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In an international trial involving 450 patients with acute subdural hematoma, craniotomy (bone flap replaced) and decompressive craniectomy (bone flap left out) yielded similar disability-related outcomes at 12 months.

To evaluate the efficacy of neuronavigation-assisted stereotactic drilling drainage compared with that of craniotomy in the treatment of massive intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) in elderly patients. This was a randomized, controlled, blind endpoint clinical study. Elderly patients with massive ICH treated at our neurosurgery department, without the formation of brain herniation preoperatively, all underwent neurosurgical intervention. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: the minimally invasive surgery (MIS) group, which received neuronavigation-assisted stereotactic drilling drainage, and the craniotomy haematoma removal surgery (CHRS) group. Patient characteristics, surgical anaesthesia methods, surgery duration, intraoperative bleeding volume, duration of ICU stay duration of hospital stay, complications, and modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores at 90 days posttreatment were compared between the two groups. Statistical analysis was performed on the collected data. A total of 67 patients were randomly assigned, with 33 (49.25%) in the MIS group and 34 (50.75%) in the CHRS group. Compared with the CHRS group, the MIS group had advantages, including the use of local anaesthesia, shorter surgery duration, less intraoperative bleeding, shorter ICU stay, and fewer complications ( P  < 0.05). The MIS group had a significantly improved patient prognosis at 90 days (mRS 0–3). However, there were no significant differences in hospital stay or 90-day survival rate between the two groups ( P  > 0.05). For elderly patients with massive ICH without brain herniation, stereotactic drilling drainage is a simple surgical procedure that can be performed under local anaesthesia. Patients treated with this approach seem to have better outcomes than those treated with craniotomy. In clinical practice, neuronavigation-assisted stereotactic drilling drainage is recommended for surgical treatment in elderly patients with massive ICH without brain herniation. Clinical trial registration number : NCT04686877

Background Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a common stroke type with high morbidity and mortality. There are mainly three surgical methods for treating ICH. Unfortunately, thus far, no specific surgical method has been proven to be the most effective. We carried out this study to investigate whether minimally invasive surgeries with endoscopic surgery or stereotactic aspiration (frameless navigated aspiration) will improve functional outcomes in patients with supratentorial ICH compared with small-bone flap craniotomy. Methods In this parallel-group multicenter randomized controlled trial conducted at 16 centers, patients with supratentorial hypertensive ICH were randomized to receive endoscopic surgery, stereotactic aspiration, or craniotomy at a 1:1:1 ratio from July 2016 to June 2022. The follow-up duration was 6 months. Patients were randomized to receive endoscopic evacuation, stereotactic aspiration, or small-bone flap craniotomy. The primary outcome was favorable functional outcome, defined as the proportion of patients who achieved a modified Rankin scale (mRS) score of 0–2 at the 6-month follow-up. Results A total of 733 patients were randomly allocated to three groups: 243 to the endoscopy group, 247 to the aspiration group, and 243 to the craniotomy group. Finally, 721 patients (239 in the endoscopy group, 246 in the aspiration group, and 236 in the craniotomy group) received treatment and were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Primary efficacy analysis revealed that 73 of 219 (33.3%) in the endoscopy group, 72 of 220 (32.7%) in the aspiration group, and 47 of 212 (22.2%) in the craniotomy group achieved favorable functional outcome at the 6-month follow-up ( P  = .017). We got similar results in subgroup analysis of deep hemorrhages, while in lobar hemorrhages the prognostic outcome was similar among three groups. Old age, deep hematoma location, large hematoma volume, low preoperative GCS score, craniotomy, and intracranial infection were associated with greater odds of unfavorable outcomes. The mean hospitalization expenses were ¥92,420 in the endoscopy group, ¥77,351 in the aspiration group, and ¥100,947 in the craniotomy group ( P  = .000). Conclusions Compared with small bone flap craniotomy, endoscopic surgery and stereotactic aspiration improved the long-term outcome of hypertensive ICH, especially deep hemorrhages. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02811614.

Hyperosmolar therapy, specifically the use of mannitol, has been employed to improve brain relaxation, but mannitol use may cause hypovolemia and electrolyte imbalance. Given these risks, hypertonic saline was introduced as an alternative; however, data on its efficacy and safety are limited. Researchers conducted a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Sixty-six patients with supratentorial or posterior fossa brain tumours undergoing craniotomy were randomized into two groups. Group M received 20% mannitol at 3 ml/kg, and Group H received 3% hypertonic saline at the same dose. These solutions were administered before dural opening. Two masked neurosurgeons immediately assessed the four-point brain relaxation score by direct visual and tactile evaluation after dural opening. Both groups showed no significant difference in brain relaxation scores ( p  = 0.543). There was no significant difference in haemodynamic change, fluid replacement, or serum osmolarity between groups; however, urine output was greater in the mannitol group ( p  = 0.003). Additionally, postoperative neurological outcomes and one-month mortality rates were similar. These findings suggest 3% hypertonic saline can be considered an alternative to mannitol for improving brain relaxation during craniotomy, as it is equally effective with less urine output.

