Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to develop trigeminal neuralgia (TN) compared to the regular population, due to scarring of the nerve and development of a demyelination plaque. ...Despite treatment, approximately 10% of MS patients treated for TN experience symptom recurrence, including the development of MS-like symptoms such as optic neuritis and bilateral facial pain.
A computed tomography (CT) scan was performed preoperatively on two patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) who experienced secondary trigeminal neuralgia (TN). A precise reference frame was strapped firmly to the patient's forehead during the intraoperative procedure. Preliminary CT images were registered using the navigation system and the bony landmarks were set.
Two patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) who experienced refractory trigeminal neuralgia (TN) underwent percutaneous balloon compression. Initial conservative treatment and one dosage of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery (GKR) resulted in symptom control for a few weeks. Both patients had an acute recurrence of pain; thus, percutaneous retrogasserian balloon compression was performed. During follow-up, the patients reported a 70% decrease in pain after the procedure, with minimal recurrence of shooting episodes.
Management of trigeminal neuralgia secondary to drug-resistant multiple sclerosis presents a persistent challenge. The percutaneous technique for retrogasserian balloon compression may offer a solution for some patients, but it presents unique challenges for neurosurgeons. Given the complexity of the pathogenesis, target identification, and the potential absence of neurovascular conflict, microvascular decompression remains a debated approach for this patient population. While stereotactic radiosurgery may be a promising alternative.
•Frame navigation ensures accurate identification of trigeminal nerve.•Percutaneous balloon compression minimizes invasiveness, expediting recovery.•Effective pain relief from refractory secondary trigeminal neuralgia.•Surgical treatment enhances quality of life, reducing complications.•Frame navigation enables customized strategies based on individual anatomy.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Laser interstitial thermal therapy has been used as an ablative treatment for glioma; however, its development was limited due to technical issues. The NeuroBlate System incorporates several ...technological advances to overcome these drawbacks. The authors report a Phase I, thermal dose-escalation trial assessing the safety and efficacy of NeuroBlate in recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (rGBM).
Adults with suspected supratentorial rGBM of 15- to 40-mm dimension and a Karnofsky Performance Status score of ≥ 60 were eligible. After confirmatory biopsy, treatment was delivered using a rigid, gas-cooled, side-firing laser probe. Treatment was monitored using real-time MRI thermometry, and proprietary software providing predictive thermal damage feedback was used by the surgeon, along with control of probe rotation and depth, to tailor tissue coagulation. An external data safety monitoring board determined if toxicity at lower levels justified dose escalation.
Ten patients were treated at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals-Case Medical Center). Their average age was 55 years (range 34-69 years) and the median preoperative Karnofsky Performance Status score was 80 (range 70-90). The mean tumor volume was 6.8 ± 5 cm(3) (range 2.6-19 cm(3)), the percentage of tumor treated was 78% ± 12% (range 57%-90%), and the conformality index was 1.21 ± 0.33 (range 1.00-2.04). Treatment-related necrosis was evident on MRI studies at 24 and 48 hours. The median survival was 316 days (range 62-767 days). Three patients improved neurologically, 6 remained stable, and 1 worsened. Steroid-responsive treatment-related edema occurred in all patients but one. Three had Grade 3 adverse events at the highest dose.
NeuroBlate represents new technology for delivering laser interstitial thermal therapy, allowing controlled thermal ablation of deep hemispheric rGBM. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NO.: NCT00747253 ( ClinicalTrials.gov ).
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted millions of lives globally. While COVID-19 did not discriminate against developed or developing nations, it has been a significant challenge for third world ...countries like Honduras to have widespread availability of advanced therapies. The concept of early treatment was almost unheard of when early outpatient treatments utilizing repurposed drugs in Latin American countries began showing promising results. One such drug is fluvoxamine, which has shown tremendous potential in two major studies. As a direct result, fluvoxamine was added to the standard of care in a major medical center outpatient COVID-19 clinic.
This is a prospective observational study performed at the Hospital Centro Médico Sampedrano (CEMESA) in San Pedro Sula, Cortes, Honduras in the COVID-19 outpatient clinic. All patients were at least 15 years of age who had presented with mild or moderate signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and who also had a documented positive SARS-CoV-2 antigen or Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) were included in the study. These patients then were all prescribed fluvoxamine. The cohort of patients who decided to take fluvoxamine were compared for primary endpoints of mortality and hospitalization risk to the cohort who did not take fluvoxamine. Patients were then monitored for 30 days with the first follow up at 7 days and the second follow up at 10-14 days of symptom onset. Categorical variables were compared by Pearson Chi-square test. The Relative risk was calculated using regression models. Continuous variables were compared by t-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.
Out of total 657 COVID-19 cases, 594 patients took fluvoxamine and 63 did not take fluvoxamine. A total of five patients (0.76 percent) died, with only one death occurring in the fluvoxamine group. Patients who received fluvoxamine had a significantly lower relative risk of mortality (RR 0.06,
0.011, 95% CI 0.007-0.516). There was a lower relative risk of hospitalization in the patients who in the fluvoxamine group. (-10 vs. 30 hospitalizations, RR 0.49,
= 0.035, 95% CI 0.26-0.95). There was 73 percent reduction in relative risk of requiring oxygen in the fluvoxamine group (RR 0.27,
< 0.001, 95% CI 0.14-0.54 Mean lymphocytes count on the first follow-up visit was significantly higher in the fluvoxamine group (1.72 vs. 1.38, Δ 0.33,
0.007, CI 0.09-0.58).
The results of our study suggest that fluvoxamine lowers the relative risk of death, hospitalization, and oxygen requirement in COVID 19 patients.
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