Chronic subdural hematoma recurrence due to contralateral neovascularization following middle meningeal artery embolization

Introduction Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is one of the most commonly encountered neurosurgical diseases. Middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) is a technique for the management of CSDH that has elicited promising results. Despite the encouraging results of MMAE, recurrence does occur. One uncommon mechanism for recurrence of CSDH is by means of neovascularization of the contralateral middle meningeal artery (MMA). We describe two cases of CSDH recurrence by means of contralateral middle meningeal artery neovascularization treated with contralateral MMAE. Methods We identified two cases of recurrent subdural hematoma secondary to neovascularization following treatment with contralateral MMAE. Results Two patients initially treated with MMAE were identified with CSDH recurrence secondary to contralateral MMA neovascularization. There was no traumatic or coagulopathic contribution to CSDH recurrence. In both cases, patients underwent contralateral MMAE. Both patients were neurologically intact with radiographic improvement of CSDH at follow up. Conclusions Re-accumulation of SDH following MMAE by means of contralateral MMA neovascularization is a rare subtype of subdural hematoma (SDH) recurrence following MMAE. Within the context of re-accumulation of SDH following MMAE, catheter angiography is an important diagnostic investigation to elucidate the etiology of the recurrence. Furthermore, when angiography reveals neovascularization of the contralateral MMA, embolization of the contralateral MMA achieves good clinical and radiographic result.

A rare case of an expansile spinopelvic aneurysmal bone cyst managed with embolization, excision, and fusion

Background: Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABC) are benign osteolytic lesions of the metaphyseal regions of long bones that typically contribute to rapid bony expansion. Here, we present an ABC involving the spinopelvic region in a 15-year-old male that required embolization, surgical excision, and fusion. Case Description: A 15-year-old male, presented with gradually progressive painful lower back swelling of 4 months’ duration. Once the diagnosis of an ABC was established based on a combination of X-ray, MR, and CT studies, he underwent selective arterial embolization, extended surgical excision (i.e. curettage), with a posterior fusion. Two years postoperatively, the patient remained neurologically intact without radiographic evidence of lesion recurrence. Conclusion: Large expansile ABC involving the vertebral bodies should be managed with preoperative selective arterial embolization, surgical decompression/curettage, and spinopelvic fixation.

Management and Outcome of a Neurologically Intact Infant with Pierre Robin Sequence and Dandy-Walker Variant Diagnosed with Large Hemispheric Brain Abscess – Case Report

Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) is a condition consisting of three essential components: micrognathia or retrognathia, cleft palate, and glossoptosis. It can be part of multiple congenital anomalies. We present the case and outcome of a 3-month-old clinically stable patient who has PRS with Dandy-Walker variant – which is a rare presentation in the literature – with a large right hemispheric brain abscess, treated with multiple minimally-invasive surgical drainage procedures with adjuvant antibiotics.

Abstract 11243: Novel Peptide for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Introduction: While effective for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, therapeutic hypothermia can be difficult to timely implement clinically. No drugs exist for improving neurologically intact survival. We have developed a novel peptide (TAT-PHLPP) that inhibits PH domain and Leucine rich repeat Protein Phosphatases (PHLPP), leading to Akt activation and mimicking of the protective effects of therapeutic hypothermia without the need of physical cooling. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that when administered intravenously during CPR, TAT-PHLPP improves neurologically intact survival. Methods: We conducted parallel studies in mouse and swine models. In C57BL6 mice (n = 72), we induced a 8 or 12-min asystolic cardiac arrest with KCl, followed by initiation of CPR and blinded randomized administration of TAT-PHLPP (7.5 mg/kg) or saline placebo. The primary outcomes were 4-h and 5-day survival, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and cerebral blood flow (CBF). We assessed PHLPP-NHERF1 binding and glucose utilization (via pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) phosphorylation and ATP generation). In 16 swine, we induced 5 min of VF followed by ACLS with vest CPR and administered two doses of TAT-PHLPP or saline. Survival (24 h) and neurological function were assessed. Plasma biomarkers taurine and glutamate levels in mice were measured and validated in CA patients (n=68) with a shockable rhythm at the time of hospital arrival, 6, 24, 48, and 72 h post-hospital arrival. Results: In mice, compared to saline, TAT-PHLPP significantly improved 4-h and 5-day survival, increased post-ROSC MAP and CBF, inhibited PHLPP-NHERF1 binding, increased p-Akt, decreased p-PDH (increased activity) at 15 min post-ROSC, enhanced ATP generation in both heart and brain, and reduced plasma taurine and glutamate levels. In swine, TAT-PHLPP improved 24 h neurologically intact survival (1/9 in control vs. 6/7 with peptide, p < 0.01). In patients, taurine levels were higher in non-survivors (n=44) than survivors (n=24) at 6 h of post-hospital arrival (65.9 ± 34.8 vs. 45.6 ±23.7, p< 0.001). Conclusions: TAT-PHLPP has high translational potential as a first-of-class biologic treatment to reproduce critical outcomes of therapeutic hypothermia and improve cardiac arrest survival.

