Articles related to Surgery, Neurologic

Exablate Neuro from Insightec targets and removes a tiny part of the globus pallidus using precision MRI-guided focused ultrasound. This reduces activity and motor symptoms like tremor and stiffness. During the procedure, patients are awake, allowing doctors to detect immediate effects and adjust as needed. There is no need for anesthesia or a hospital stay following the procedure. Exablate Neuro, unlike deep brain stimulation, does not require any surgical incisions or brain implants. Additionally, the technique reduces the risk of serious infection or brain bleeding.

Patients who survive severe intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) typically have poor functional outcome in the short term and understanding of future recovery has been limited. These findings indicate that hospital events significantly influenced long-term functional recovery after ICH and IVH, suggesting that aggressive ICH and IVH resolution and prevention of systemic complications and cerebral ischemic injury may promote better outcomes among patients with ICH and IVH with high clinical severity.

To date, no Cdk5 inhibitor has been approved to treat any neuropsychiatric or degenerative diseases due to challenges at the blood-brain barrier. James Bibb, Ph.D., and colleagues seek to change that notion with their brain-permeable compound, 25-106.

In an editorial published in KevinMD.com, a neurosurgeon discusses the myriad reasons she chooses to stay in clinical practice when many of her colleagues are leaving. The reasons range from job satisfaction from treating patients to family and financial considerations.

Improvements in brain imaging and a deeper understanding of the natural history of acute cerebral ischemia are erasing the concept of “transient ischemic attack” (TIA). The better imaging is revealing that symptomatic ischemic attacks – even those with quite transient signs and symptoms – leave residual damage to the brain.

The CDC has released updated guidelines for prescribing opioids. The newest guidelines focus on patient-centered decisions and reduce some limitations on prescribing that were put in place back in 2016. The updated guidance recognizes the ongoing increase in opioid-related deaths, but seeks to give physicians and patients more direction in managing individual therapy.