Intravenous and Oral Tranexamic Acid are Equivalent at Reducing Blood Loss in Thoracolumbar Spinal Fusion: A Prospective Randomized Trial Phase 2

Intravenous and oral tranexamic acid are equivalent at reducing blood loss in thoracolumbar spinal fusion: a prospective randomized trial. Discussion and Conclusion: Patients treated with IV and PO TXA experienced the same perioperative blood loss after spinal fusions. Given its lower cost, PO TXA represents an excellent alternative to IV TXA in patients undergoing elective posterior thoracolumbar fusion and may improve healthcare cost-efficiency in the studied population. Results: 91 patients received IV TXA and 80 patients received PO TXA. Patient demographic factors were similar between groups except for Age, Weight, and BMI. The mean reduction of hemoglobin was similar between IV and PO groups (3.48 g/dL vs. 3.19 g/dL, respectively; P = 0.004, equivalence). Similarly, the calculated blood loss was equivalent (1274 mL vs. 1206 mL, respectively; P = 0.001 equivalence). In addition, higher ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) level and longer surgical time were associated with more hemoglobin reduction (P = 0.01 and P \u3c 0.001, respectively) and blood loss (P \u3c 0.01 and P \u3c 0.001, respectively). Methods: A prospective randomized trial of patients enrolled at a university affiliated tertiary medical center between February 2017 and October 2018. 171 patients undergoing thoracolumbar fusion were randomized to receive 1.95g of PO TXA 2 hours preoperatively or 2g IV TXA (1g before incision and 1g before wound closure) intraoperatively. The sample was further stratified into 3 categories based on number of levels fused (1-2 level fusions, 3-5, and \u3e5). The primary outcome was the reduction of hemoglobin. Secondary outcomes included calculated blood loss, drain output, postoperative transfusion, complications, and length of hospital stay. Equivalence analysis was performed with a two one-sided test (TOST). A P-value of \u3c0.05 suggested equivalence between treatments.Introduction: The use of antifibrinolytic agents such as tranexamic acid (TXA) to decrease operative blood loss and allogenic blood transfusions is well documented in the literature. While evidence supports the use of intravenous (IV) and topical formulations of TXA in spine surgery, the use of oral (PO) TXA has not been studied. The objective of the study is to compare perioperative blood loss in patients undergoing elective posterior thoracolumbar fusion who were treated with IV versus PO TXA.https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/merf2019clinres/1041/thumbnail.jp

Staged Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for the Surgical Treatment of Insular Glioma: a Case Series

Staged Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for the Surgical Treatment of Insular Glioma: a Case Series Introduction Insular gliomas pose one of the most significant challenges in neurosurgical oncology due to the complexity of the surrounding functional and microvascular anatomy. Despite current surgical and technological advancements, resection of insular gliomas can lead to potentially severe neurological morbidities. Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT), either alone or combined with surgery, presents a less invasive cytoreductive approach for treating insular gliomas. Objective In this work we describe the first-ever reported series of patients with insular gliomas treated with staged LITT operations with or without subsequent craniotomy. Methods We reviewed a retrospective institutional database to identify patients with insular glioma who underwent staged LITT operations with or without subsequent craniotomy. From the compiled list of 11 patients, we obtained clinical, histopathological and volumetric lesion characteristics for each patient. Procedural characteristics, morbidity, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were further assessed. Results From the 11 insular glioma patients included in this study the average age was 42 (SD = 12.5 years) with 8 (73%) patients that had left sided tumors and 6 (55%) patients had high grade insular gliomas. A total of 26 surgical procedures were performed with 21 ablations and 5 ablations that were followed by subsequent craniotomy. With regards to operative outcomes, the median tumor volume (cc) of our patient group was 31.5 (9.58-97) and the extent of tumor resection with laser ablation was on average 96.2% (SD = 8.5). Assessing post-operative morbidities, our group found OS to be 15.7 months (SD=10.3) and PFS to be 11.7 months (SD=7.5). Of the 21 ablation-only procedures performed, in the peri-operative period (3-5 days) neurological deficits were found in 9 (43%) post-ablation cases however there were 0 post-ablation cases with neurological deficits in the long-term (\u3e3months). Of the 5 procedures where laser ablation was followed with subsequent craniotomy, neurological deficits were found in the peri-operative period in all 5 post-resection cases (100%) and there were neurological deficits in the long-term period found in 2 of them (40%). Conclusions We present the first ever reported series of insular gliomas treated with staged LITT operations. Through conducting this study our group found that staged treatment of insular gliomas with LITT is safe, effective and a minimally invasive option that avoids the potentially severe neurological compromises associated with conventional surgical resection approaches. Usage of stages of LITT to directly target high-risk insular glioma regions presents a novel treatment approach that may facilitate the maximal safe treatment of these otherwise significantly surgically challenging lesions

