Tumor Surgery In Patients Research Articles

Prophylactic antiepileptic treatment with levetiracetam for patients undergoing supratentorial brain tumor surgery: a two-center matched cohort study.

Guidelines on the administration of prophylactic antiepileptic drugs (AED), and specifically levetiracetam, for brain tumor surgery are still lacking. In this two-center matched cohort study, we aim to compare the proportion of postoperative seizures during follow-up after supratentorial tumor surgery in patients receiving no seizure prophylaxis, and those treated with levetiracetam perioperatively. Three hundred sixteen consecutive patients undergoing supratentorial tumor surgery, without history of seizures were included: 207 patients did not receive AED (no AED group), and 109 patients received levetiracetam perioperatively (levetiracetam group). The primary outcome measure was the rate of postoperative seizures. Additionally, uni- and multivariate analyses assessing possible risk factors for postoperative seizures were performed. No statistically significant difference for the occurrence of postoperative seizures was found between the two groups (10.1%, n = 21 in the no AED group vs. 9.2%, n = 10, in the levetiracetam group; p = 0.69, OR 0.9 [0.4-2.0), NNT 103 [12.9-17.1]). After propensity score matching, the primary outcome was observed in 13 patients (12.4%) from the no AED group and in 9 patients (8.6%) from the levetiracetam group (p = 0.50, OR 0.7 [0.3-1.6], NNT 26.3 [8.3-22.4]). Among all analyzed possible risk factors for postoperative seizures, only postoperative infarction showed a statistically significant association with higher seizure rates in multivariate analysis (OR 8.2 [1.1-60.6], p = 0.04). Prophylactic treatment with levetiracetam after brain tumor surgery showed no statistically significant effect in preventing postoperative seizures. However, in case a postoperative infarction occurs, its administration might be indicated.

Language mapping with navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation in pediatric and adult patients undergoing epilepsy surgery: Comparison with extraoperative direct cortical stimulation.

SummaryObjectiveNavigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) is becoming increasingly popular in noninvasive preoperative language mapping, as its results correlate well enough with those obtained by direct cortical stimulation (DCS) during awake surgery in adult patients with tumor. Reports in the context of epilepsy surgery or extraoperative DCS in adults are, however, sparse, and validation of nTMS with DCS in children is lacking. Furthermore, little is known about the risk of inducing epileptic seizures with nTMS in pediatric epilepsy patients. We provide the largest validation study to date in an epilepsy surgery population.MethodsWe compared language mapping with nTMS and extraoperative DCS in 20 epilepsy surgery patients (age range 9‐32 years; 14 children and adolescents).ResultsIn comparison with DCS, sensitivity of nTMS was 68%, specificity 76%, positive predictive value 27%, and negative predictive value 95%. Age, location of ictal‐onset zone near or within DCS‐mapped language areas or severity of cognitive deficits had no significant effect on these values. None of our patients had seizures during nTMS.SignificanceOur study suggests that nTMS language mapping is clinically useful and safe in epilepsy surgery patients, including school‐aged children and patients with extensive cognitive dysfunction. Similar to in tumor surgery, mapping results in the frontal region are most reliable. False negative findings may be slightly more likely in epilepsy than in tumor surgery patients. Mapping results should always be verified by other methods in individual patients.

Pulmonary embolism in non-brain tumor patients after surgery\u2014a retrospective study in China

