Degree of Vascular Encasement in Sphenoid Wing Meningiomas Predicts Postoperative Ischemic Complications

Neurosurgery 80:957–966, 2017

Sphenoid wing meningiomas (SWMs) can encase arteries of the circle of Willis, increasing their susceptibility to intraoperative vascular injury and severe ischemic complications.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the effect of circumferential vascular encasement in SWM on postoperative ischemia.

METHODS: A retrospective review of 75 patients surgically treated for SWM from 2009 to 2015 was undertaken to determine the degree of circumferential vascular encasement (0◦-360◦) as assessed by preoperativemagnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A novel grading system describing “maximum”and “total” arterial encasement scores was created. Postoperative MRIs were reviewed for total ischemia volume measured on sequential diffusionweighted images.

RESULTS: Of the 75 patients, 89.3% had some degree of vascular involvement with a median maximum encasement score of 3.0 (2.0-3.0) in the internal carotid artery (ICA), M1, M2, and A1 segments; 76% of patients had some degree of ischemia with median infarct volume of 3.75 cm3 (0.81-9.3 cm3). Univariate analysis determined risk factors associated with larger infarction volume, which were encasement of the supraclinoid ICA (P < .001), M1 segment (P < .001), A1 segment (P = .015), and diabetes (P = .019). As the maximum encasement score increased from 1 to 5 in each of the significant arterial segments, so did mean and median infarction volume (P < .001). Risk for devastating ischemic injury >62 cm3 was found when the ICA, M1, and A1 vessels all had ≥360◦ involvement (P = .001). Residual tumorwas associated with smaller infarct volumes (P=.022). As infarction volume increased, so did modified Rankin Score at discharge (P = .025).

CONCLUSION: Subtotal resection should be considered in SWM with significant vascular encasement of proximal arteries to limit postoperative ischemic complications.

 

Electrophysiologic deterioration in surgery for thoracic disc herniation

Th. Disc Herniation

Eur Spine J (2014) 23:2279–2290

Severe thoracic disc herniation leads to increased pressure in adjacent neural structures, which in turn can require an increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) to maintain adequate spinal cord perfusion.We report a case series of three patients with severe thoracic disc herniation that experienced deteriorations in motorevoked potentials (MEPs) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) following induction of general anesthesia, but prior to decompression of the neural elements.

Methods In-depth chart reviews were completed for each patient from their initial presentation to long-term postoperative course. Careful attention was taken with regards to MAP at induction of each operative case.

Results The origin of the decreased signals in all patients was thought to relate to inadequate cord perfusion pressures. Two of the patients recovered pre-operative neurologic function while the third was left with mild postoperative paraparesis. Mean arterial pressures at time of deterioration were noted to be 58, 80, and 60 mmHg. These measurements represented MAPs approximately 65, 92, and 60 % those of baseline values, respectively.

Conclusion Based on these experiences, the authors’ institution has adopted new guidelines in the setting of thoracic disc herniations that includes pre-operative optimization of volume status, placement of an awake arterial line prior to induction of anesthesia, use of MEP and SSEP electrophysiologic monitoring, careful selection of anesthetic, and aggressive maintenance of MAPs >110 % of preoperative values at all times prior to decompression of the spinal cord.

Surgical Treatment of 127 Anterior Choroidal Artery Aneurysms

Anterior Choroidal Artery Aneurysms

Neurosurgery 73:933–940, 2013

The anterior choroidal artery (AChA) supplies important areas of the nervous system, particularly the posterior limb of the internal capsule and optic radiation. Treatment of AChA aneurysms poses particular challenges because of the complex anatomy of the aneurysm associated with the relatively small diameter of AChAs, making preservation of the parent vessel during clip ligation or endosaccular coiling challenging.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence and features of ischemia in treatment of AChA aneurysms.

METHODS: A prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent treatment of aneurysms from 1985 to 2011 was queried to find patients with AChA aneurysms. Age, sex, Hunt and Hess grade, treatment modality, and complications were analyzed by use of the unpaired Student t test and Fisher exact test.

RESULTS: One hundred twenty-two patients harbored 127 AChA aneurysms, and 67% (82 of 122) had multiple aneurysms. Treatment included 112 microsurgical clip ligations, 8 endosaccular coil embolizations, 5 aneurysmal wrappings, and 2 surgical explorations. Complications developed in 53% (67 of 127) of AChA aneurysms. Postoperative ischemia occurred in 12% (15 of 127) of treated aneurysms. The number of temporary clip applications was most closely associated with postoperative ischemia. Glasgow Outcome Scale scores of 4 or 5 were obtained by 78% at discharge, 89% at 6 months, and 85% at 1 year.

CONCLUSION: The ischemic complication rate from surgical treatment of AChA aneurysms is most closely associated with higher frequency of temporary clip applications for proximal control and may be lower than previously reported. Supplementary intraoperative tools and limitation of vessel manipulation should be used to improve outcomes.

Postoperative ischemic changes following resection of newly diagnosed and recurrent gliomas and their clinical relevance

Postoperative ischemic changes following resection of newly diagnosed and recurrent gliomas and their clinical relevance

J Neurosurg 118:801–808, 2013

The aim of surgical treatment of glioma is the complete resection of tumor tissue with preservation of neurological function. Inclusion of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the postoperative MRI protocol could improve the delineation of ischemia-associated postoperative neurological deficits. The present study aims to assess the incidence of infarctions following resection of newly diagnosed gliomas in comparison with recurrent gliomas and the influence on neurological function.

Methods. Patients who underwent glioma resection for newly diagnosed or recurrent gliomas had early postoperative MRI, including DWI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. Postoperative areas of restricted diffusion were classified as arterial territorial infarctions, terminal branch infarctions, or venous infarctions. Tumor entity, location, and neurological function were recorded.

Results. New postoperative ischemic lesions were identified in 26 (31%) of 84 patients with newly diagnosed gliomas and 20 (80%) of 25 patients with recurrent gliomas (p < 0.01). New permanent and transient neurological deficits were more frequent in patients with recurrent gliomas than in patients with newly diagnosed tumors. Patients with neurological deficits had a significantly higher rate of ischemic lesions.

Conclusions. Postoperative infarctions occur frequently in patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent gliomas and do have an impact on postoperative neurological function. In this patient cohort there was a higher risk for ischemic lesions and for deterioration of neurological function after resection of recurrent tumors. Radiogenic and postoperative tissue changes could contribute to the higher risk of an ischemic infarction in patients with recurrent tumors.