PrImary decompressive Craniectomy in AneurySmal Subarachnoid hemOrrhage (PICASSO) trial: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with poor neurological outcome and high mortality. A major factor influencing morbidity and mortality is brain swelling in the acute phase. Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is currently used as an option in order to reduce intractably elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). However, execution and optimal timing of DC remain unclear. METHODS: PICASSO resembles a multicentric, prospective, 1:1 randomized standard treatment-controlled trial which analyzes whether primary DC (pDC) performed within 24 h combined with the best medical treatment in patients with poor-grade SAH reduces mortality and severe disability in comparison to best medical treatment alone and secondary craniectomy as ultima ratio therapy for elevated ICP. Consecutive patients presenting with poor-grade SAH, defined as grade 4–5 according to the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), will be screened for eligibility. Two hundred sixteen patients will be randomized to receive either pDC additional to best medical treatment or best medical treatment alone. The primary outcome is the clinical outcome according to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 12 months, which is dichotomized to favorable (mRS 0–4) and unfavorable (mRS 5–6). Secondary outcomes include morbidity and mortality, time to death, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay and hospital stay, quality of life, rate of secondary DC due to intractably elevated ICP, effect of size of DC on outcome, use of duraplasty, and complications of DC. DISCUSSION: This multicenter trial aims to generate the first confirmatory data in a controlled randomized fashion that pDC improves the outcome in a clinically relevant endpoint in poor-grade SAH patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: DRKS DRKS00017650. Registered on 09 June 2019. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-022-06969-4

The impact of the MIB-1 index on facial nerve outcomes in vestibular schwannoma surgery

Background!#!Facial nerve palsy is a severe morbid condition that occurs after vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery. The objective of this study was to evaluate facial nerve outcomes based on surgical techniques, tumour size, and immunohistochemical factors.!##!Methods!#!One hundred eighteen patients with VS were retrospectively analysed. Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 83 patients, and subtotal resection (STR) was achieved in 35 patients. Follow-up was 60 months (median). Facial nerve outcomes were assessed for 24 months after surgery. Analysis of the MIB-1 index was performed in 114 patients (97%) to evaluate recurrence and facial nerve outcomes.!##!Results!#!Immediately after surgery, 16 of 35 patients (45.7%) with STR and 21 of 83 patients (25.3%) with GTR had a good (House-Brackmann (HB) score ≤ 2) facial nerve outcome (p = 0.029). Semi-sitting positioning (p = 0.002) and tumour size class of 3 (> 4 cm) were also associated with worse HB outcomes after 2 years (p = 0.004) in univariate analyses. The MIB-1 index was significantly correlated with diffuse infiltration of tumour-associated CD45!##!Conclusions!#!An MIB-1 index ≥ 5% seems to predict worse long-term facial nerve outcomes in VS surgery

Primary decompressive craniectomy in poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: long-term outcome in a single-center study and systematic review of literature

Primary decompressive craniectomy (PDC) in patients with poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) in order to decrease elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) is controversially discussed. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of PDC on long-term clinical outcome in these patients in a single-center cohort and to perform a systematic review of literature. Eighty-seven consecutive poor-grade SAH patients (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grades IV and V) were analyzed between October 2012 and August 2017 at the author's institution. PDC was performed due to clinical signs of herniation or brain swelling according to the treating surgeon. Outcome was analyzed according to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Literature was systematically reviewed up to August 2019, and data of poor-grade aSAH patients who underwent PDC was extracted for statistical analyses. Of 87 patients with poor-grade aSAH in the single-center cohort, 38 underwent PDC and 49 did not. Favorable outcome at 2 years post-hemorrhage did not differ significantly between the two groups (26% versus 20%). Systematic literature review revealed 9 studies: Overall, a favorable outcome could be achieved in nearly half of the patients (49%), with an overall mortality of 24% (median follow-up 11 months). Despite a worse clinical status at presentation (significantly higher rate of mydriasis and additional ICH), poor-grade aSAH patients with PDC achieve favorable outcome in a significant number of patients. Therefore, treatment and PDC should not be omitted in this severely ill patient collective. Prospective controlled studies are warranted

