Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) improves motor symptoms in individuals with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD) and enables physicians to reduce doses of antiparkinsonian drugs. We investigated possible predictive factors for the successful reduction of antiparkinsonian drug dosage after STN-DBS. We evaluated 33 PD patients who underwent bilateral STN-DBS. We assessed rates of reduction of the levodopa-equivalent daily dose (LEDD) and levodopa daily dose (LDD) by comparing drug doses before vs. 6-months post-surgery. We used correlation coefficients to measure the strength of the relationships between LEDD and LDD reduction rates and preoperative factors including age, disease duration, preoperative LEDD and LDD, unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part-II and -III, levodopa response rate, Mini-Mental State Examination score, dyskinesia score, Hamilton Rating Scale for depression, and the number of non-motor symptoms. The average LEDD and LDD reduction rates were 61.0% and 70.4%, respectively. Of the variables assessed, only the number of psychiatric/cognitive symptoms was significantly correlated with the LEDD reduction rate. No other preoperative factors were correlated with the LEDD or LDD reduction rate. A wide range of preoperative psychiatric and cognitive symptoms may predict the successful reduction of antiparkinsonian drugs after STN-DBS.

Thrombectomy has demonstrated clinical efficacy against acute ischemic stroke caused by intracranial occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA), even if performed 6–24 h after onset. This study investigated the outcomes of thrombectomy performed 6–24 h after stroke onset caused by extracranial ICA occlusion. Of 586 stroke patients receiving thrombectomy during the past 3 years and registered in the Tama Registry of Acute Endovascular Thrombectomy database, 24 were identified with ICA occlusion (14 extracranial and 10 intracranial), known to be well 6–24 h before presentation, and with pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0 or 1. Clinical outcomes measured were the rate of functional independence at 90 days according to mRS score of 0–2 and 90 day mortality rate. Of patients with extracranial ICA occlusion, two received additional carotid stenting with thrombectomy. The median interval between the last time the patient was known to be well and hospital arrival was 601 (interquartile range, 476–729 min). Both the rate of functional independence at 90 days and 90 day mortality were comparable between patients with extracranial or intracranial ICA occlusion (36% vs. 40% and 7% vs. 10%, respectively). No symptomatic intracranial hemorrhages occurred within 24 h following treatment of extracranial ICA occlusion. Thrombectomy performed 6–24 h after extracranial ICA results in acceptable functional outcome. Further clinical study is warranted to better define the temporal window of thrombectomy for acceptable functional outcome in patients with extracranial ICA occlusion.

We retrospectively reviewed the cases of three patients with infectious intracranial aneurysms (IIAs), and discuss the indications for surgical and endovascular treatments. We treated two men and one woman with a total of six aneurysms. The mean age was 43.3 years, ranging from 36 to 51 years. One patient presented initially with an intraparenchymal hemorrhage, one with mass effect, and the other one had four aneurysms (one causing subarachnoid hemorrhages and the other causing delayed intraparenchymal hemorrhages). The average size of all aneurysms was 12.2 mm (range, 2–50 mm). They were preferentially located in the distal posterior cerebral artery, and then, in the middle cerebral artery. All cases were caused by infective endocarditis. We selected endovascular treatments for five aneurysms and treated all but one within 24 h from detection. One aneurysm was treated by combined therapy with endovascular intervention and surgery. After treatment, none of the IIAs presented angiographical recurrence or re-bleeding. If feasible, endovascular treatment is probably the first choice, but a combined surgical and endovascular approach should be considered if surgery or endovascular treatment alone are not feasible. The method of treatment should be individualized. For cases with high risk of aneurysm rupture, treatment should be performed as soon as possible.

The suction decompression (SD) method, which proactively aspirates the blood flowing into the aneurysm and reduces the internal pressure of the aneurysm, is useful for clipping surgery of large and giant cerebral aneurysm. However, there has been little discussion on re-utilization of blood aspirated during SD. This study aimed to examine the safety, convenience, and usefulness of autologous transfusion of aspirated blood using a transfusion bag. At the time of craniotomy, the cervical carotid artery is fully exposed. An angiocatheter sheath was inserted into the carotid artery and placed in the internal carotid artery. In SD, blood was aspirated from the sheath at a constant speed and quickly stored in a blood transfusion storage bag. Blood aspiration was repeated with a new syringe; once the transfusion bag was full, the blood was re-administered to the patient. Changes in vital sign and hemoglobin/hematocrit values before and after SD were examined in five cases performed in this procedure. The aspirated blood volumes of five cases ranged from 130 to 400 mL, and all aspirated blood was successfully re-transfused. There was no critical change in vital sign, and no significant decrease in the hemoglobin/hematocrit value. No findings suggestive of complications of thrombus formation, infection, and hemolysis were noted. Re-transfusion of aspirated blood during SD using a transfusion bag is a simple and safe method, which can minimize potential risk of re-utilizing aspirated blood, and enables the safe and easy execution of SD regardless of aspirated blood volume.

Optic nerve avulsion is an exceedingly rare condition. Here, we describe a case of optic nerve avulsion in a 74-year-old man with temporal hemianopia in the contralateral eye after a bear attack. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed separation of the optic nerve distal to the optic chiasma, whereas the high signal in diffusion-weighted imaging suggested nerve injury from the left side of the optic chiasma to the left optic tract. MRI slices parallel to the optic chiasma were obtained and used for evaluating the site of optic nerve avulsion and nerve injury, which were responsible for temporal hemianopia in the contralateral eye.