• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.403-410
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• 2023

Objective: While patients with medically intractable acute cerebellar infarction typically undergo suboccipital craniectomy and removal of the infarcted tissue, this procedure is associated with long operating times and postoperative complications. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of minimally invasive navigation-guided burr hole aspiration surgery for the treatment of acute cerebellar infarction. Methods: Between January 2015 and December 2021, 14 patients with acute cerebellar infarction, who underwent navigation-guided burr hole aspiration surgery, were enrolled in this study. Results: The preoperative mean Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was 12.7, and the postoperative mean GCS score was 14.3. The mean infarction volume was 34.3 cc at admission and 23.5 cc immediately following surgery. Seven days after surgery, the mean infarction volume was 15.6 cc. There were no surgery-related complications during the 6-month follow-up period and no evidence of clinical deterioration. The mean operation time from skin incision to catheter insertion was 28 min, with approximately an additional 13 min for extra-ventricular drainage. The mean Glasgow Outcome Scale score after 6 months was 4.8. Conclusions: Navigation-guided burr hole aspiration surgery is less time-consuming and invasive than conventional craniectomy, and is a safe and effective treatment option for acute cerebellar infarction in selected cases, with no surgery-related complication.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.300-302
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• 2005

The authors report a case of hyperacute, massive hemorrhage in the left basal ganglia with severe midline shift that was treated successfully by the ultrasound-monitored free hand aspiration technique. Every effort was made to shorten time until removal of considerable amount of the hematoma and minimize duration of cerebral herniation, avoiding additional irreversible neurological deficit. A burr hole aspiration technique was preferred to standard craniotomy procedure, and any time-consuming procedures such as stereotactic frame application were abandoned. A burr hole was localized on the basis of computed tomography images simply and quickly with a ruler, and safety of the aspiration procedure was augmented by real-time ultrasound monitoring. Such minimally invasive technique relieved cerebral herniation successfully while avoiding time consumption and the morbidity of major craniotomy procedure. Early resuscitation of the patient with cerebral herniation in this case resulted in excellent recovery of the patient's neurological deficit. The patient's mentality started to improve rapidly and was clear six months after the surgery.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 2019

Purpose: Recent developments in minimally invasive techniques have the potential to reduce surgical morbidity, promote patient recovery, accelerate surgical procedures, and thus improve cost-effectiveness in case management. In this study, we compared the treatment efficacy and results of supraorbital keyhole approach (SOKA) with those of conventional unilateral frontal craniotomy (CUFC) for traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (TICH) in the frontal lobe. Methods: We analyzed the data of 38 patients who underwent CUFC (n=30) and SOKA (n=8) and retrospectively reviewed their medical records and radiological findings. Furthermore, we tried to identify the best surgical method for such lesions by including patients who underwent burr hole aspiration and drainage (BHAD) (n=9) under local anesthesia due to various circumstances. Results: The difference in the initial Glasgow coma scale score, operative time, and length of hospitalization between the CUFC and SOKA were statistically significant. All radiological features between the two groups including associated skull fracture, amount of pre- and postoperative hematoma, percentage of complete hematoma removal, pre- and postoperative midline shifting of the hematoma, and development of postoperative delayed hematoma were not statistically significant. Our experience of 46 patients with TICH in the frontal lobe with any of the three different surgical methods including BHAD enabled us to obtain valuable findings. Conclusions: Although it is difficult to insist that one particular approach is more useful than the other, we are confident that SOKA will have more advantages over CUFC in carefully selected patients with frontal TICH depending on the surgical experience of a neurosurgeon.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.sup2
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• pp.294-299
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• 2001