Rapid closure technique in suboccipital decompression

Objective!#!Suboccipital decompression has been established as standard therapeutic procedure for raised intracranial pressure caused by mass-effect associated pathologies in posterior fossa. Several different surgical techniques of dural closure have been postulated to achieve safe decompression. The aim of this study was to examine the differences between fibrin sealant patch (FSP) and dural reconstruction (DR) in suboccipital decompression for acute mass-effect lesions.!##!Methods!#!We retrospectively analyzed our institutional data of patients who underwent suboccipital decompression due to spontaneous intracerebellar hemorrhage, cerebellar infarction and acute traumatic subdural hematoma between 2010 and 2019. Two different dural reconstruction techniques were performed according to the attending neurosurgeon: (1) fibrin sealant patch (FSP), and (2) dural reconstruction (DR) including the use of dural patch. Complications, operative time, functional outcome and the necessity of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VP Shunt) were assessed and further analyzed.!##!Results!#!Overall, 87 patients were treated at the authors' institution (44 in FSP group, 43 in DR group). Glasgow coma scale on admission and preoperative coagulation state did not differ between the groups. Postoperatively, we found no difference in cerebrospinal fluid leakage or chronic hydrocephalus between the groups (p = 0.47). Revision rates were 2.27% (1/44 patients) in the FSP group, compared to 16.27% (7/43) in the DR group (p < 0.023). Operative time was significantly shorter in the FSP group (90.3 ± 31.0 min vs. 199.0 ± 48.8 min, p < 0.0001).!##!Conclusion!#!Rapid closure technique in suboccipital decompression is feasible and safe. Operative time is hereby reduced, without increasing complication rates

Delayed Cerebral Ischemia after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: The Results of Induced Hypertension Only after the IMCVS Trial—A Prospective Cohort Study

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is a predictor of poor outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Treatment strategies vary and include induced hypertension and invasive endovascular treatment. After the IMCVS trial (NCT01400360), which failed to demonstrate a benefit of endovascular treatment for cerebral vasospasm (CVS) and resulted in a significantly worse outcome, we changed our treatment policy in patients with diagnosed CVS to induced hypertension only, and we present our prospective results in the subgroup of SAH patients meeting inclusion criteria of the IMCVS trial. All patients underwent screening for DIND when conscious and for CVS using CT-A/-P at day 6–8 after SAH. In the case of CVS, arterial hypertension was induced and continued until re-assessment. In total, 149 of 303 patients developed CVS. DCI developed in 35 patients (23.5%). In multivariate analyses, CVS was a predictor for the development of new infarctions. Poor admission status, re-bleeding before treatment, and DCI predicted poor outcome. The omittance of invasive endovascular rescue therapies in SAH patients with CVS, additional to induced hypertension, does not lead to a higher rate of DCI. Potential benefits of additional endovascular treatment for CVS need to be addressed in further studies searching for a subgroup of patients who may benefit

PrImary decompressive Craniectomy in AneurySmal Subarachnoid hemOrrhage (PICASSO) trial: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with poor neurological outcome and high mortality. A major factor influencing morbidity and mortality is brain swelling in the acute phase. Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is currently used as an option in order to reduce intractably elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). However, execution and optimal timing of DC remain unclear. Methods: PICASSO resembles a multicentric, prospective, 1:1 randomized standard treatment-controlled trial which analyzes whether primary DC (pDC) performed within 24 h combined with the best medical treatment in patients with poor-grade SAH reduces mortality and severe disability in comparison to best medical treatment alone and secondary craniectomy as ultima ratio therapy for elevated ICP. Consecutive patients presenting with poor-grade SAH, defined as grade 4-5 according to the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), will be screened for eligibility. Two hundred sixteen patients will be randomized to receive either pDC additional to best medical treatment or best medical treatment alone. The primary outcome is the clinical outcome according to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 12 months, which is dichotomized to favorable (mRS 0-4) and unfavorable (mRS 5-6). Secondary outcomes include morbidity and mortality, time to death, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay and hospital stay, quality of life, rate of secondary DC due to intractably elevated ICP, effect of size of DC on outcome, use of duraplasty, and complications of DC. Discussion: This multicenter trial aims to generate the first confirmatory data in a controlled randomized fashion that pDC improves the outcome in a clinically relevant endpoint in poor-grade SAH patients