Anesthetic concerns and perioperative complications in repair of myelomeningocele: a retrospective review of 135 cases

Development and validation of a score for prediction of postoperative respiratory complications in infants and children (SPORC-C)

BACKGROUND

In infants and children, postoperative respiratory complications are leading causes of perioperative morbidity, mortality, and increased healthcare utilisation. We aimed to develop a novel score for prediction of postoperative respiratory complications in paediatric patients (SPORC for children).

METHODS

We analysed data from paediatric patients (≤12 yr) undergoing surgery in New York and Boston, USA for score development and external validation. The primary outcome was postoperative respiratory complications within 30 days after surgery, defined as respiratory infection, respiratory failure, aspiration pneumonitis, pneumothorax, pleural effusion, bronchospasm, laryngospasm, and reintubation. Data from Children's Hospital at Montefiore were used to create the score by stepwise backwards elimination using multivariate logistic regression. External validation was conducted using a separate cohort of children who underwent surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children.

RESULTS

The study included data from children undergoing 32,187‬ surgical procedures, where 768 (2.4%) children experienced postoperative respiratory complications. The final score consisted of 11 predictors, and showed discriminatory ability in development, internal, and external validation cohorts with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85 (95% confidence interval: 0.83-0.87), 0.84 (0.80-0.87), and 0.83 (0.80-0.86), respectively.

CONCLUSION

SPORC is a novel validated score for predicting the likelihood of postoperative respiratory complications in children that can be used to predict postoperative respiratory complications in infants and children.

Unruptured Myelomeningocele Closure Surgery: A Case Report

Myelomeningocele (MMC) is an in-utero closure defect of the posterior portion of the neural tube, and it is the most common neural tube defect (NTD) compatible with life. It is usually associated with other congenital malformations, such as hydrocephalus and Chiari type 2 syndrome. Therefore, the long-term outcome depends on early repair, and the surgery is urgently scheduled. Newborns with MMC are a special population that requires meticulous preoperative preparation to maintain hemodynamic stability during the procedure and a favorable outcome. In this case report, we describe the challenges of unruptured myelomeningocele closure surgery in a newborn with 12 hours of life. This special case emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach between anesthesiologists, neurosurgeons, and plastic surgeons to provide the best care to this subset of patients.

Pediatric Neuroanesthesia — a Review of the Recent Literature

Purpose of Review

Pediatric neuroanesthesia is a growing and still challenging subspecialty. The purpose of this review is to summarize the available knowledge and highlight the most recent findings of the literature on non-traumatic pediatric neuroanesthesia care.

Recent Findings

Several human studies have confirmed the negative effects of early life anesthetic exposure. According to non-human studies, volatile anesthetics and opioids contribute to tumor progression. Tranexamic acid effectively reduces perioperative blood loss; it is used in several different doses without standard guidelines on optimal dosing. The widespread use of neuromonitoring has necessitated the development of anesthetic methods that do not affect neuromuscular transmission.

Summary

Pediatric anesthetic neurotoxicity, management of intraoperative bleeding, and the effect of anesthesia on tumor growth are among the most debated and researched topics in pediatric neuroanesthesia. The lack of evidence and clinical guidelines underlines the need for further large prospective studies in this subspecialty.

Resuscitation decisions in fetal myelomeningocele repair should center on parents' values: a counter analysis

In our response to, "Parental request for non-resuscitation in fetal myelomeningocele repair: an analysis of the novel ethical tensions in fetal intervention" by Wolfe and co-authors, we argue that parental authority should guide resuscitation decision-making for a fetus at risk for preterm delivery as a complication of fetal myelomeningocele (fMMC) repair. Due to the elevated morbidity and mortality risks of combined myelomeningocele, extreme prematurity, and fetal hypoxia, parents' values regarding the acceptability of possible outcomes should be elicited and their preferences honored. Ethical decision-making in these situations must also consider the broader context of the fetal-maternal dyad. Innovations in fetoscopic approaches to fMMC repair may pose additional complexity to these resuscitation decisions.