Background Postoperative delirium is a frequent complication with negative consequences for neurosurgical patients. Recorded music has been shown to reduce the incidence of delirium, however its economic benefit remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the cost-effectiveness of perioperative music in preventing postoperative delirium. Methods This study used data from a randomized controlled trial (Clinical Trials.gov; NCT04649450) that compared the effect of perioperative music with standard of clinical care on the occurrence of postoperative delirium in patients undergoing craniotomy at the Erasmus Medical Centre. The primary outcome of this study is the cost-effectiveness of the music intervention. A trial-based cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) was conducted from a societal perspective. Mean costs were calculated using bootstrapping with 95% confidence intervals. Secondary outcomes included postoperative complications, mortality, cognitive functioning, and quality of life. Costs and patient outcomes were assessed separately for the initial hospital admission and long-term follow-up until 6 months after discharge. Results This study included 91 patients in the intervention group and 93 in the control group. On average, medical costs during initial admission were lower, albeit not statistically significant, in the music group compared to the control group (€ 11,819 vs. € 13,106), mostly due to a shorter length of stay. Total costs over the 6-month period were nearly identical between the groups, at € 18,587 and € 18,571 in the music and control group, respectively. Conclusions Pre-recorded perioperative music may be a cost-effective intervention for reducing postoperative delirium in neurosurgical patients, possibly by decreasing healthcare utilization and costs during primary admission. Further studies are needed to confirm its potential as a cost-effective intervention.

In patients older than 60 years of age with extensive middle-cerebral-artery strokes, early hemicraniectomy improved survival as compared with treatment in the ICU alone. The majority of survivors had substantial disability and required assistance with most bodily needs. Large space-occupying middle-cerebral-artery or hemispheric ischemic brain infarcts are associated with the development of massive brain edema, which may lead to herniation and early death. This condition, which has been described as malignant middle-cerebral-artery infarction, is associated with 80% mortality due to herniation during the first week, despite maximal conservative treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU), including osmotherapy, barbiturates, and hyperventilation. 1 – 8 Conservative therapies for ischemic brain edema are not supported by sufficient evidence from clinical trials. 9 , 10 Decompressive hemicraniectomy (temporary removal of a large part of the skull) combined with duraplasty allows edematous tissue to expand outside the . . .

The balance of risk and benefit from early neurosurgical intervention for conscious patients with superficial lobar intracerebral haemorrhage of 10–100 mL and no intraventricular haemorrhage admitted within 48 h of ictus is unclear. We therefore tested the hypothesis that early surgery compared with initial conservative treatment could improve outcome in these patients. In this international, parallel-group trial undertaken in 78 centres in 27 countries, we compared early surgical haematoma evacuation within 12 h of randomisation plus medical treatment with initial medical treatment alone (later evacuation was allowed if judged necessary). An automatic telephone and internet-based randomisation service was used to assign patients to surgery and initial conservative treatment in a 1:1 ratio. The trial was not masked. The primary outcome was a prognosis-based dichotomised (favourable or unfavourable) outcome of the 8 point Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE) obtained by questionnaires posted to patients at 6 months. Analysis was by intention to treat. This trial is registered, number ISRCTN22153967. 307 of 601 patients were randomly assigned to early surgery and 294 to initial conservative treatment; 298 and 291 were followed up at 6 months, respectively; and 297 and 286 were included in the analysis, respectively. 174 (59%) of 297 patients in the early surgery group had an unfavourable outcome versus 178 (62%) of 286 patients in the initial conservative treatment group (absolute difference 3·7% [95% CI −4·3 to 11·6], odds ratio 0·86 [0·62 to 1·20]; p=0·367). The STICH II results confirm that early surgery does not increase the rate of death or disability at 6 months and might have a small but clinically relevant survival advantage for patients with spontaneous superficial intracerebral haemorrhage without intraventricular haemorrhage. UK Medical Research Council.