BackgroundThe incidence rate of pulmonary emboli (PE) is high in tumor patients; however, the morbidity and mortality associated with the development of PE after tumor surgery are unknown. We studied the clinical profiles and outcomes of patients with PE after non-brain tumor surgery.MethodsWe retrospectively screened 55,967 patients who underwent non-brain tumor surgery at the Peking University Cancer Hospital from January 2008 to June 2015. Among them, 76 patients who were diagnosed with PE were enrolled in our study. Factors impacting the overall survival at 90 days were analyzed. A Kaplan-Meier curve was plotted for time to death or until day 90. Cox proportional hazard modeling was performed for univariate- and multivariate-adjusted factor analyses.ResultsThe morbidity rate was approximately 135.8 per 100,000 non-brain tumor surgery patients (possibly underestimated). When treated, seven patients had major bleeding, and 14 patients had clinically relevant non-major bleeding, which represented 9.2 and 18.4% of all the patients, respectively. The 3-month overall mortality rate was 11.8% in our study. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score and platelet distribution width (PDW) were independent risk factors for the prognosis of PE after non-brain surgery (P values of 0.001 and 0.016, respectively).ConclusionsTreatment of PE in non-brain tumor surgical patients remained a challenge due to the high bleeding rate. The APACHE II score and PDW were independent prognostic factors of survival in patients with PE after non-brain tumor surgery; however, the study power was limited.

Three-dimensional fluoroscopic navigation-assisted surgery for tumors in patients with tumor-induced osteomalacia in the bones

Purpose: Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome usually caused by phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors. Segmental resection has been recommended for these tumors in the bones because curettage was found to be associated with a high local recurrence rate. Navigation-assisted surgery provides radiological information to guide the surgeon during surgery. No previous study has reported on the efficacy of navigation-assisted surgery for tumors in patients with TIO. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of navigation-assisted surgery for tumors in patients with TIO.Methods: The study included seven patients with TIO who were treated between January 2003 and December 2014 at our hospital. All patients underwent surgical treatment with or without the use of a 3-dimensional (3D) fluoroscopy-based navigation system. The laboratory data and oncological outcomes were evaluated.Results: The follow-up period was 8–128 months. The tumors were located at the femur (n = 4), ischium, spine and ilium (n = 1). Of the seven patients, five underwent navigation-assisted surgery and two underwent surgery without navigation assistance. In the two patients who underwent surgery without navigation assistance, a complete cure was not obtained and osteomalacia did not resolve. One of these two patients and the other five patients who underwent navigation-assisted surgery, one patient had incomplete resection due to massive invasion of the tumor into the spinal canal, but five patients achieved complete excision and recovered from osteomalacia.Conclusions: Navigation-assisted surgery using a 3D fluoroscopy-based navigation system is effective for tumors in patients with TIO.

Clinical safety and outcomes of laparoscopic surgery versus open surgery for palliative resection of primary tumors in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis.

This study was performed to compare the clinical safety and outcomes of laparoscopic versus open surgery for primary tumors in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer. Pertinent studies were selected from the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases; references from published articles; and reviews. Both prospective and retrospective studies were included for the meta-analysis. Clinical outcomes included safety, complications, mortality, and survival. Six trials involving 1802 patients were included. The operative time was longer for laparoscopic than for open surgery (mean difference (MD)=44.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) 17.31-71.09, Z=3.22, P=0.001). Laparoscopic surgery was also associated with fewer postoperative complications (odds ratio 0.53, 95% CI 0.37-0.78, Z=3.29, P=0.001) and less operative blood loss (MD=-65.40, 95% CI -102.37 to -28.42, Z=3.47, P=0.0005). Median survival ranged from 11.4 to 30.1months. The total hospital stay was 1.68days shorter for laparoscopic than for open surgery (95% CI -1.83 to -1.53, Z=21.64, P<0.00001). Laparoscopic surgery for palliative resection of stage IV colorectal cancer is associated with better perioperative outcomes than open surgery.

Testosterone replacement and bone mineral density in male pituitary tumor patients.