A Simplified Approach to Myelomeningocele Defect Repair

BACKGROUND

Repair of the soft tissue defect in myelomeningoceles remains challenging. The literature currently lacks a systematic approach, reporting high rates of complications. We present outcomes from the largest series to date and describe a simplified approach that minimizes morbidity and streamlines decision making.

METHODS

Patients 1 year or younger who underwent myelomeningocele repair between 2008 and 2018 were reviewed. Flap types were categorized by tissue composition. Complications were dichotomized into early and late (<30 days and >30 days postoperative, respectively). Logistic regression was used to measure the impact of flap tissue composition and skin closure technique on odds of postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Ninety-seven patients met inclusion criteria. Reoperation was required in only 3 (3.0%) patients-1 for wound dehiscence and 2 for surgical site infections. Zero cases of tethered cord or cerebrospinal fluid leak occurred. The most common minor complications were early wound complications (n = 18, 18.6%) and early infection (n = 5, 5.2%). Fascia-only flaps and muscle + other tissue flaps were not associated with higher odds of complications compared with muscle-only flaps (odds ratio [OR], 2.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53-8.50, P = 0.29; OR = 2.87, 95% CI 0.66-12.51, P = 0.16, respectively). Rhomboid flaps for skin closure were associated with higher odds of complications (OR, 4.47; 95% CI, 1.00-19.97; P = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our approach to myelomeningocele repair demonstrated no cases of secondary tethered cord or cerebrospinal fluid leak, and reoperative rates were extremely low. Because complications were unrelated to flap type, we recommend a simplified approach using any tissue type for dural coverage and 2-layer primary closure of the skin.

Evaluation of Lower Extremities' Vascular Characteristics in Myelomeningocele Patients: A Case-Control Study

OBJECTIVE

Myelomeningocele (MMC) is the most common neural tube defect. Patients with MMC have multiple risk factors for venous thrombosis, but this complication rarely occurs. This lower rate of venous thrombosis in MMC children could be related to some characteristics of the vessels in the lower extremities. This study aimed at finding explanations for this dilemma.

METHODS

A case-control study was designed in the Children's Hospital Medical Center, Tehran considering paraplegic patients with MMC as the case group and nonparaplegic MMC patients as a control group. Doppler ultrasound was performed to evaluate femoral and popliteal arterial and venous properties.

RESULTS

Patients aged from 8 months to 12 years were evaluated. The mean diameter of the femoral arteries was 3.73 ± 0.23 and 4.72 ± 0.39 mm among paraplegic and nonparaplegic MMC patients, respectively (p = 0.02). The femoral artery flow was 0.52 ± 0.08 and 0.75 ± 0.06 L/min, respectively in the case and control groups (p = 0.015). The diameters of the femoral veins were 4.85 ± 0.34 and 5.13 ± 0.32 mm in the case and control groups, respectively (p > 0.05). Besides, the blood flows of the case and control groups' femoral veins were 0.27 ± 0.08 and 0.14 ± 0.01 L/min, respectively (p = 0.6). It turned out that lower extremities' arteries in the case group had significantly lower blood flow and diameter compared to those of the control group. However, the same venous properties did not show any significant differences.

CONCLUSION

The decreased arterial flow along with the unchanged venous properties leads to less stasis and better drainage of the blood, which in turn might result in a lower incidence of deep vein thrombosis.

Adipofascial Flaps With Acellular Dermal Matrix Compared With Myocutaneous Flap Reconstruction in Lumbar Myelomeningocele Defects

BACKGROUND

Adipofascial flaps (AFF) with acellular dermal matrix (ADM) have the potential to reconstruct neural tube defects without sacrificing muscle that may be critical for long-term function. Comparative studies between myocutaneous flap (MF) reconstruction, the accepted standard reconstructive technique, and AFF/ADM remain under-reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of myelomeningocele reconstruction using muscle sparing AFF/ADM versus MF.

METHODS

A retrospective comparison was conducted on consecutive myelomeningocele patients reconstructed with MF or AFF/ADM over an 84-month period. Data analyzed included: basic demographics, defect size, reconstructive technique, complications, and length of follow-up. A supplemental meta-analysis based on systematic review of literature was performed to compare alternative reconstructive options.

