Neurosurgery Commons^™

Needs Of Young African Neurosurgeons And Residents: A Cross-Sectional Study, Ulrick S. Kanmounye, Faith C. Robertson, Nqobile S. Thango, Alvin Nah Doe, Nourou Dine Adeniran Bankole, Pape Aicha Ginette, Solomon Ondoma, James A. Balogun, Beverly Cheserem, Mahmood Qureshi

General Surgery, East Africa

Introduction: Africa has many untreated neurosurgical cases due to limited access to safe, affordable, and timely care. In this study, we surveyed young African neurosurgeons and trainees to identify challenges to training and practice.

Methods: African trainees and residents were surveyed online by the Young Neurosurgeons Forum from April 25th to November 30th, 2018. The survey link was distributed via social media platforms and through professional society mailing lists. Univariate and bivariate data analyses were run and a P-value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results: 112 respondents from 20 countries participated in this study. 98 (87.5%) were male, 63 (56.3%) were from sub-Saharan Africa, …

Tranexamic Acid To Reduce Head Injury Death In People With Traumatic Brain Injury: The Crash-3 International Rct, Ian Roberts, Haleema Shakur-Still, Amy Aeron-Thoma, Danielle Beaumont, Antonio Belli, Amy Brenner, Madeleine Cargill, Rizwana Chaudhri, Nicolas Douglas, Rashid Jooma

Section of Neurosurgery

Background: Tranexamic acid safely reduces mortality in traumatic extracranial bleeding. Intracranial bleeding is common after traumatic brain injury and can cause brain herniation and death. We assessed the effects of tranexamic acid in traumatic brain injury patients.
Objective: To assess the effects of tranexamic acid on death, disability and vascular occlusive events in traumatic brain injury patients. We also assessed cost-effectiveness.
Design: Randomised trial and economic evaluation. Patients were assigned by selecting a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight packs that were identical apart from the pack number. Patients, caregivers and those assessing outcomes were masked to allocation. …

Surgical Education And Training, Ather Enam, Hammad Ather, Nadeem Ahmed Siddiqui

Section of Neurosurgery

No abstract provided.

Adaptive Physics-Based Non-Rigid Registration For Immersive Image-Guided Neuronavigation Systems, Fotis Drakopoulos, Christos Tsolakis, Angelos Angelopoulos, Yixun Liu, Chengjun Yao, Kyriaki Rafailia Kavazidi, Nikolaos Foroglou, Andrey Fedorov, Sarah Frisken, Ron Kikinis, Alexandra Golby, Nikos Chrisochoides

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Objective: In image-guided neurosurgery, co-registered preoperative anatomical, functional, and diffusion tensor imaging can be used to facilitate a safe resection of brain tumors in eloquent areas of the brain. However, the brain deforms during surgery, particularly in the presence of tumor resection. Non-Rigid Registration (NRR) of the preoperative image data can be used to create a registered image that captures the deformation in the intraoperative image while maintaining the quality of the preoperative image. Using clinical data, this paper reports the results of a comparison of the accuracy and performance among several non-rigid registration methods for handling brain deformation. A …

Standardizing Postoperative Handoffs Using The Evidence-Based Ipass Framework Improves Handoff Communication For Postoperative Neurosurgical Patients In The Neuro-Intensive Care Unit, Richard F. Schmidt, Md, Matthew D. Vibbert, Md, Coleen A. Vernick, Do, Andrew M. Mendelson, Do, Caitlin Harley, Msn, Giuliana Labella, Msn, Jessica Houser, Bsn, Patrick Becher, Bsn, Erin Simko, Bsn, Pascal M. Jabbour, Md, Stavropoula I. Tjoumakaris, Md, M. Reid Gooch, Md, Ashwini D. Sharan, Md, Christopher J. Farrell, Md, James S. Harrop, Md, Robert H. Rosenwasswer, Md, Rebecca C. Jaffe, Md, Jack Jallo, Md

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Aims for Improvement

Within one year of initiation of the process improvement plan, we wanted to improve:

• Direct communication of airway and hemodynamic concerns
• Direct communication of operative events, complications, and perioperative management goals.
• Attendance at postoperative handoffs
• Confirmation of information by receiving teams
• Staff perceptions of handoff efficacy and teamwork.

