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P J Jannetta

Publications and source records attributed to P J Jannetta.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Functional outcome and the effect of cranioplasty after retromastoid craniectomy for microvascular decompression.

BACKGROUND: While the efficacy of retromastoid craniectomy for microvascular decompression for hyperactive cranial nerve syndromes is well established, there is no real information regarding the functional outcome of these operations. The purpose of this retrospective questionnaire study is to assess functional outcome regarding presence and duration of postoperative headache, incisional pain, and the time to return to normal activity in patients undergoing retromastoid craniectomy for microvascular decompression. The effect of closure with bone chips or cranioplasty in the defect upon these functional outcomes was studied, as was the influence of the particular nerve that was the object of decompression. METHODS: Four-hundred and ninety-five consecutive patients were contacted and 320 (65%) returned questionnaires with enough information to be suitable for analysis. RESULTS: The incidence of postoperative headache was initially 60.1%, dropping to 28.8% at 1 month and 16.8% at 6 months. Incisional pain likewise declined with time, noted in 25.8% at 1 month and only 13.1% at 6 months. Use of a cranioplasty made no significant difference in influencing either postoperative headache or incisional pain, nor was the nature of the procedure a significant factor. CONCLUSION: Twenty-five percent of patients resumed normal activity by 3 weeks, 50% by 1 month, and 90% by 3 months. Overall, 98% of patients responding reported returning to normal activity. Therefore, although there is an incidence of postoperative headache and incisional pain, these decrease with time and do not seem to interfere with the return to normal activity, nor are they affected by placement of a cranioplasty or the nature of the operation.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1999

Hemifacial spasm.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Hemifacial Spasm↗
PubMed1999

Hyperactive rhizopathy of the vagus nerve and microvascular decompression. Case report.

A 37-year-old woman underwent microvascular decompression of the superior vestibular nerve for disabling positional vertigo. Immediately following the operation, she noted severe and spontaneous gagging and dysphagia. Multiple magnetic resonance images were obtained but failed to demonstrate a brainstem lesion and attempts at medical management failed. Two years later she underwent exploration of the posterior fossa. At the second operation, the vertebral artery as well as the posterior inferior cerebellar artery were noted to be compressing the vagus nerve. The vessels were mobilized and held away from the nerve with Teflon felt. The patient's symptoms resolved immediately after the second operation and she has remained symptom free. The authors hypothesize that at least one artery was shifted at the time of her first operation, or immediately thereafter, which resulted in vascular compression of the vagus nerve. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of a hyperactive gagging response treated with microvascular decompression. The case also illustrates the occurrence of a possibly iatrogenic neurovascular compression syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Intraoperative loss of auditory function relieved by microvascular decompression of the cochlear nerve.

BACKGROUND: Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) are useful indicators of auditory function during posterior fossa surgery. Several potential mechanisms of injury may affect the cochlear nerve, and complete loss of BAEP is often associated with postoperative hearing loss. We report two cases of intraoperative auditory loss related to vascular compression upon the cochlear nerve. METHODS: Intra-operative BAEP were monitored in a consecutive series of over 300 microvascular decompressions (MVD) performed in a recent twelve-month period. In two patients undergoing treatment for trigeminal neuralgia, BAEP waveforms suddenly disappeared completely during closure of the dura. RESULTS: The cerebello-pontine angle was immediately re-explored and there was no evidence of hemorrhage or cerebellar swelling. The cochlear nerve and brainstem were inspected, and prominent vascular compression was identified in both patients. A cochlear nerve MVD resulted in immediate restoration of BAEP, and both patients recovered without hearing loss. CONCLUSION: These cases illustrate that vascular compression upon the cochlear nerve may disrupt function, and is reversible with MVD. Awareness of this event and recognition of BAEP changes alert the neurosurgeon to a potential reversible cause of hearing loss during posterior fossa surgery.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Delayed hearing loss after microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve.

