra-arterial nimodipine injection alone, and in 20 patients (31.8%) both procedures were combined. Considering only the patient group with DCI, the patients who were treated with ERT had a significantly better outcome compared to the patients without ERT (Mann–Whitney test, p = 0.02).ConclusionEndovascular rescue therapies resulted in a significantly better functional outcome in patients with DCI compared to the patient group treated without ETR. CTP and CTA-based identification of “tissue at risk” might be a reliable tool for patient selection for performing ERT.

OBJECTIVESeveral studies have proven the benefits of a wide extent of resection (EOR) of contrast-enhancing tumor in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with glioblastoma (GBM). Thus, gross-total resection (GTR) is the main surgical goal in noneloquently located GBMs. Complete tumor removal can be almost doubled by microscopic fluorescence guidance. Recently, a study has shown that an endoscope with a light source capable of inducing fluorescence allows visualization of remnant fluorescent tumor tissue even after complete microscopic fluorescence-guided (FG) resection, thereby increasing the rate of GTR. Since tumor infiltration spreads beyond the borders of contrast enhancement on MRI, the aim of this study was to determine via volumetric analyses of the EOR whether endoscope-assisted FG resection enables supratotal resection beyond the borders of contrast enhancement.METHODSThe authors conducted a retrospective single-center analysis of a consecutive series of patients with primary GBM presumed to be noneloquently located and routinely operated on at their institution between January 2015 and February 2018 using a combined microscopic and endoscopic FG resection. A 20-mg/kg dose of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) was administered 4 hours before surgery. After complete microscopic FG resection, the resection cavity was scanned using the endoscope. Detected residual fluorescent tissue was resected and embedded separately for histopathological examination. Nonenhanced and contrast-enhanced 3D T1-weighted MR images acquired before and within 48 hours after tumor resection were analyzed using 3D Slicer. Bias field–corrected data were used to segment brain parenchyma, contrast-enhancing tumor, and the resection cavity for volume definition. The difference between the pre- and postoperative brain parenchyma volume was considered to be equivalent to the resected nonenhancing but fluorescent tumor tissue. The volume of resected tumor tissue was calculated from the sum of resected contrast-enhancing tumor tissue and resected nonenhancing tumor tissue.RESULTSTwelve patients with GBM were operated on using endoscopic after complete microscopic FG resection. In all cases, residual fluorescent tissue not visualized with the microscope was detected. Histopathological examination confirmed residual tumor tissue in all specimens. The mean preoperative volume of brain parenchyma without contrast-enhancing tumor was 1213.2 cm3. The mean postoperative volume of brain parenchyma without the resection cavity was 1151.2 cm3, accounting for a mean volume of nonenhancing but fluorescent tumor tissue of 62.0 cm3. The mean relative rate of the overall resected volume compared to the contrast-enhancing tumor volume was 244.7% (p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONSCombined microscopic and endoscopic FG resection of GBM significantly increases the EOR and allows the surgeon to achieve a supratotal resection beyond the borders of contrast enhancement in noneloquently located GBM.

Mannose phosphate isomerase deficiency‐congenital disorder of glycosylation (MPI‐CDG; formerly named CDG type 1b) is characterized by the clinical triad of hepatopathy, protein‐losing enteropathy, and hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in combination with coagulation disorder (thrombophilia, depletion of antithrombin, proteins C and S, factor XI). In the majority of patients, MPI‐CDG manifests during early infancy or childhood. Here, we present a 15‐year‐old female patient with unremarkable medical history suffering from acute cerebral venous sinus thrombosis necessitating interventional thrombectomy and neurosurgical decompression. Diagnostic work‐up of thrombophilia revealed deficiency of antithrombin (AT), proteins C and S, and factor XI. Detailed evaluation identified MPI‐CDG as the underlying cause of disease. After initiation of mannose therapy, coagulation parameters normalized. The girl fully recovered without any neurologic sequelae, and remains free of further thrombotic events or any other clinical and laboratory abnormalities on follow‐up 1 year after start of mannose treatment. In conclusion, we here present the significant case of MPI‐CDG with a severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis as the first and only symptom of the disease. In light of the high frequency of AT deficiency on one hand, and the excellent treatability of MPI‐CDG on the other hand, CDG screening should be included as a routine analysis in all patients presenting with unexplained coagulation disorder, especially when comprising AT deficiency.