Abstract 10617: Antiarrhythmic Use and the Posterior Probability of Neurologically Intact Survival in a Reanalysis of the Amiodarone, Lidocaine or Placebo Study in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Introduction: There are no randomized controlled trials (RCT) demonstrating improvement in neurologically intact survival from antiarrhythmic therapy given during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) from ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia (VF/VT). The Amiodarone, Lidocaine or Placebo Study in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (ALPS) was an RCT of amiodarone, lidocaine or placebo whose primary end-point was survival to hospital discharge. We sought to estimate the posterior probability of the absolute risk difference of neurologically intact survival (modified Rankin Score ≤ 3) from antiarrhythmic use (amiodarone or lidocaine) compared to placebo and from the use amiodarone versus lidocaine. Methods: We performed a Bayesian reanalysis on the per-protocol population of the ALPS trial in order to calculate the posterior probability of neurologically intact survival. We derived prior probabilities from the Amiodarone for Resuscitation after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Due to Ventricular Fibrillation (ARREST) and Amiodarone Compared with Lidocaine for Shock-Resistant Ventricular Fibrillation (ALIVE) trials. We considered a clinically meaningful absolute difference to be ≥ 1%. Results: The posterior median probability of the absolute difference in neurologically intact survival between antiarrhythmic therapy and placebo was 2.2% (95% credible interval of -0.15% to 4.7%). There is a 96% chance that antiarrhythmic improves neurologic outcome and 86% chance of a clinically meaningful improvement. The posterior median probability of the absolute difference in neurologically intact survival between amiodarone and lidocaine was 1.5% (95% credible interval -1.6% to 4.5%). Conclusion: The results of this Bayesian analysis of the ALPS trial using likely optimistic prior probabilities derived from the ARREST trial may help inform clinicians of the value of antiarrhythmic therapy in OHCA.

Abstract 9114: Impact of the Number of Prehospital Defibrillation Attempts on Neurologically Intact Survival in Patients With Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest and Shockable Rhythm

Background: Early return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) leads to survival with a favorable neurologic outcome in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). For the early ROSC, defibrillation plays a crucial role for OHCA with shockable rhythm. However, little is known about the relation between the number of prehospital defibrillation attempts or etiology of OHCA and neurologically intact survival. Methods: Using a nationwide OHCA registry database from 2005 to 2017 in Japan, a cohort of 1,527,447 patients with OHCA were retrospectively analyzed. We included the patients of witnessed OHCAs with initial shockable rhythm. The relation between early ROSC, defined as prehospital ROSC achieved with defibrillation ≤3 times without adrenaline, and a neurologically intact survival rate (cerebral performance category score of 1 or 2 at 1 month) was evaluated. We also analyzed factors related to the successful early ROSC, including etiology of OHCA. Results: A total of 75,342 patients were included. Among patients with OHCA and prehospital ROSC, neurologically intact survival rates were better in patients who achieved early ROSC than their counterpart (62% vs. 36%, p<0.001). Success in early ROSC was an independent predictor of neurologically intact survival after adjustment of multiple cofounders (Table). Multivariate analysis showed cerebral vascular disease as an etiology of OHCA was a predictor of early ROSC (odds ratio 1.15, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.29, p=0.02), but was significantly associated with a poor neurologic outcome at 1 month (Table). Conclusions: Success in early ROSC was associated with neurologically intact survival in patients with OHCA and initial shockable rhythm. Patients with OHCA due to cerebral vascular disease were likely to be resuscitated from cardiac arrest by defibrillations but had a poor neurologic outcome.

Abstract 9502: Prehospital Variables Associated With Neurologically Intact Survival in Elderly Survivors After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Evidence from a Japanese Nationwide Population-based Cohort Study