BackgroundHypopituitarism is associated with osteoporosis and osteopenia especially when hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is present. Despite hypopituitarism being an important cause of secondary osteoporosis, osteoporosis in patients receiving surgery for pituitary tumors in Korea has not been studied. In this study, we evaluated the effects of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on bone mineral density (BMD) in postoperative hypogonadal patients with pituitary tumors.MethodsTo examine the effect of TRT on BMD, we performed a retrospective observational study in 21 postoperative male patients who underwent pituitary tumor surgery between 2003 and 2012 at the Ajou University Hospital. Testosterone was replaced in postoperative hypogonadal patients by regular intramuscular injection, daily oral medication, or application of transdermal gel. BMD (g/cm2) measurements of central skeletal sites (lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total femur) were obtained using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (GE Lunar). For lumbar spine BMD, L1 to L4 values were chosen for analysis. Femur neck and total femur were also analyzed.ResultsDuring the follow-up period (mean, 56 months; range, 12 to 99 months) serum testosterone levels increased with the administration of TRT (P=0.007). There was significant improvement (4.56%±9.81%) in the lumbar spine BMD compared to baseline BMD. There were no significant changes in the femur neck BMD or total femur BMD. We did not find any statistically significant relationships between changes in testosterone levels and BMD using Spearman correlation analysis.ConclusionOur results indicated that TRT used in the postoperative period for hypogonadal pituitary tumor surgery patients may have beneficial effects on the BMD of the spine.

Visual Field Improvement After Pituitary Tumor Surgery in Patients With McCune–Albright Syndrome

McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) is a rare, sporadic congenital disorder, in which optic neuropathy may cause devastating visual consequences. Pituitary adenoma with overproduction of growth hormone (GH) is present in approximately two-thirds of MAS patients, and its role in the pathogenesis of MAS-associated optic neuropathy has not been studied. Three MAS patients with GH-secreting pituitary adenoma and optic chiasm compression diagnosed between January 2008 and November 2010 were included in this case series. Transsphenoidal pituitary resection was performed in all 3 patients. Neuro-ophthalmologic evaluation was performed at presentation and every 6 months during follow-up. Of the 3 patients, 2 were female and 1 was male; their ages ranged from 17 to 27 years. Visual acuity ranged from 20/20 to 20/200 before surgery and all had visual field loss. The patients were followed up for 6-18 months with substantial improvement in their visual fields. GH-secreting pituitary adenoma may contribute to optic nerve damage, at least partially, in MAS patients. Pituitary surgery may be important for visual recovery in some MAS patients in whom there is compression of the optic chiasm.

Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy for Musculoskeletal Tumor Surgery

To evaluate the effect of negative-pressure wound therapy in musculoskeletal tumor surgery patients. The authors analyzed the medical records of 32 patients treated at the authors' institution for bone and soft-tissue sarcomas and secondary wound-healing complications, from 2005 to 2008; there were 11 men and 21 women, with a mean age of 56 years (range, 35-72 years). A statistically significant difference (P = .036) was found regarding the length of hospitalization in the conventional wound treatment group, group A (mean, 25.2 days; range, 15-52 days), compared with the negative wound pressure therapy group, group B (mean, 16.5 days; range, 12-33 days). The use of negative-pressure wound therapy for the management of complicated wound healing in sarcoma patients following tumor surgery is safe and effective and is associated with lower overall complications rates, infection rate, and the need for further surgery and a lower total cost of wound-healing treatment.

Intracranial tumor surgery in patients &gt;70 years of age: is clinical practice worthwhile or futile?

Intracranial tumor surgery in patients &gt;70 years of age: is clinical practice worthwhile or futile?

Intracranial tumor surgery in patients &gt;70 years of age: is clinical practice worthwhile or futile?

To study survival and functional outcome after intracranial tumor surgery in elderly patients. This is a retrospective study of 289 consecutive patients of age > or =70 years, who underwent primary surgery (resection or biopsy) in the time period 2003-2007 for an intracranial tumor (87 astrocytomas, 79 meningiomas, 62 brain metastases, 33 pituitary adenomas and 28 other tumors). The surgical mortality was 2.8%. Overall survival at 6 months, 1, 2 and 5 years was 73%, 57%, 46% and 38% respectively. Histology, pre-operative Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score and resection, as opposed to biopsy, were significantly associated with survival. Gender, age and American Association of Anaesthetists (ASA) score were not significantly related to survival. One-year survival after surgery for astrocytoma, meningioma, brain metastases and pituitary adenoma were 24%, 94%, 31% and 96% respectively. More than 85% of the patients who were alive 6 months after surgery had a stable or improved ECOG score compared with their pre-operative score. Surgery for intracranial tumors in selected elderly patients is worthwhile, not futile. Age alone should not be used as a selection criterion for treatment.