OBJECTIVE: The development of sudden postoperative hearing loss as a complication of microvascular decompression (MVD) operations in the cerebellopontine angle has already been reported. A sudden hearing loss of vascular origin may also occur hours or days after such operations, but even in such cases an improvement of hearing over the following weeks is possible. Here we report on a gradual deterioration of hearing over a period of two weeks after MVD which has not been described in the literature up to now. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A MVD operation was performed twice on a 36 year old patient with trigeminal neuralgia. After the second operation the patient developed a slight hearing impairment 3 days postoperatively which increased over a period of two weeks and ended up with total deafness. The course of intra-operative brainstem auditory evoked potentials and postoperative audiograms is documented. CONCLUSION: Because of gradual development of the delayed hearing loss, we conclude that postoperative tissue scarring may be the underlying pathology.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Delayed facial weakness after microvascular decompression of cranial nerve VII.

BACKGROUND: Retromastoid craniectomy and microvascular decompression of cranial nerve VII for hemifacial spasm is a well accepted and effective treatment. Risks of the operation relate to the surgical approach in general and to the seventh nerve in particular. Delayed facial weakness is an unusual and little-described complication of the procedure. The purpose of this review is to describe this complication and the characteristics of the patients so affected. METHODS: Between 1972 and 1996, 985 patients have undergone microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm. During this time, 28 patients (2.8%) undergoing decompression of the facial nerve and 1 patient undergoing decompression of the cochlear nerve for tinnitus developed delayed facial palsy. RESULTS: The weakness was at least a House Grade III or worse and was complete in 11 of the patients. The time to occurrence averaged 12 days, with a tight range of 7 to 16 days. There were no factors such as duration of symptoms, intraoperative findings, or preoperative botulinum injections that were predictive of this postoperative weakness. In all patients there was almost complete recovery (House Grade I or II). CONCLUSIONS: Delayed facial weakness after MVD of CN VII can occur in up to 3% of cases. The onset of weakness after operation is consistent in its timing, occurring on average 12 days after the procedure. Although the etiology of this complication is uncertain, the palsy spontaneously resolves with a good or excellent outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The origin and evolution of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery.

Neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh began more than 60 years ago with the arrival of Stuart Niles Rowe. During the years, the department has been led by four men, each of whom guided the department into the future in his unique way. These men and many other dedicated physicians, nurses, and staff members have contributed to this organization and created an environment where neurosurgery flourishes. This article describes the development of neurosurgery within the "Steel City" and outlines the origin and growth of the Department of Neurological Surgery at The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Academic Medical Centers↗
PubMed1998

Microvascular decompression of the left lateral medulla oblongata for severe refractory neurogenic hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate that microvascular decompression of the left medulla oblongata is a safe and effective modality for treating elevated blood pressure in patients with severe medically refractory "essential" hypertension (HTN). METHODS: Twelve patients with medically intractable HTN with or without autonomic dysreflexia underwent microvascular decompression of the left rostral ventrolateral medulla oblongata. Causes such as pheochromocytoma, carcinoid syndrome, and renal disease were ruled out before surgery. Indications for surgery included systolic blood pressures greater than 180 mm Hg refractory to three or more medications, severe blood pressure lability, or medically resistant HTN at systolic pressures greater than 160 mm Hg associated with autonomic dysreflexia and/or magnetic resonance images demonstrating left medullary compression. The median age and follow-up duration were 51 years and 4.1 years, respectively. RESULTS: Ten of 12 patients experienced reductions in systolic blood pressure greater than 20 mm Hg. Of these 10 patients, pressure reductions were temporary (6 mo) in two. Seven of eight patients experienced improvement in blood pressure lability and/or autonomic dysreflexia, with five patients showing sustained improvements. CONCLUSION: Microvascular decompression of the left rostral ventrolateral medulla oblongata may be an effective treatment modality for patients suffering from severe HTN and/or autonomic dysreflexia refractory to medical management.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Microvascular decompression for pediatric onset trigeminal neuralgia.

