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Biomedical subjects

C Michael Cawley

Publications and source records attributed to C Michael Cawley.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Recommendations for comprehensive stroke centers: a consensus statement from the Brain Attack Coalition.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To develop recommendations for the establishment of comprehensive stroke centers capable of delivering the full spectrum of care to seriously ill patients with stroke and cerebrovascular disease. Recommendations were developed by members of the Brain Attack Coalition (BAC), which is a multidisciplinary group of members from major professional organizations involved with the care of patients with stroke and cerebrovascular disease. SUMMARY OF REVIEW: A comprehensive literature search was conducted from 1966 through December 2004 using Medline and Pub Med. Articles with information about clinical trials, meta-analyses, care guidelines, scientific guidelines, and other relevant clinical and research reports were examined and graded using established evidence-based medicine approaches for therapeutic and diagnostic modalities. Evidence was also obtained from a questionnaire survey sent to leaders in cerebrovascular disease. Members of BAC reviewed literature related to their field and graded the scientific evidence on the various diagnostic and treatment modalities for stroke. Input was obtained from the organizations represented by BAC. BAC met on several occasions to review each specific recommendation and reach a consensus about its importance in light of other medical, logistical, and financial factors. CONCLUSIONS: There are a number of key areas supported by evidence-based medicine that are important for a comprehensive stroke center and its ability to deliver the wide variety of specialized care needed by patients with serious cerebrovascular disease. These areas include: (1) health care personnel with specific expertise in a number of disciplines, including neurosurgery and vascular neurology; (2) advanced neuroimaging capabilities such as MRI and various types of cerebral angiography; (3) surgical and endovascular techniques, including clipping and coiling of intracranial aneurysms, carotid endarterectomy, and intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy; and (4) other specific infrastructure and programmatic elements such as an intensive care unit and a stroke registry. Integration of these elements into a coordinated hospital-based program or system is likely to improve outcomes of patients with strokes and complex cerebrovascular disease who require the services of a comprehensive stroke center.

Academic Medical Centers↗

Arachnoid cyst with associated arachnoiditis developing after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Case report.

The authors report the case of a 53-year-old woman in whom a T1-T2 spinal arachnoid cyst with associated arachnoiditis developed, compressing the thoracic spinal cord 1 year after the patient had suffered a Hunt and Hess Grade IV subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Development of spinal arachnoiditis with or without an arachnoid cyst is a rare complication of aneurysmal SAH. Risk factors may include posterior circulation aneurysms, the extent and severity of the hemorrhage, and the need for cerebrospinal fluid diversion. Surgical drainage, shunt placement, or cyst excision, when possible, is the mainstay of treatment.

Aneurysm, Ruptured↗

Surgical management of complex intracranial aneurysms.

Despite the improvements in increasing popularity of endovascular therapy for intracranial aneurysms, there remain a large number of these lesions that currently are not amenable to endovascular therapy. As endovascular therapy becomes more popular, those aneurysms requiring surgical intervention will become increasingly complex. To manage these challenging lesions, neurosurgeons must use all available innovations and advances, including diagnostic, technical and perioperative adjuncts. In this review article, we discuss limitations of endovascular therapy, the populations of aneurysms that continue to require surgical treatment, the factors that make an aneurysm complex and the multiple adjuncts utilized to successfully treat these challenging lesions.

Cerebral Angiography↗

Neurosurgical management of intracranial aneurysms previously treated with endovascular therapy.

OBJECTIVE: With the increased use of endovascular therapy, an increasing number of patients with incompletely treated intracranial aneurysms are presenting for further surgical management. This study reviews our experiences with such patients. METHODS: During a 7-year period, 38 patients with 40 intracranial aneurysms who were initially treated with endovascular therapy underwent surgical obliteration of refractory or recurrent lesions. All patients were recorded in a prospective registry, and their clinical data and imaging studies were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Twenty-six anterior and 14 posterior circulation aneurysms were treated. Four aneurysms were on the cavernous internal carotid artery, 13 were on the distal internal carotid artery, 6 were on the anterior communicating artery complex, 2 were on the middle cerebral artery, 3 were on the posteroinferior cerebellar artery, 1 was at the vertebrobasilar junction, 3 were on the superior cerebellar artery, 4 were at the basilar apex, 2 were on the posterior cerebral artery, and 1 was on the distal vertebral artery. Two pseudoaneurysms-one on the petrocavernous segment of the internal carotid artery and one on the distal VA-also were treated. The median time until recurrence was 6 months. Thirty-one aneurysms were clip-ligated, and six were treated with trapping. Three extracranial-intracranial bypasses were performed. One aneurysm was treated with muslin wrapping. Two aneurysms required the use of surgical approaches that involved hypothermic circulatory arrest. Nine aneurysms required coil mass extraction and/or complex vascular reconstruction to complete lesion obliteration. All aneurysms except the single wrapped aneurysm were successfully excluded from the intracranial circulation. Two deaths occurred as a result of the operative procedures, and another patient died as a result of subarachnoid hemorrhage-induced massive myocardial infarction. Ultimately, 86.8% of patients achieved an excellent or good recovery. CONCLUSION: With endovascular therapy assuming an increasing role in the treatment of patients with intracranial aneurysms, more lesions that are refractory to initial treatment will require surgical management. Our experience indicates that good results are attainable, although technical challenges are frequently encountered.