Covid-19: Launching Neurosurgery Into The Era Of Telehealth In The United States, Christina Huang Wright, James Wright, Berje Shammassian

Faculty Scholarship

The authors discuss the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of telehealth in the United States.

Coronavirus Neurosurgical/Head And Neck Drape To Prevent Aerosolization Of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19): The Lenox Hill Hospital/Northwell Health Solution, R. S. D'Amico, D. Khatri, K. Kwan, G. Baum, Y. Serulle, D. Silva, M. L. Smith, J. A. Ellis, M. Levine, R. Ortiz, D. J. Langer, J. A. Boockvar

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Endovascular Coiling Versus Neurosurgical Clipping For Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Syed Ijlal Ahmed, Gohar Javed, Syeda Beenish Bareeqa, Syeda Sana Samar, Ali Shah, Arwa Giani, Zainab Azam, Abeer Tasleem, Syed Hasham Humayun

Section of Neurosurgery

Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is a frequently devastating condition with a reported incidence of between 10 and 15 people per 100,000 in the United States. Currently, according to the best of our knowledge, there are not enough meta-analyses available in the medical literature of the last five years which compare the risks and benefits of endovascular coiling with neurosurgical clipping.
Methods: Twenty-two studies were selected out of the short-listed studies. The studies were selected on the basis of relevance to the topic, sample size, sampling technique, and randomization. Data were analyzed on Revman software.
Results: Mortality was found to be …

Robotics In Neurosurgery: A Literature Review, Syed Ijlal Ahmed, Gohar Javed, Bakhtawar Mubeen, Syeda Beenish Bareeqa, Hiba Rasheed, Alizay Rehman, Masroor Mubeen Phulpoto, Syeda Sana Samar, Kashif Aziz

Section of Neurosurgery

Robotic surgery has been the forte of minimally invasive stereo-tactic procedures for some decades now. Ongoing advancements and evolutionary developments require substantial evidence to build the consensus about its efficacy in the field of neurosurgery. Main obstacle in obtaining successful results in neurosurgery is fine neural structures and other anatomical limitations. Currently, human rationalisation and robotic precision works in symbiosis to provide improved results. We reviewed the current data about recent interventions. Robots are capable of providing virtual data, superior spatial resolution and geometric accuracy, superior dexterity, faster manoeuvring and non-fatigability with steady motion. Robotic surgery also allows simulation of …

Delayed Spinal Cord Infarction Following Anterior Cervical Surgical Decompression, Muhammad Faheem Khan, Rashid Jooma, Fauzan Alam Hashmi, Muhammad Faraz Raghib

Section of Neurosurgery

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for cord compression is a safe and effective procedure with good outcomes. However, worsening of myelopathy is the most feared adverse event of the surgery. We report the case of a 36-year-old male patient who presented with an acute non-traumatic C5-6 cervical disc herniation causing incomplete quadriparesis. He underwent an uncomplicated ACDF at C5-6, and after an initial period of improvement, he developed a delayed onset of an anterior cord syndrome on day 3, without any discerning cause. We have reviewed similar cases reported in the literature and believe that our patient's postsurgical course …

Unmet Need For Surgery In South Asia, Sanjay Nagral, Maharra Hussain, Sarder A. Nayeem, Ranjan Dias, S. Ather Enam, Samiran Nundy

Section of Neurosurgery

No abstract provided.

Neurorobotics In Pakistan, Ather Enam, Muhammad Waqas

Section of Neurosurgery

No abstract provided.