ENDOSCOPIC SURGERY FOR INTRAVENTRICULAR BRAIN TUMORS IN PATIENTS WITHOUT HYDROCEPHALUS

Endoscopy usually is avoided in patients without hydrocephalus because of presumed difficulties with ventricular cannulation and intraventricular navigation. The feasibility of endoscopic tumor management in patients without hydrocephalus was assessed on the basis of achieving the surgical objective and assessing procedure-related morbidity. Eighty patients who underwent endoscopic management for an intraventricular brain tumor were identified from a prospective database. Of these patients, 15 had an intraventricular tumor without concomitant hydrocephalus and underwent primary endoscopic surgery for biopsy or resection. The surgical technique, the success rate, and patient outcome were assessed and then compared with 65 hydrocephalic patients who underwent similar procedures. Tumors were located in the third ventricle in 11 patients and the lateral ventricle in 4 patients. The ventricular compartment was cannulated successfully and the intended goal was accomplished in all patients (100%); 12 had successful diagnostic sampling and 3 had complete colloid cyst resection. There were no operative complications related to the endoscopic procedure, and no patient required subsequent intervention for hydrocephalus. The results in this group of patients did not differ with the success and morbidity after endoscopic tumor surgery in patients with hydrocephalus. Endoscopic biopsy or resection of intraventricular brain tumors in patients without hydrocephalus is feasible. The described procedure uniformly satisfied the intended surgical goal. The absence of ventriculomegaly in patients with an intraventricular brain tumor should not serve as a contraindication to endoscopic tumor biopsy or resection.

Coping and quality of life after tumor surgery: Personal and social resources promote different domains of quality of life

Personal and social resources facilitate the adaptation to critical life events. The present study investigates whether general self-efficacy beliefs and received social support elevate cancer patients’ physical, emotional, and social well-being directly, or whether these effects are rather mediated by active or meaning-focused coping. Gastrointestinal, colorectal, and lung cancer patients were approached at 1 month and at 6 months after surgery (N=175). Structural equation models indicate that self-efficacy at 1 month after surgery exerted a positive direct effect on all three domains of health-related quality of life at 6 months after surgery, but indirect effects through active and meaning-focused coping were also observed. Initial received support elevated later emotional well-being, but not the other two quality of life domains. This effect was not mediated by coping. Results suggest the development of interventions to increase optimistic self-beliefs and coping skills in tumor-surgery patients.

Endoscopic Surgery for Intraventricular Brain Tumors in Patients without Hydrocephalus

Endoscopy usually is avoided in patients without hydrocephalus because of presumed difficulties with ventricular cannulation and intraventricular navigation. The feasibility of endoscopic tumor management in patients without hydrocephalus was assessed on the basis of achieving the surgical objective and assessing procedure-related morbidity. Eighty patients who underwent endoscopic management for an intraventricular brain tumor were identified from a prospective database. Of these patients, 15 had an intraventricular tumor without concomitant hydrocephalus and underwent primary endoscopic surgery for biopsy or resection. The surgical technique, the success rate, and patient outcome were assessed and then compared with 65 hydrocephalic patients who underwent similar procedures. Tumors were located in the third ventricle in 11 patients and the lateral ventricle in 4 patients. The ventricular compartment was cannulated successfully and the intended goal was accomplished in all patients (100%); 12 had successful diagnostic sampling and 3 had complete colloid cyst resection. There were no operative complications related to the endoscopic procedure, and no patient required subsequent intervention for hydrocephalus. The results in this group of patients did not differ with the success and morbidity after endoscopic tumor surgery in patients with hydrocephalus. Endoscopic biopsy or resection of intraventricular brain tumors in patients without hydrocephalus is feasible. The described procedure uniformly satisfied the intended surgical goal. The absence of ventriculomegaly in patients with an intraventricular brain tumor should not serve as a contraindication to endoscopic tumor biopsy or resection.