Adolescent↗

Evolution of the management of tentorial dural arteriovenous malformations.

OBJECTIVE: Tentorial dural arteriovenous malformations (DAVMs) are uncommon lesions associated with an aggressive natural history. Controversy exists regarding their optimal treatment. We present a single-institution series of tentorial DAVMs treated during a 12-year period, address the current controversies, and present the rationale for our current therapeutic strategy. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with tentorial DAVMs were treated between 1988 and 2000. Treatment consisted of transarterial or transvenous embolization, surgical resection, disconnection of venous drainage, or a combination of these therapies. The clinical presentations, radiological features, treatment strategies, and results were studied. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (82%) presented with intracranial hemorrhage or progressive neurological deficits. Retrograde leptomeningeal venous drainage was documented in 22 cases (100%), classifying the lesions as Borden Type III. Angiographic follow-up monitoring was performed for 0 to 120 months and clinical follow-up monitoring for 1 to 120 months. Posttreatment angiography demonstrated obliteration in 22 cases (100%). Two patients experienced neurological decline after endovascular treatment and died. All of the 20 surviving patients exhibited clinical improvement; there were no episodes of rehemorrhage or new neurological deficits. Outcomes were excellent in 17 cases (77%), good in 2 cases (9%), and fair in 1 case (5%), and there were 2 deaths (9%). CONCLUSION: Tentorial DAVMs are aggressive lesions that require prompt total angiographic obliteration. Disconnection of the venous drainage from the fistula may be accomplished with transarterial embolization to the venous side, transvenous embolization, or surgical disconnection of the fistula. We think that extensive nidal resections carry more risk and are unnecessary. We do not think there is a role for stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of these lesions.

Adult↗

Intracerebral hemorrhage secondary to vascular lesions.

The article reviews intracerebral hemorrhage caused by vascular malformations. The article also reviews incidence, prevalence, and distribution of parenchymal hemorrhage caused by aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and cavernous malformations are defined, and less common vascular lesions. There is a discussion of the role of cerebral vascular malformations in producing cerebral hemorrhage in young adults abusing illicit drugs.

Brain↗

Intraoperative angiography during aneurysm surgery: a prospective evaluation of efficacy.

OBJECT: Indications for intraoperative angiography during aneurysm surgery remain unclear. To define its use, the authors report the results of a prospective study in which this modality was used in all patients undergoing surgery for intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: Intraoperative angiography was performed prospectively in the surgical treatment of 517 consecutive aneurysms regardless of the lesion's location, size, or complexity. In 64 (12.4%) of 517 aneurysms intraoperative angiography findings prompted a change in surgical treatment. Residual aneurysm (47%) was the most frequent finding leading to clip revision. In 44% of cases, intraoperative angiography revealed vessel compromise. Surgery for aneurysms of the proximal internal carotid artery (ICA) was the most frequently altered, with lesions located at the superior hypophyseal artery (SHA) and clinoidal region having the highest revision rates, eight (40%) of 20 and eight (44%) of 18, respectively. Aneurysm size predicted the need for revision; giant aneurysms (> 24 mm) underwent revision in nine (29%) of 31 cases, whereas large aneurysms (15-24 mm) were revised in 12 (22%) of 54 cases. In a multivariate logistic regression model, factors related to increased revision rates included the SHA and clinoidal locations, as well as giant and large size. Ninety-five patients underwent both intraoperative and postoperative angiography. Five discrepancies were noted (95% accuracy); four were flow-related and one involved a previously unrecognized residual aneurysm. Complications attributable to intraoperative angiography occurred in 0.4% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Proximal ICA location and large aneurysm size significantly predicted revision of surgery following intraoperative angiography. Unexpected findings, even in less complex locations, are frequently identified on intraoperative angiography. Low complication rates, high accuracy, and the unexpected need for clip readjustments favor a more widespread use of intraoperative angiography.

Adolescent↗