Introduction: Prehospital variables associated with neurologically intact survival in elderly survivors after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) are unclear and could differ according to age. Methods: We evaluated 6,349 elderly patients with OHCA (age ≥ 65 years) of cardiac origin who achieved prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survived for at least 1-month after OHCA. Data were obtained from the prospectively recorded All-Japan Utstein Registry between 2011 and 2016. Patients witnessed by emergency medical service providers were excluded. The primary outcome was 1-month neurologically intact survival, defined as a cerebral performance category (CPC) score of 1-2. Patients were divided into three groups by age (65-74, 75-89, or ≥ 90 years). The time from call receipt to ROSC was calculated. Results: The rates of 1-month CPC 1-2 in patients aged 65-74, 75-89, and ≥ 90 years were 66.5% (2,079/3,125), 52.9% (1,557/2,943), and 42.7% (120/281), respectively (p for trend < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, initial shockable rhythm and witnessed arrest were significantly associated with 1-month CPC 1-2 for all age groups (Table). However, the presence of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was significantly associated with 1-month CPC 1-2 only for patients aged 65-74 years. Time from call receipt to ROSC was not associated with 1-month CPC 1-2 for patients aged ≥ 90 years. In recursive partitioning analysis, the best single predictor for 1-month CPC 1-2 was initial shockable rhythm for all age groups. The next predictor for patients aged 65-74 years with initial shockable rhythm was the presence of bystander CPR, whereas the witnessed arrest was the next predictor for patients aged 65-74 years with initial non-shockable rhythm and other age groups regardless of the initial rhythm. Conclusions: Prehospital variables associated with neurologically intact survival in elderly survivors after OHCA varied with age.

Clostridium perfringens in the spine: A rare cause of post-surgical infection

Background: Post-surgical infections of the spine occur in from 0% to 18% of cases. Postoperative spine infections due to Clostridium Perfringens (CP) resulting in necrotizing fasciitis are extremely rare. However, since they may be fatal, early and definitive treatment is critical. Case Description: A 62-year-old male with a T8-T9 Type C fracture, in ASIA Grade “E” (neurologically intact) underwent a posterior T6-T10 arthrodesis. However, 2 weeks postoperatively, he developed a postoperative thoracic wound infection; the cultures were positive for CP. As the patient developed necrotizing fasciitis, emergent debridement, negative pressure continued drainage, and initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy were critical. Conclusion: Postoperative spinal infections due to CP with accompanying necrotizing fasciitis are extremely rare. As these infections may be fatal, they must be rapidly diagnosed and treated.

Tackling the Biological Meaning of the Human Olfactory Bulb Dyshomeostatic Proteome across Neurological Disorders: An Integrative Bioinformatic Approach

Olfactory dysfunction is considered an early prodromal marker of many neurodegenerative diseases. Neuropathological changes and aberrant protein aggregates occur in the olfactory bulb (OB), triggering a tangled cascade of molecular events that is not completely understood across neurological disorders. This study aims to analyze commonalities and differences in the olfactory protein homeostasis across neurological backgrounds with different spectrums of smell dysfunction. For that, an integrative analysis was performed using OB proteomics datasets derived from subjects with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson´s disease (PD), mixed dementia (mixD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-TDP43), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with respect to OB proteome data from neurologically intact controls. A total of 80% of the differential expressed protein products were potentially disease-specific whereas the remaining 20% were commonly altered across two, three or four neurological phenotypes. A multi-level bioinformatic characterization revealed a subset of potential disease-specific transcription factors responsible for the downstream effects detected at the proteome level as well as specific densely connected protein complexes targeted by several neurological phenotypes. Interestingly, common or unique pathways and biofunctions were also identified, providing novel mechanistic clues about each neurological disease at olfactory level. The analysis of olfactory epithelium, olfactory tract and primary olfactory cortical proteotypes in a multi-disease format will functionally complement the OB dyshomeostasis, increasing our knowledge about the neurodegenerative process across the olfactory axis.

Extended tulip cervical reduction screws to restore alignment in traumatic atlantoaxial dislocation after type 3 odontoid fracture: illustrative case

BACKGROUND Traumatic atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation after type 3 odontoid fracture is an uncommon presentation that may require complex intraoperative reduction maneuvers and presents challenges to successful instrumentation and fusion. OBSERVATIONS The authors report a case of a 39-year-old female patient who sustained a type 3 odontoid fracture. She was neurologically intact and managed in a rigid collar. Four months later, she presented again after a second trauma with acute torticollis and type 2 atlantoaxial subluxation, again neurologically intact. Serial cervical traction was placed with minimal radiographic reduction. Ultimately, she underwent intraoperative reduction, instrumentation, and fusion. Freehand C1 lateral mass reduction screws were placed, then C2 translaminar screws, and finally lateral mass screws at C3 and C4. The C2–4 instrumentation was used as bilateral rod anchors to reduce the C1 lateral mass reduction screws engaged onto the subluxated atlantodental complex. As a final step, cortical allograft spacers were inserted at C1–2 under compression to facilitate long-term stability and fusion. LESSONS This is the first description of a technique using extended tulip cervical reduction screws to correct traction-irreducible atlantoaxial subluxation. This case is a demonstration of using intraoperative tools available for the spine surgeon managing complex cervical injuries requiring intraoperative reduction that is resistant to traction reduction.