Reducing Superfluous Opioid Prescribing Practices After Brain Surgery: It Is Time to Talk About Drugs

BACKGROUND: Opioids are prescribed routinely after cranial surgery despite a paucity of evidence regarding the optimal quantity needed. Overprescribing may adversely contribute to opioid abuse, chronic use, and diversion. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a system-wide campaign to reduce opioid prescribing excess while maintaining adequate analgesia. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing a craniotomy for tumor resection with home disposition before and after a 2-mo educational intervention was completed. The educational initiative was composed of directed didactic seminars targeting senior staff, residents, and advanced practice providers. Opioid prescribing patterns were then assessed for patients discharged before and after the intervention period. RESULTS: A total of 203 patients were discharged home following a craniotomy for tumor resection during the study period: 98 who underwent surgery prior to the educational interventions compared to 105 patients treated post-intervention. Following a 2-mo educational period, the quantity of opioids prescribed decreased by 52% (median morphine milligram equivalent per day [interquartile range], 32.1 [16.1, 64.3] vs 15.4 [0, 32.9], P \u3c .001). Refill requests also decreased by 56% (17% vs 8%, P = .027) despite both groups having similar baseline characteristics. There was no increase in pain scores at outpatient follow-up (1.23 vs 0.85, P = .105). CONCLUSION: A dramatic reduction in opioids prescribed was achieved without affecting refill requests, patient satisfaction, or perceived analgesia. The use of targeted didactic education to safely improve opioid prescribing following intracranial surgery uniquely highlights the ability of simple, evidence-based interventions to impact clinical decision making, lessen potential patient harm, and address national public health concerns

A Matched Cohort Analysis of Drain Usage in Elective Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC) Study

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective, cohort analysis of multi-institutional database. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to analyze the impact of drain use following elective anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgeries. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: After ACDF, a drain is often placed to prevent postoperative hematoma. However, there has been no high quality evidence to support its use with ACDF despite the theoretical benefits and risks of drain placement. METHODS: The Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative database was queried to identify all patients undergoing elective ACDF between February 2014 and October 2019. Cases were divided into two cohorts based on drain use. Propensity-score matching was utilized to adjust for inherent differences between the two cohorts. Measured outcomes included surgical site hematoma, length of stay, surgical site infection, dysphagia, home discharge, readmission within 30 days, and unplanned reoperation. RESULTS: We identified 7943 patients during the study period. Propensity-score matching yielded 3206 pairs. On univariate analysis of matched cohorts, there were no differences in rate of postoperative hematoma requiring either return to OR or readmission. We noted patients with drains had a higher rate of dysphagia (4.6% vs. 6.3%; P = 0.003) and had longer hospital stay (P \u3c 0.001). On multivariate analysis, drain use was associated with significantly increased length of stay (relative risk 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-1.34; P \u3c 0.001). There were no significant differences in other outcomes measured. CONCLUSION: Our analysis demonstrated that drain use is associated with significant longer hospital stay.Level of Evidence: 3

Detection of diagnostic and prognostic methylation-based signatures in liquid biopsy specimens from patients with meningiomas

Recurrence of meningiomas is unpredictable by current invasive methods based on surgically removed specimens. Identification of patients likely to recur using noninvasive approaches could inform treatment strategy, whether intervention or monitoring. In this study, we analyze the DNA methylation levels in blood (serum and plasma) and tissue samples from 155 meningioma patients, compared to other central nervous system tumor and non-tumor entities. We discover DNA methylation markers unique to meningiomas and use artificial intelligence to create accurate and universal models for identifying and predicting meningioma recurrence, using either blood or tissue samples. Here we show that liquid biopsy is a potential noninvasive and reliable tool for diagnosing and predicting outcomes in meningioma patients. This approach can improve personalized management strategies for these patients

Giant Choroid Plexus Papilloma Resection Utilizing a Transcollation System

BACKGROUND: Large vascular brain tumors pose an exceptional challenge in young children. Choroid plexus papilloma (CPP) is an example of a rare, often large and especially vascular neuroepithelial tumor that most commonly arises in children under 5 yr old. Although patients may be cured by total resection, this tumor poses significant surgical risks and challenges related to intraoperative hemostasis. OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience using a transcollation system during brain tumor surgery in a child to achieve hemostasis and minimize blood loss while preserving normal brain tissue. METHODS: A 3-yr-old girl presented following a fall and was found to have a giant CPP growing from the right lateral ventricle. Given the vascularity of the tumor and the low intravascular reserve in a small child, a transcollation device was used to reduce blood loss intraoperatively. RESULTS: Gross total resection was achieved with approximately 300 mL of blood loss without complications. The patient did well postoperatively. Imaging performed at 3 mo after resection revealed return of normal brain architecture. CONCLUSION: Transcollation devices appear to be an effective and safe addition to the armamentarium of neurosurgical hemostatic options in intracranial tumor resection in which there is a high risk of intraoperative hemorrhage