RESULTS

Twelve patients were identified who met inclusion criteria. Median age, weight, and defect size at reconstruction in the AFF/ADM group (n = 6) was 37.5 weeks, 3.25 kg, and 20.0 cm, respectively, and in the MF group (n = 6) was 37 weeks, 3.6 kg, and 22.5 cm (P > 0.5). For the AFF/ADM versus MF groups, median follow-up was 33.8 versus 22.6 months, reoperation rate was 0% versus 17% (P = 1.0), and complex skin flap closure rate was 17% versus 100% (P = 0.015). No cerebrospinal fluid leaks or surgical site infections occurred in either group. Meta-analysis of the literature revealed no statistically significant difference in complications rates between muscle and nonmuscle flap reconstruction (P > 0.5); potential long-term sequelae of muscle flap harvest were not included.

CONCLUSIONS

Muscle sparing AFF with ADM is a safe and effective surgical alternative to muscle flaps for lumbar myelomeningocele reconstruction.

Surgical treatment of patients with myelomeningocele-related spine deformities: study of 26 cases

INTRODUCTION

Scoliosis, kyphosis, and sacral agenesis (SA) are common spine deformities in myelomeningocele (MMC) patients. Surgery of spine deformities in MMC patients is associated with various difficulties as infection, pathological skin breakage, instrumentation failure, and neurological deterioration. The purposes of this study are to share our clinical experience and discuss different surgical techniques which are defined in the literature.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

We retrospectively evaluated our database of patients with MMC who underwent surgical procedures for spine deformities from 2014 to 2016. Demographic and clinical data, surgical parameters, surgical techniques and levels, pre- and postoperative deformity angles, level of posterior fusion defect, spinal malformations, neurological evaluation of lower extremities and complications were collated. We divided the cases into three groups according to the type of deformities. The groups were lumbar kyphosis (Group 1), congenital scoliosis (Group 2), and paralytic scoliosis (Group 3).

RESULTS

There were 26 patients in the study. Fifteen patients were male and 11 patients were female. The median age of the patients was 8.03 (range = 3-17 years) at the time of operation. There were 10 patients in Group 1, 7 patients in Group 2, and 9 patients in Group 3. In Group 1, preoperative kyphosis angle varied between 51° and 160°, with an average of 95.7°. In Group 2, preoperative Cobb angle varied between 57° and 150°, with an average of 106.6°. Kyphosis was present in 4 patients. Preoperative kyphosis angle varied between 74° and 140°, with an average of 93°. In Group 3, preoperative Cobb angle varied between 45° and 145°, with an average of 72.5°.

CONCLUSION

Spinal deformity in children with MMC has been considered to cause severe disability. Surgical treatment is a challenging procedure with a wide spectrum of complications, but can provide good correction of spinal deformity and pelvic obliquity, and improve the quality of life. Self-growing systems which are a new alternative to traditional growing rod systems, must be considered to preserve growing potential of spine.

Making Pediatric Neuroanesthesia Safer

It a challenging task for a Neuroanaesthetist to do the tight rope walking of maintaining the homeostasis of the small baby and at the same time complying with to the demands of the surgery and the surgeon. With the advancement of surgical techniques and availability of safer anaesthetic drugs and equipments it is possible to provide anaesthesia to even premature babies. This article gives a comprehensive review of the anatomical and physiological differences between the adult and the pediatric population and the anaesthetic implications of the various neurosurgical disorders.

