Object. Shunt therapy in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) can improve symptoms in 84% of patients 1 year postoperatively. Therefore, implantation of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) prevents or at least prolongs the time during which patients are not dependent on care from others because of gait disorder or dementia. In this study, the medium-term results of modern shunt therapy were evaluated.Methods. The authors retrospectively studied outcome in iNPH patients in whom VPSs were implanted. At yearly follow-up examinations over at least 6 years, clinical symptoms were recorded according to the NPH recovery rate (NPH-RR): (preoperative Kiefer Scale [KS] score -postoperative KS score)/(preoperative KS score × 10). Time and cause of death over this period were also analyzed.Results. Among the 147 patients treated for iNPH in the period between 1997 and 2006, 69 had died at the time of the authors' survey. Sixty-one patients reached the 6-year examination. The median age was 64 years (range 33-83 years) at the time of VPS implantation and 73 years (range 41-91 years) at the time of this study. Six years after shunt implantation, the median KS score was significantly lower than the preoperative score (4.3 vs 8.1 points). Fifty-nine percent of 61 patients had an excellent outcome, 15% had satisfactory benefit, and 26% had unsatisfactory results 6 years postoperatively. Three of the 147 patients who underwent implantation of a VPS died of cerebral diseases 4-10 years postoperatively.Conclusions. Implantation of a VPS is a safe procedure and can improve symptoms in 74% of patients with iNPH in the longer term. Abbreviations used in this paper: CMI = Comorbidity Index; iNPH = idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus; KS = Kiefer Scale; NPH-RR = NPH recovery rate; VPS = ventriculoperitoneal shunt.
Background: After ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) with adjustable gravitational valves, a certain proportion of patients develop secondary clinical worsening after initial improvement of clinical symptoms. The aim of this study was to analyze this group of patients with secondary deterioration and to evaluate the performed shunt management. Methods: For this investigation, we retrospectively reviewed our NPH registry for patients included between 1999 and 2013 with a decrease by a minimum of two points in the Kiefer score in the first year of follow up and an increase of two points in the Kiefer score between the second and the fifth year after shunt surgery (secondary deterioration). Then, we analyzed the patient's shunt management (adapting the valve pressure setting, shuntography, valve replacement, catheter replacement, implant an adjustable gravitational unit). Additionally, we searched for risk factors for secondary deterioration. Results: Out of 259 iNPH patients, 53 (20%) patients showed secondary deterioration on an average of 2.7 (2-4 years) years after shunt surgery. Fourteen (26%) patients with secondary deterioration improved after shunt or valve management and 58% remained without clinical benefit after management. We had a drop-out rate of 15% due to incomplete datasets. Our shunt management reduced the rate of secondary deterioration from 20 to 15%. On the basis of our findings, we developed an algorithm for shunt management. Risk factors for secondary deterioration are the age of the patient at the time of shunting, newly diagnosed neurodegenerative diseases, and overdrainage requiring adjusting the valve to higher-pressure levels. Conclusion: Twenty percent of patients with iNPH were at risk for secondary clinical worsening about 3 years after shunt surgery. About one-fourth of these patients benefited for additional years from pressure level management and/or shunt valve revision. Our findings underline the need for long-term follow-ups and intensive shunt management to achieve a favorable long-term outcome for patients with iNPH and VPS.
BACKGROUNDFreehand ventricular catheter placement may represent limited accuracy for the surgeon's intent to achieve primary optimal catheter position.OBJECTIVETo investigate the accuracy of a ventricular catheter guide assisted by a simple mobile health application (mhealth app) in a multicenter, randomized, controlled, simple blinded study (GAVCA study).METHODSIn total, 139 eligible patients were enrolled in 9 centers. Catheter placement was evaluated by 3 different components: number of ventricular cannulation attempts, a grading scale, and the anatomical position of the catheter tip. The primary endpoint was the rate of primary cannulation of grade I catheter position in the ipsilateral ventricle. The secondary endpoints were rate of intraventricular position of the catheter's perforations, early ventricular catheter failure, and complications.RESULTSThe primary endpoint was reached in 70% of the guided group vs 56.5% (freehand group; odds ratio 1.79, 95% confidence interval 0.89-3.61). The primary successful puncture rate was 100% vs 91.3% (P = .012). Catheter perforations were located completely inside the ventricle in 81.4% (guided group) and 65.2% (freehand group; odds ratio 2.34, 95% confidence interval 1.07-5.1). No differences occurred in early ventricular catheter failure, complication rate, duration of surgery, or hospital stay.CONCLUSIONThe guided ventricular catheter application proved to be a safe and simple method. The primary endpoint revealed a nonsignificant improvement of optimal catheter placement among the groups. Long-term follow-up is necessary in order to evaluate differences in catheter survival among shunted patients.
Background:Modern ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPS) are programmable, which enables clinicians to adjust valve-pressure according to their patients’ individual needs. The aim of this retrospective analysis is to evaluate indications for valve-pressure adjustments in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH).Methods:Patients operated between 2004 and 2011 diagnosed with iNPH were included. Kiefer-Scale was used to classify each patient. Follow-up exams were conducted 3, 6, and 12 months after shunt implantation and yearly thereafter. Initial valve-pressure was 100 or 70 mmH2O. Planned reductions of the valve-pressure to 70 and 50 mmH2O, respectively, were carried out and reactive adjustment of the valve-pressure to avoid over- and under-drainage were indicated.Results:A total of 52 patients were provided with a Medos-Hakim valveCodman® with a Miethke shunt-assistantAesculap® and 111 patients with a Miethke-proGAVAesculap®. 180 reductions of the valve-pressure took place (65% reactive, 35% planned). Most patients (89%) needed one or two adjustments of their valve-pressures for optimal results. In 41%, an improvement of the symptoms was observed. Gait disorder was improved most often after valve-pressure adjustments (32%). 18 times an elevation of valve-pressure was necessary because of headaches, vertigo, or the development of subdural hygroma. Optimal valve-pressure for most patients was around 50 mmH2O (36%).Conclusion:The goal of shunt therapy in iNPH should usually be valve-pressure settings between 30 and 70 mmH2O. Reactive adjustments of the valve-pressure are useful for therapy of over- and underdrainage symptoms. Planned reductions of the valve opening pressure are effective even if postoperative results are already satisfactory.
We present the case of a 49-year-old woman with sudden onset of severe headaches and a ruptured aneurysm located inside the fenestration of the infraclinoid part of the internal carotid artery in the segments C4 and C5 distal to the origin of the ophthalmic artery. An interdisciplinary approach enabled the successful treatment of the aneurysm by wrapping and stent-assisted coiling. We discuss this rare congenital anomaly of a fenestrated internal carotid artery together with the 12 other cases published worldwide.
Background: We examined the visibility of fractures of hand and forearm in whole-body CT and its influence on delayed diagnosis. This study is based on a prior study on delayed diagnosis of fractures of hand and forearm in patients with suspected polytrauma.Methods: Two blinded radiologists examined CT-scans of patients with fractures of hand or forearm that were diagnosed later than 24 hrs after admission and control cases with unremarkable imaging of those areas. They were provided with clinical information that was documented in the admission report and were asked to examine forearm and hands. After unblinding, the visibility of fractures was determined. We examined if time of admission or slice thickness was a factor for late or missed diagnoses.Results: We included 72 known fractures in 36 cases. Of those 65 were visible. Sixteen visible fractures were diagnosed late during hospital stay. Eight more fractures were detected on revision by the radiologists. Both radiologists missed known fractures and found new fractures that were not reported by the other. Missed and late diagnoses of fractures occurred more often around 5 pm and 1 am. Slice thickness was not significantly different between fractures and cases with fractures found within 24 hrs and those found later.Conclusions: The number of late diagnosis or completely missed fractures of the hand and forearm may be reduced by a repeated survey of WBCT with focus on the extremities in patients with suspected polytrauma who are not conscious.Level of Evidence III
ZusammenfassungZiel: Retrospektive Analyse über Nutzen und Risiken der Carmustin-Therapie in der multimodalen Therapie des Glioblastoma multiforme.Material und Methoden: Patienten mit Glioblastoma multiforme wurden zwischen 2008 und 2011 unter Einsatz von Carmustin operiert. Es wurden unerwünschte Ereignisse protokolliert und retrospektiv die Sterbedaten eingeholt.Ergebnisse: Von 88 operierten Patienten wurde bei 30 Carmustin-Wafer implantiert. 69 unerwünschte Ereignisse traten in beiden Therapiegruppen im postoperativen Verlauf bis zum Versterben der Patienten oder bis zum Untersuchungszeitpunkt auf. Die durchschnittliche Überlebenszeit in der Gruppe der mit Carmustin therapierten Patienten lag bei 385 Tagen versus 343 Tage ohne Carmustin-Therapie (p = 0,41).Schlussfolgerung und klinische Relevanz: Durch den Einsatz von Carmustin konnte kein Überlebensvorteil, jedoch auch keine erhöhte Toxizität innerhalb des multimodalen Ansatzes für dieses Patientenkollektiv nachgewiesen werden. Trotz des zu erwartenden Nutzens für weniger als 20% aller Glioblastompatienten scheint es sinnvoll, die multimodale Therapie mit Carmustin-Wafern bei selektierten Patientengruppen weiter prospektiv zu erforschen.
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