Antidepressant Pharmacotherapy and Poststroke Motor Rehabilitation: A Review of Neurophysiologic Mechanisms and Clinical Relevance

According to the National Stroke Association, stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in the United States, where it is estimated that about 795,000 strokes occur on an annual basis. Minimizing the disability burden of a stroke routinely involves behavioral therapies such as physical and occupational therapy, as well as pharmacologic interventions. The positive effect of antidepressants on functional outcomes for patients with poststroke depression is well known and practiced. In the past 15 years, a growing body of evidence has demonstrated that antidepressant pharmacotherapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors specifically have a role in the functional recovery from strokes even in the nondepressed population. The mechanisms by which antidepressants improve motor recovery following stroke are multifactorial, but it is clear that the process involves augmentation of cerebral blood flow, cortical excitation, and potentiation of neural growth factors all resulting in enhancement of neurogeneration. This review will examine the existing evidence and mechanisms behind antidepressant use for motor recovery in stroke patients and discuss the major human clinical trials that have been conducted surrounding this topic. The evidence clearly suggests that antidepressants have a positive impact on poststroke functional recovery regardless of the presence of depression, and although large-scale randomized, controlled trials are still ongoing, antidepressants are emerging as a promising pharmaceutical means of actively lessening the burden of disability following stroke

Developing Real-world Evidence-Ready Datasets: Time for Clinician Engagement

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Real-world data (RWD) applications in healthcare that support learning health systems and pragmatic clinical trials are gaining momentum, largely due to legislation supporting real-world evidence (RWE) for drug approvals. Clinical notes are thought to be the cornerstone of RWD applications, particularly for conditions with limited effective treatments, extrapolation of treatments from other conditions, or heterogenous disease biology and clinical phenotypes. RECENT FINDINGS: Here, we discuss current issues in applying RWD captured at the point-of-care and provide a framework for clinicians to engage in RWD collection. To achieve clinically meaningful results, RWD must be reliably captured using consistent terminology in the description of our patients. RWD complements traditional clinical trials and research by informing the generalizability of results, generating new hypotheses, and creating a large data network for scientific discovery. Effective clinician engagement in the development of RWD applications is necessary for continued progress in the field

Enterovirus-Induced Severe Rhabdomyolysis and Acute Fulminant Liver Failure in an Immunocompetent Adult Requiring Liver Transplantation: A Case Report

The authors report a case of a young healthy adult with severe rhabdomyolysis and acute fulminant liver failure with multiple organ dysfunction syndromes (MODS), possibly from an enterovirus infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first-ever reported case of enterovirus-induced rhabdomyolysis and acute liver failure (ALF) in an immunocompetent adult. It is vital that the treating physician be aware of the association between viral infections, viral myositis, and severe rhabdomyolysis with acute liver failure, which can facilitate the optimal management of such patients. Prompt recognition may provide an opportunity for early interventions, including intravenous immunoglobulin and liver transplantation, if warranted

Facet Sparing Foraminal Decompression Using the Flexible Shaver Foraminotomy System: Nerve Safety, Pain Relief, and Patient Satisfaction.

Background: A number of surgical options exist for decompressing lumbar foraminal stenosis. Flexible shaver foraminotomy is a recent addition to this armamentarium. While the foraminotomy device has been incorporated into clinical practice, the literature on its safety and efficacy remain limited. We aimed to evaluate nerve safety, pain relief, and patient satisfaction in a series of patients treated with the iO-Flex shaver system (Amendia, Inc., Marietta, Georgia). Methods: Thirty-one consecutive patients with lumbar foraminal stenosis underwent foraminal decompression using the flexible microblade shaver system at 62 neuroforamina. The shavers were inserted into each foramen using an open hemilaminotomy and fluoroscopic guidance. Nerve mapping via mechanomyography (MMG) was used to ensure nerve safety. Perioperative charts were reviewed to find the incidence of neurologic complications and to quantify pain relief. Average office-based follow-up was 5.3 months. A 3-item questionnaire was administered to assess patient satisfaction during late follow-up, which occurred at an average of 21 months. Results: No planned iO-Flex foraminotomies were aborted. Neurologic complications included transient dysesthetic pain in 1 patient (3.2%, Conclusions: Decompression of lumbar foramina using the flexible shaver system and MMG nerve mapping is safe and effective, although the short-term sensory complication with this technique may be higher than previously reported. Patient satisfaction with iO-Flex foraminotomy is comparable to reported satisfaction outcomes for traditional lumbar decompression. Level of Evidence: 4