No abstract

No abstract

The VIVIAN system allows users to work with complex imaging data in a fast, comprehensive, and intuitive manner. The 3-D interaction of this virtual reality environment is essential to the efficient assembly of surgically relevant spatial information from the data derived from multiple imaging techniques. The usefulness of the system is highly dependent on the accurate coregistration of the data and the real-time speed of the interaction.

Infection continues to be one of the major complications of cerebrospinal¯uid (CSF) shunting procedures, and is caused mainly by skin-derived bacteria. Production of an extracellular bio®lm plays an important role in the pathogenesis of shunt-associated infections by protecting bacteria from immune mechanisms and antibiotics. So far, removal of the original shunt and implantation of a new shunting device has been the only successful treatment for most patients. As an alternative strategy to prevent CSF infections, a rifampin-impregnated silicone catheter was designed to provide high initial and long-lasting (>60 days) release of bactericidal drug. To investigate the pathophysiological mechanism of its function, this new device was investigated both in vitro and in a rodent model of CSF infection by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and bacterial culture. Staphylococcus epidermidis (10 8 cfu=ml) and S. aureus (10 4 cfu=ml) served as test strains. SEM demonstrated that, in contrast to the unloaded catheters, initial bacterial adherence on the catheter surface could be reduced to a few single cells, which did not show visible signs of proliferation. Bacterial cultures obtained simultaneously were all sterile, showing that adherent bacteria were killed immediately by the rifampin released from the catheter. Although rifampin incorporation into silicone polymers was not able to prevent initial bacterial adhesion completely, subsequent colonisation could be prevented.

The authors found the preoperative 3D model to be in high concordance with intraoperative conditions; the resulting intraoperative "déjà-vu" feeling enhanced surgical confidence. In all procedures planned with the Dextroscope, the chosen surgical strategy proved to be the correct choice. Three-dimensional virtual reality models of a patient allow quick and easy understanding of complex intracranial lesions.

BACKGROUND: Symptomatic chronic subdural hematoma (scSDH) is one of the most frequent diseases in neurosurgical practice, and its incidence is increasing. However, treatment modalities are still controversial. OBJECT: The aim of this retrospective single-center study is to compare for the first time two surgical methods in the treatment of subdural hematoma that have been proven to be efficient in previous studies in a direct comparison. METHODS: We analyzed the data of 143 scSDHs in 113 patients undergoing surgery for subdural hematoma with placement of subperiostal or subdural drainage after double burr-hole trepanation for hematoma evacuation. RESULTS: Overall, there were no statistically significant differences regarding general patient characteristics, preoperative and postoperative symptoms, postoperative hematoma remnant, rates of recurrences, mortality, complications, and outcome at discharge and at 3-month follow up between the groups. There was a close to significant tendency of lower mortality after placement of subperiostal drainage system and a tendency towards lower rate of recurrent hematoma after placement of subdural drainage system. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows for the first time a direct comparison of two mainly used surgical techniques in the treatment of scSDH. Both methods proved to be highly effective, and general patient data, complications, outcome and mortality of both groups are equal or superior compared with previously published series. Because there is a clear tendency to less mortality and fewer serious complications, treatment with double burrhole trepanation, irrigation, and placement of subperiostal drainage is our treatment of choice in patients with predictable high risk of complications.

We believe the system provides a highly effective way to work with 3-D data in a group, and it significantly enhances teaching of neurosurgical anatomy and operative strategies.

No abstract