Ultrasound guided brain abscess aspiration.

A brain abscess is a neurosurgical emergency and frequently requires drainage to relieve intracranial pressure and identify the offending organism. Surgical adjuncts including neuronavigation and intra-operative CT and MRI facilitate surgery, but have limitations, including cost and not offering real time intracranial views. Intra-operative ultrasound is a fast and relatively cheap tool which offers live, real time imaging and visualisation of an abscess being aspirated, but is less frequently used.

Strokectomy for malignant middle cerebral artery infarction: experience and meta-analysis of current evidence.

Strokectomy means surgical excision of infarcted brain tissue post-stroke with preservation of skull integrity, distinguishing it from decompressive hemicraniectomy. Both can mitigate malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) syndrome but evidence regarding strokectomy is sparse. Here, we report our data and meta-analysis of strokectomy compared to hemicraniectomy for malignant MCA infarction.

Spinal subdural hematoma post foramen magnum decompression-rare complication in a patient with rhomboencephalosynapsis.

Spinal subdural hematoma (SSDH) as a complication of posterior fossa surgery is extremely rare and can have potentially serious consequences. We report a case of delayed extensive SSHD presenting as cauda equina syndrome (CES) following foramen magnum decompression and occipito-cervical (OC) fusion.

Pre-emptive intrathecal vancomycin therapy reduces external ventricular drain infection: a single centre retrospective case-control study.

Objectives: External ventricular drain (EVD)-related infection is a significant source of morbidity in neurosurgical patients. Recently, there has been a drive to adopt new catheters with bactericidal properties to reduce infection rates. We propose that the use of standard catheters combined with pre-emptive intrathecal vancomycin (ITV) 10 mg daily provides an effective alternative.

Metastasising pleomorphic adenoma of the submandibular salivary gland presenting with spinal cord compression: case report and review of cases with CNS involvement.

We present a very rare case of a metastasising pleomorphic adenoma with spinal cord compression and review the small handful of cases with central nervous system (CNS) involvement in the literature. This case is unusual as most other reported cases are preceded by local recurrences; also, there is only one previous case of an MPA presenting with spinal cord compression. Metastasising pleomorphic adenoma is a rare malignant salivary gland tumour which, despite "benign" histological appearances produces secondary deposits in distant sites.