Objectives : CT-guided stereotactic evacuation for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage can minimize the brain damage and can be performed safely and simply under local anesthesia. But that procedure is time consuming and has a risk of rebleeding because of the stress during head pin fixation. So authors describe easy and precise guidelines for FHA of putaminal hemorrhage without stereotactic instrument. Methods and Materials : We analyzed the data of 298 patients who underwent CT-guided stereotactic aspiration of putaminal hematoma in our hospital between January 1990 and December 2000. We divided the patients into three groups according to the location of hematoma : anterior portion, middle portion and posterior portion of putamen. Total number of catheters inserted into the hematoma were 345 and there were with regard to the direction and depth of catheters. Results : Proposed guidelines of catheter insertion to putaminal hemorrhage in our institution. 1) hematoma at the anterior portion of putamen ; Direction of catheter was the midpupillary line of the eye and the point intersecting a line drawn from the burr hole to a point between external auditory meatus(EOM) and 1cm posterior to EOM. Depth of catheter was 6-6.5cm. 2) hematoma at the middle portion of putamen ; Direction of catheter was the midpupillary line of the the eye and the point intersecting a line drawn from the burr hole to a point between 1cm and 2cm posterior to EOM. Depth of catheter was 6.5-7cm. 3) hematoma at the posterior portion of putamen ; Direction of catheter was 15 degree laterally from the midpupillary line of the eye and the point intersecting a line drawn from the burr hole to a point between 2cm and 3cm posterior to EOM. Depth of catheter was 7-7.5cm. We have performed FHA of putaminal hemorrhage in 48 cases according to this guideline. All catheter were inserted exactly at the center of hematoma and average operation time was about 30 minutes. Conclusion : Our proposed guidelines for putaminal hemorrhage are considered to be safe and simple method with similar accuracy and rapid decompression compared with traditional stereotactic method. Main advantages of this technique were unnecessity of stereotactic frame application and less time requirement for hematoma removal.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.738-743
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• 2000

Objectives : The less invasive stereotactic surgery of hypertensive intracerebral hematoma has been preferred. Many techniques were developed to facilitate aspiration of a dense blood clot in acute stage. Authors describe a method for evacuation of putaminal hematoma via computerized tomography(CT)-aided free-hand stereotactic infusion of urokinase and frequent negative pressure aspiration. Patients and Methods : A total of ten patients with spontaneous putaminal hematoma underwent surgery with negative pressure aspiration in the three-year period. All procedures were performed within 12 hours of insult. A silicone ventricular catheter was inserted into the center of hematoma through a burr hole at the Kocher's point under local anesthesia. In a typical case of putaminal hematoma, the trajectory of catheter was pointed the center of hematoma parallel to sagittal plane vertically and the external auditory meatus posteriorly. Immediately after the first trial of hematoma aspiration low-dose urokinase solution(2,000IU/5ml saline) was administrated through the catheter and drain was clipped for 30 minutes. Subsequently, the partially liquified hematoma was manually aspirated using a 10ml syringe with a negative pressure of less than 2 to 3ml. The procedure was carefully repeated every 1 hour until the hematoma was near totally evacuated. Results : The patients population consisted composed of 4 men and 6 women with a mean age of 61.6 years. All had major neurological deficits preoperatively. The mean hematoma volume was 44.3 ml and hematoma was drained for 20 to 48 hours. No complications such as rebleeding, meningitis, or malplaced catheter were noted. Outcome was moderately disabled in four patients and good recovery in three patients. Conclusion : Although the frequent negative pressure aspiration and low-dose urokinase infusion has the disadvantage of possbility of rebleeding and infection, it is consisdered to be an effective method because it allows a simple, safe, and complete removal of hematoma.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.339-341
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• 2007

A 22-year-old woman with a history of acute lymphoblastic leukemia was hospitalized for headache and vomiting. CT scan showed a well-defined, ring like enhancing mass in the left frontal lobe with surrounding edema and midline shift. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a round homogeneous mass with a ring of enhancement in the left frontal lobe. Tl-201 brain SPECT showed increased focal uptake coinciding with the CT and MRI abnormality. Aspiration of the lesion performed through a burr hole yielded many neutrophils, a few lymphocytes and histiocytes with some strands of filamentous microorganism-like material. Modified AFB stained negative for norcardia. Gram stain showed a few white blood cells and no microorganism. Antibiotics were started and produced a good clinical response. After one month, CT scan showed markedly reduction in size and extent was observed.