To compare the effect of standard trauma craniectomy (STC) versus limited craniectomy (LC) on the outcome of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) with refractory intracranial hypertension, we conducted a study at five medical centers of 486 patients with severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤ 8) and refractory intracranial hypertension. In all 486 cases, refractory intracranial hypertension, caused by unilateral massive frontotemporoparietal contusion, intracerebral/subdural hematoma, and brain edema, was confirmed on a CT scan. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, one of which underwent STC (n = 241) with a unilateral frontotemporoparietal bone flap (12 × 15 cm), and the second of which underwent LC (n = 245) with a routine temporoparietal bone flap (6 × 8 cm). At 6-month follow-up, 96 patients (39.8%) in the STC group had a favorable outcome on the basis of the Glasgow Outcome Scale, including 62 patients who had a good recovery and 34 who showed moderate deficits. Another 145 patients (60.2%) in the STC group had an unfavorable outcome, including 73 with severe deficits, nine with persistent vegetative status, and 63 who died. By comparison, only 70 patients (28.6%) in the LC group had a favorable outcome, including 41 who had a good recovery and 29 who had moderate deficits. Another 175 patients(71.4%) in the LC group had an unfavorable outcome, including 82 with severe deficits, seven with persistent vegetative status, and 86 who died (p < 0.05). In addition to these findings, the incidence of delayed intracranial hematoma, incisional hernia, and CSF fistula was lower in the STC group than in the LC group (p < 0.05), although the incidence of acute encephalomyelocele, traumatic seizure, and intracranial infection was not significantly different in the two groups (p > 0.05). The results of the study indicate that STC significantly improves outcome in severe TBI with refractory intracranial hypertension resulting from unilateral frontotemporoparietal contusion with or without intracerebral or subdural hematoma. This suggests that STC, rather than LC, be recommended for such patients.

Abstract BACKGROUND Reoperation has been increasingly utilized as a metric evaluating quality of care. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the rate of, reasons for, and predictors of unplanned reoperation after craniotomy for tumor in a nationally accrued population. METHODS Patients who underwent cranial tumor resection were extracted from the prospective National Surgical Quality Improvement Program registry (2012-2014). Multivariate logistic regression examined predictors of unplanned cranial reoperation. Predictors screened included patient age, sex, tumor location and histology, functional status, comorbidities, preoperative laboratory values, operative urgency, and time. RESULTS Of the 11 462 patients included, 3.1% (n = 350) underwent an unplanned cranial reoperation. The most common reasons for cranial reoperation were intracranial hematoma evacuation (22.5%), superficial or intracranial surgical site infections (11.9%), re-resection of tumor (8.4%), decompressive craniectomy (6.1%), and repair of cerebrospinal fluid leakage (5.6%). The strongest predictor of any cranial reoperation was preoperative thrombocytopenia (less than 100 000/μL, odds ratio [OR] = 2.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23-5.10, P = .01). Thrombocytopenia, hypertension, emergent surgery, and longer operative time were predictors of reoperation for hematoma (P ≤ .004), while dependent functional status, morbid obesity, leukocytosis, and longer operative time were predictors of reoperation for infection (P < .05). Although any unplanned cranial reoperation was not associated with differential odds of mortality (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 0.94-3.00, P = .08), hematoma evacuation was significantly associated with thirty-day death (P = .04). CONCLUSION In this national analysis, unplanned cranial reoperation was primarily associated with operative indices, rather than preoperative characteristics, suggesting that reoperation may have some utility as a quality indicator. However, hypertension and thrombocytopenia were potentially modifiable predictors of reoperation.

•The scalp block reduces hemodynamic response to pin head holder application in infratentorial craniotomies.•The scalp block and local anesthetic infiltration both reduce hemodynamic response to skin incision.•The scalp block also reduces postcraniotomy pain intensity. The most painful stages of craniotomy are the placement of the pin head holder and the skin incision. The primary aim of the present study is to compare the effects of the scalp block and the local anesthetic infiltration with bupivacaine 0.5% on the hemodynamic response during the pin head holder application and the skin incision in infratentorial craniotomies. The secondary aims are the effects on pain scores and morphine consumption during the postoperative 24h. This prospective, randomized and placebo controlled study included forty seven patients (ASA I, II and III). The scalp block was performed in the Group S, the local anesthetic infiltration was performed in the Group I and the control group (Group C) only received remifentanil as an analgesic during the intraoperative period. The hemodynamic response to the pin head holder application and the skin incision, as well as postoperative pain intensity, cumulative morphine consumption and opioid related side effects were compared. The scalp block reduced the hemodynamic response to the pin head holder application and the skin incision in infratentorial craniotomies. The local anesthetic infiltration reduced the hemodynamic response to the skin incision. As well as both scalp block and local anesthetic infiltration reduced the cumulative morphine consumption in postoperative 24h. Moreover, the pain intensity was lower after scalp block in the early postoperative period. The scalp block may provide better analgesia in infratentorial craniotomies than local anesthetic infiltration.