Brain tumor surgery in geriatric patients: a critical analysis in 44 patients over 80 years

BACKGROUND The decision of whether to operate on brain tumors in elderly patients has not been made easier despite diagnostic and therapeutic advances facilitating their diagnosis. Little is known about the outcome of brain tumor surgery in patients 80 years or older probably because the number of these patients, although increasing, is still small. METHODS The results of brain tumor surgery in 44 patients aged 80–86 years (mean age 83 years) were analyzed to determine which factors are relevant in the evaluation of the operative risk. The following parameters were analyzed with regard to the outcome: tumor volume, location, histopathology, preoperative condition, and concomitant diseases. RESULTS At discharge 19 patients (43%) had improved while 14 (32%) remained unchanged. Nevertheless, the overall results were unsatisfactory in 10 patients (23%), of whom 5 died in hospital. Tumor location, volume, and histopathology did not correlate with the outcome. The preoperative cerebrovascular condition and the existence of multiple concomitant diseases were clearly the determining factors for the outcome. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that patients with life-threatening tumors or those causing persistent and intolerable brain dysfunction suffering from symptomatic cerebrovascular atherosclerosis as well as from multiple treatment requiring concomitant diseases did definitely not benefit from surgery.

Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Lumbar Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure in Humans

Dexmedetomidine's potential for analgesia without respiratory depression and its opioid-and anesthetic-sparing properties make it an attractive choice as an anesthetic adjunct for patients undergoing neurosurgery. However, the effects of dexmedetomidine on intracranial pressure are not known. We therefore studied the effect of dexmedetomidine on lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure in patients after transphenoidal pituitary tumor surgery. Sixteen transphenoidal pituitary tumor surgery patients were randomized to receive placebo (n = 9) or dexmedetomidine (n = 7) for 60 min in the postanesthesia care unit. The study drug was administered by a continuous computer-controlled infusion to achieve an estimated plasma dexmedetomidine concentration of 600 pg/mL, the highest plasma concentration that has been used for clinical purposes. Patient-controlled analgesia was used to administer morphine for postoperative discomfort. Lumbar CSF pressure (via lumbar intrathecal catheter), intraarterial blood pressure, and heart rate were monitored continuously. There was no change in lumbar CSF pressure in either group. The highest values obtained were 19 mm Hg in the dexmedetomidine group and 20 mm Hg in the placebo group. During infusion, mean arterial pressure decreased from 103 +/- 10 mm Hg to 86 +/- 6 mm Hg (P < 0.05), heart rate decreased from 77 +/- 12 bpm to 64 +/- 7 bpm (P < 0.05), and cerebral perfusion pressure decreased from 95 +/- 8 mm Hg to 78 +/- 6 mm Hg (P < 0.05) in the dexmedetomidine group, but not in the placebo group. We conclude that dexmedetomidine does not have an effect on lumbar CSF pressure in patients with normal intracranial pressure who have undergone transphenoidal pituitary hypophysectomy. Implications: The effects of dexmedetomidine (an alpha2-agonist) or placebo on lumbar cerebrospinal fluid pressure, measured via an intrathecal catheter, were studied postoperatively in 16 patients. Dexmedetomidine had no effect on lumbar cerebrospinal fluid pressure. We will continue to investigate the potential utility of dexmedetomidine for neurosurgical anesthesia. (Anesth Analg 1997;85:358-64)

Acoustic tumor management in senior citizens.

We reviewed records of 116 consecutive acoustic tumor surgery patients aged 65 and older during the 10 years ending in 1984. One hundred six had total removal. Ninety-four (81%) had no intraoperative complications and 66 (57%) had no postoperative complications. Only one patient, who had previously undergone partial removal elsewhere, died. Because tumors grow at 2 mm per year, and because elderly patients can expect to live up to 18 more years, we recommend planned total removal of an acoustic tumor as the management of choice for senior citizens in good health. We feel that the advantages of immediate surgery outweigh the risks of delayed surgery when age is advanced, the tumor is enlarged, and general health may be declining.