Publications by authors named "Andrea Boraschi"

Background: Analysis of B-waves in overnight intracranial pressure (ICP) recordings used to be an important element in the diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). Here, we tested the hypothesis that equivalents to B-waves can be detected and quantified in a noninvasively measured electric capacitance signal termed W.

Methods: We measured ICP and W in a cohort of 15 patients with suspected diagnosis of NPH or spontaneous intracranial hypotension during infusion testing, identifying B-waves in both signals by wave-template matching in the time domain.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Timely and sufficient decompression are critical objectives in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) and spinal cord injury (SCI). We previously investigated intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) for determining surgical outcomes. However, confounding factors during the intra- and postoperative setting need consideration.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The capacitive measurement of the head's dielectric properties has been recently proposed as a noninvasive method for deriving surrogates of craniospinal compliance (CC), a parameter used in the evaluation of space-occupying neurological disorders. With the higher prevalence of such disorders in the older compared to the younger population, data on the head's dielectric properties of older healthy individuals would be of particularly high value before assessing pathologic changes. However, so far only measurements on young volunteers (< 30 years) were reported.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Study Design: This study is a scoping review.

Objective: There is a broad variability in the definition of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) and no standardized set of diagnostic criteria to date.

Methods: We interrogated the Myelopathy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Study Design: Delayed diagnosis of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is associated with reduced quality of life and greater disability. Developing diagnostic criteria for DCM has been identified as a top research priority.

Objectives: This scoping review aims to address the following questions: What is the diagnostic accuracy and frequency of clinical symptoms in patients with DCM?

Methods: A scoping review was conducted using a database of all primary DCM studies published between 2005 and 2020.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study highlights that delayed diagnosis of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) stems from subtle symptoms and lack of awareness among clinicians and the public.
  • The systematic review aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of clinical signs for DCM and their correlation with disease severity.
  • Findings suggest that while certain clinical tests like Tromner and hyperreflexia are sensitive for DCM diagnosis, there is no strong link between specific clinical signs and the severity of the disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Before the era of spinal imaging, presence of a spinal canal block was tested through gross changes in cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) provoked by manual compression of the jugular veins (referred to as Queckenstedt's test; QT). Beyond these provoked gross changes, cardiac-driven CSFP peak-to-valley amplitudes (CSFPp) can be recorded during CSFP registration. This is the first study to assess whether the QT can be repurposed to derive descriptors of the CSF pulsatility curve, focusing on feasibility and repeatability.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Sufficient and timely spinal cord decompression is a critical surgical objective for neurological recovery in spinal cord injury (SCI). Residual cord compression may be associated with disturbed cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) dynamics.

Objectives: This study aims to assess whether intrathecal CSFP dynamics in SCI following surgical decompression are feasible and safe, and to explore the diagnostic utility.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

. Craniospinal compliance (CC) is an important metric for the characterization of space-occupying neurological pathologies. CC is obtained using invasive procedures that carry risks for the patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Monitoring intracranial pressure (ICP) and craniospinal compliance (CC) is frequently required in the treatment of patients suffering from craniospinal diseases. However, current approaches are invasive and cannot provide continuous monitoring of CC. Dynamic exchange of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) between cranial and spinal compartments due to cardiac action transiently modulates the geometry and dielectric properties of the brain.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Spinal canal narrowing with consecutive spinal cord compression is considered a key mechanism in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). DCM is a common spine condition associated with progressive neurological disability, and timely decompressive surgery is recommended. However, the clinical and radiological diagnostic workup is often ambiguous, challenging confident proactive treatment recommendations.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: The clinical management of several neurological disorders benefits from the assessment of intracranial pressure and craniospinal compliance. However, the associated procedures are invasive in nature. Here, we aimed to assess whether naturally occurring periodic changes in the dielectric properties of the head could serve as the basis for deriving surrogates of craniospinal compliance noninvasively.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

While earlier studies reported no relevant effect of the HeartMate 3 (HM3) artificial pulse (AP) on bulk pump washout, its effect on regions with prolonged residence times remains unexplored. Using numerical simulations, we compared pump washout in the HM3 with and without AP with a focus on the clearance of the last 5% of the pump volume. Results were examined in terms of flush-volume ( , number of times the pump was flushed with new blood) to probe the effect of the AP independent of changing flow rate.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is hallmarked by spinal canal narrowing and related cord compression and myelopathy. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure dynamics are likely disturbed due to spinal canal stenosis. The study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of continuous intraoperative CSF pressure monitoring during surgical decompression.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Contemporary centrifugal continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) incorporate dynamic speed modulation algorithms. Hemocompatibility of these periodic unsteady pump operating conditions has been only partially explored. We evaluated whether speed modulation induces flow alterations associated with detrimental prothrombotic effects.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF