Surgical exposure of the distal cervical ICA is associated with relatively high morbidity that increases with higher levels of exposure. Staged maneuvers have been shown to increase ICA exposure, especially in our systematic approach. The number of steps required varies depending on the level of lesion. Complete understanding of the surgical anatomy is essential to minimize surgical morbidity and to develop surgical expertise.

The CRGS score is a useful and practical tool for the selection of elderly patients affected by intracranial meningiomas as surgical candidates. A CRGS score higher than 10 and female sex are good prognostic factors of survival. whereas age is not a contraindication to surgery.

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is characterized by orthostatic headache, low CSF pressure and diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement on brain MRI. SIH results from spontaneous CSF leakage leading to brain sag. Sometimes, tearing of bridging veins may produce subdural hematomas (SDHs). Patients with SDH were identified retrospectively from 212 consecutive SIH patients. Data were collected on demographics, clinical courses, neuroimaging findings, treatment and outcome of SDH. Thirty-five patients (16%), (6 women, 29 men; aged 33-68; mean, 50 years) with SDH were recruited. They were divided into two groups: initially withSIH diagnosed (n = 29) and undiagnosed (n = 6). After conservative treatment, the first group underwent a lumbar epidural blood patch (EBP) (n = 27) and emergent evacuation of symptomatic SDH (n = 2). After EBP, ten patients had enlarged SDH. Nine of them underwent evacuation of symptomatic SDH with mass effect (ME). In the second group, three patients with clinical worsening from SIH underwent, erroneously, evacuation of mild SDH. They worsened after the evacuation; after SIH diagnosis was made, they underwent one EBP (n = 2) and three EBPs (the patient with coma). The other three cases with symptomatic SDH with ME underwent evacuation with recurrence of SDH (n = 2). All 35 patients enjoyed a good outcome. If conservative treatment is insufficient, EBP should be performed prior to hematoma irrigation. When an emergent evacuation is necessary before EBP, it is preferable to perform, after surgery, one early EBP before the patient gets up to prevent frequent recurrences of SDH by underlying CSF leakage.

, is experiencing the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that may present as an acute respiratory infection. We report on COVID-19 pneumonia in the context of a complex case of Cushing's disease (CD). Case Report: A 67-year-old man with CD, who was admitted to our hospital, presented with signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency with persistent hypotension and glycemia toward the lower limits. We progressively withdrew almost all treatments for diabetes and CD (pasireotide and metyrapone), and i.v. hydrocortisone was necessary. A tendency to hyperkalemia was probably associated to enoxaparin. We summarized the many possible interactions between medications of Cushing's syndrome (CS) and COVID-19. Conclusion: Adrenal insufficiency might be a clinical challenge that needs a prompt treatment also in CS patients during COVID-19 infection. We should consider the possibility to titrate or temporary halt medical therapies of CS in the context of COVID-19 infection. Unexpected hyperkalemia in CS patients under treatment with heparin might be the signal of aldosterone suppression.

Exposure of the C6 segment of the ICA is markedly increased by increase of the mobility of the optic nerve with clinoidectomy and section of the falciform ligament.