Scoliosis in myelomeningocele: epidemiology, management, and functional outcome

OBJECTIVE The authors aimed to provide an updated and consolidated report on the epidemiology, management, and functional outcome of cases of myelomeningocele (MMC) in patients with scoliosis. METHODS A comprehensive literature search was performed using MEDLINE, Embase, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews on cases of MMC in patients with scoliosis between 1980 and 2016. The initial search yielded 670 reports. After removing duplicates and applying inclusion criteria, we included 32 full-text original articles in this study. RESULTS Pooled statistical analysis of the included articles revealed the prevalence of scoliosis in MMC patients to be 53% (95% CI 0.42-0.64). Slightly more females (56%) are affected with both MMC and scoliosis than males. Motor level appears to be a significant predictor of prevalence, but not severity, of scoliosis in MMC patients. Treatment options for these patients include tethered cord release (TCR) and fusion surgeries. Curvature improvement and stabilization after TCR may be limited to patients with milder (< 50°) curves. Meanwhile, more aggressive fusion procedures such as a combined anterior-posterior approach may result in more favorable long-term scoliosis correction, albeit with greater complication rates. Quality of life metrics including ambulatory status and sitting stability are influenced by motor level of the lesion as well as the degree of the scoliosis curvature. CONCLUSIONS Scoliosis is among the most common and challenging comorbidities from which patients with MMC suffer. Although important epidemiological and management trends are evident, larger, prospective studies are needed to discover ways to more accurately counsel and more optimally treat these patients.

A rare case of abdominal compartment syndrome following repair of large myelomeningocele

Abdominal compartment syndrome is a rare entity that can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and correctly managed in time. We report a case of abdominal compartment syndrome following an apparently uneventful excision and repair of myelomeningocele (MMC). Though MMC is the most complex congenital spinal cord malformation compatible with life and early surgery is recommended to decrease the risk of meningitis and sepsis but generally surgery is safe without major perioperative turbulence. The majority of the skin defects following excision of MMC are repaired by primary skin closure, but large defects may require secondary closure by skin grafts or rotational flaps. We report a case of an infant with large MMC, who developed abdominal compartment syndrome following excision and repair of the swelling. Intraoperatively, it manifested as bradycardia, hypotension, and ventilatory difficulty which were managed successfully. Subsequently, in the postoperative period, the presence of tight abdomen and fall in urine output raised strong suspicion regarding development of abdominal compartment syndrome. Condition of infant improved following the release of flap sutures. A high index of suspicion along with early management is imperative for a successful outcome in such cases.

Primary repair of open neural tube defect in adulthood: case example and review of management strategies

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Neural tube defects are congenital malformations that develop when the neural plate fails to close during embryogenesis. The most common open neural tube defect, myelomeningocele (MMC), is declining in frequency in North America. If identified, an MMC must be closed in the perinatal period to prevent lethal complications. Lesions presenting in older adults are, thus, very uncommon.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to describe the surgical management of an adult with an unrepaired ulcerated lumbosacral MMC who presented with persistent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage and to review the management strategies for adult patients with unrepaired MMC.

STUDY DESIGN

A case report was used for this study.

METHODS

The patient was a 62-year-old woman with an unrepaired ulcerated lumbosacral MMC and associated lower extremity weakness. She sought medical care for persistent lumbar tenderness and ulceration after sustaining a fall 4 months before admission. Physical and radiological assessment revealed a lumbosacral MMC at the L5 and S1 levels and a tethered cord. Surgical resection of the placode and de-tethering were performed.

RESULTS

One week after repair of the lumbosacral MMC, the patient was readmitted for management of continued CSF leakage and hydrocephalus, requiring external ventricular drainage, wound revision, and placement of lumboperitoneal shunt. The patient experienced complete resolution of back pain without additional episodes of CSF leakage.

CONCLUSIONS

This rare case and review of management strategies suggests that proper surgical management of open MMC in adulthood can successfully be performed and improve patient symptoms and prevent further complications.

Anaesthesia for neurosurgical procedures in paediatric patients

Recent advances in neurosurgery, neuromonitoring and neurointensive care have dramatically improved the outcome in patients affected by surgical lesions of central nervous system (CNS). Although most of these techniques were applied first in the adult population, paediatric patients present a set of inherent challenges because of their developing and maturing neurological and physiological status, apart from the CNS disease process. To provide optimal neuroanaesthesia care, the anaesthesiologist must have the knowledge of basic neurophysiology of developing brain and effects of various drugs on cerebral haemodynamics apart from the specialised training on paediatric neuroanaesthesia. This article highlights on the perioperative management of paediatric neurosurgical patients.