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal neuralgia (TGN) is generally a disease of the elderly. Vascular compression, the causative agent in the majority of cases, is thought to result from atherosclerotic changes within the vessels of the posterior fossa. Rarely, the disease presents during childhood, before the onset of severe atherosclerotic changes. We therefore sought to explore the role of vascular compression in pediatric patients with medically refractory TGN. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients were identified in whom the onset of typical TGN had occurred during childhood (age 18 yr or younger) and who underwent exploration of the cerebellopontine angle. Twenty-two of 23 underwent microvascular decompression (MVD) of the trigeminal nerve. Twenty-one of these patients were followed for more than 1 year. A retrospective chart review was conducted to determine the efficacy of MVD for the treatment of TGN in this select population. Operative findings were recorded and correlated with patient outcome. RESULTS: Twenty-two of 23 patients (96%) were found to have vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve at the time of exploration. One patient was found to have an epidermoid tumor. MVD resulted in complete pain relief at the time of discharge in 16 of 22 patients (73%), with an additional 4 patients (18%) having a greater than 75% diminution of pain. The 21 patients who were followed for at least 1 year were followed for a mean of 105 months. At the time of their last follow-up, 9 of these patients (43%) continued to have complete pain relief and 3 (14%) had a greater than 75% diminution of pain. The most common operative finding was a vein compressing the nerve, often in combination with a branch of the superior cerebellar artery. DISCUSSION: MVD has been demonstrated to be a safe and efficacious treatment for TGN in the adult population. Patients whose symptoms begin in childhood do not enjoy the same therapeutic response to MVD as do patients with TGN onset in adulthood. An increased incidence of venous compression was noted in this population, as was a longer duration of symptoms before MVD. These factors may be responsible for the decreased efficacy of MVD in this patient population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Trigeminal numbness and tic relief after microvascular decompression for typical trigeminal neuralgia.

OBJECTIVE: After most operative treatments for trigeminal neuralgia, long-term tic relief is closely correlated with postoperative numbness in the trigeminal distribution. Microvascular decompression (MVD) is proposed to relieve tic through a nontraumatic mechanism. We investigated the relationship between postoperative trigeminal numbness and tic relief in a large, prospectively followed cohort of patients treated with MVD for typical trigeminal neuralgia. METHODS: Of 1204 patients who underwent MVD for typical tic during a 20-year period, 522 had single MVDs on a single side, had not undergone ablative trigeminal procedures before or after MVD, and were still being followed in 1994. In 1994, patients graded facial numbness using a questionnaire (response rate, 92%) with a 5-point scale. Multivariate Cox and logistic regression methods were used. The analyses were adjusted for the time that had passed between the performance of MVD and the completion of the questionnaire (minimum, 2 yr). RESULTS: Seventeen percent of patients reported some degree of persistent facial numbness. Decompression of a vein at MVD (odds ratio, 2.5) and failure to find compression by the superior cerebellar artery (odds ratio, 2.0) independently predicted postoperative facial numbness, which in turn predicted postoperative burning and aching facial pain (odds ratio, 5.2-5.9). A trend toward worse outcome was noted in patients with numb faces (P = 0.3). Similar findings were noted in subgroups of patients in whom the superior cerebellar artery was decompressed at MVD (n = 381) and in whom a superior cerebellar artery with no vein was found (n = 120). In the latter subgroup, facial numbness (5.8% of patients) significantly predicted worse long-term outcome (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: We found no evidence that postoperative trigeminal numbness predicts relief of typical tic after MVD. Trigeminal numbness was related to operative findings at MVD and predicted postoperative burning and aching facial pain. To minimize postoperative facial dysesthesia, trauma to the trigeminal root during MVD should be avoided when possible.

Decompression, Surgical↗
PubMed1997

Pediatric hemifacial spasm: the efficacy of microvascular decompression.

Hemifacial spasm (HFS), generally a disease of the elderly, is caused by vascular compression of the seventh nerve. Vascular compression is thought to result from atherosclerotic changes within the vessels of the posterior fossa, and therefore rarely presents in childhood. Here we describe our experience with 12 patients with onset of HFS during childhood (age 18 or less) and who had surgical exploration of the cerebellopontine angle. These patients represent less than 1.2% of the patient population with HFS operated upon at this institution during the study period. Nine patients had follow-up data extending over 83 months. All 12 patients were found to have microvascular compression of the seventh nerve at the time of surgery. The most common operative finding was compression of the seventh nerve by a vein, alone or in combination with a branch of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery. At the time of discharge and after a mean follow-up period of 125 months, microvascular decompression resulted in complete relief of spasm in 67% of the patients.

Adolescent↗