Providing Care Beyond The Hospital: Perspective Of A Tertiary Care Hospital From A Developing Country, Saad Akhtar, Muhammad Waqas, Badar Uddin Ujjan, Adnan Salim, Gohar Javed, Syed Ijlal Ahmed, Malikah Surani, Marium Khan

Section of Neurosurgery

Background: Neurorehabilitation is an important aspect of continuing care for neurosurgical patients with functional disability. In developing countries, where formal home nursing frequently is unavailable, ensuring care after discharge is a difficult task. Training attendants to provide nursing care is an alternate option. In this study, we compared the outcomes of patients nursed by family members versus those looked after by a professional nurse.
Methods: This was a retrospective observational study conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi. The study consisted of 2 groups. Group 1 (consisting of patients cared for by a professional nurse) included 94 patients and …

A Critical Analysis Of The Current State Of Neurosurgery Training In Pakistan, Muhammad Shahzad Shamim, Muhammad Zubair Tahir, Saniya Siraj Godil, Rajesh Kumar, Arshad Ali Siddiqui

Section of Neurosurgery

Objective: To observe interdepartmental variation in the availability of resources and academic activities within the various neurosurgery programs of Pakistan.
Methods: This was a proforma-based survey of neurosurgery trainees and young neurosurgeons of Pakistan, looking at the academic infrastructure and output of their programs. The proforma was filled by 36 respondents from 11 neurosurgery centers of the country. All these centers were accredited for neurosurgery training in Pakistan.
Results: Out of the 36 respondents, 30 were completing a Fellowship training (FCPS) and six were enrolled for a Master in Surgery (MS) program. About 80% of the participants used the Youman's …

Fuzzy Logic: A “Simple” Solution For Complexities In Neurosciences?, Saniya Siraj Godil, Muhammad Shahzad Shamim, Ather Enam, Uvais Qidwai

Medical College Documents

Background: Fuzzy logic is a multi-valued logic which is similar to human thinking and interpretation. It has the potential of combining human heuristics into computer-assisted decision making, which is applicable to individual patients as it takes into account all the factors and complexities of individuals. Fuzzy logic has been applied in all disciplines of medicine in some form and recently its applicability in neurosciences has also gained momentum.
Methods: This review focuses on the use of this concept in various branches of neurosciences including basic neuroscience, neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry and psychology.
Results: The applicability of fuzzy logic is not limited …

Intradiploic Epidermoid Cyst Overlying The Torcula: A Surgical Challenge, Amad Naseer Khan, Salema Khalid, Ather Enam

Medical College Documents

Intradiploic tumours are rare, slow growing tumours that can present in many different ways, including a painless lump, tenderness, headache and rarely with focal neurological signs. The authors present the case of a gentleman in whom the tumour presented in an unusual location and presented a surgical challenge. The major take home message from this case report is that an epidermoid cyst overlying the torcula is to be approached with great caution and care and is without doubt a surgical challenge.

Research-Retreat-Recovery: A Potential Model For Organization And Completion Of Research Projects. Experience From A Neurosurgery Department In A Developing Country, Saniya Siraj Godil, Syed Faraz Kazim, Muhammad Shahzad Shamim

Medical College Documents

Background: In the current era of biomedical research, it is imperative that every research study at an institution is properly organized, and frequently audited to streamline efforts and maintain standards. Recently, a research retreat was organized by the Section of Neurosurgery at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, and following that a recovery team was made with the aim of recovering "lost in translation" research projects. In the realm of our experience, the current model is being proposed as a means for organization of departmental research.
Methods: The "research" component of the model comprised compilation of an abstract book of …

Role Of Neurosurgery In The Management Of Stroke, Gohar Javed, Muhammad Zubair Tahir, Ather Enam

Section of Neurosurgery

Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide. The aim of treatment in stroke patients is to prevent further neurologic deterioration and prevent recurrence. Despite all advances in medical treatment, morbidity and mortality in stroke patients is still very high. The other alternative is surgical treatment, which still lacks class 1 evidence. However there is recent reconsideration of this form of treatment and ongoing trials are showing some promising results. In this review the recent advances in surgical treatment of stroke will be discussed along with recommendations from the latest randomized trials.

Re: Various Irrigation Fluids Affect Postoperative Brain Edema And Cellular Damage During Experimental Neurosurgery In Rats, Syed Faraz Kazim, Ather Enam

Section of Neurosurgery

No abstract provided.

History Of Epilepsy Surgery, Ather Enam

Section of Neurosurgery

No abstract provided.