Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a life-threatening condition, and although its two main complications-cerebral vasospasm (CVS)/delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) and early brain injury (EBI)-have been widely studied, prognosis has not improved over time. The sympathetic nerve (SN) system is important for the regulation of cardiovascular function and is closely associated with cerebral vessels and the regulation of cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular function; thus, excessive SN activation leads to a rapid breakdown of homeostasis in the brain. In the hyperacute phase, patients with SAH can experience possibly lethal conditions that are thought to be associated with SN activation (catecholamine surge)-related arrhythmia, neurogenic pulmonary edema, and irreversible injury to the hypothalamus and brainstem. Although the role of the SN system in SAH has long been investigated and considerable evidence has been collected, the exact pathophysiology remains undetermined, mainly because the relationships between the SN system and SAH are complicated, and many SNmodulating factors are involved. Thus, research concerning these relationships needs to explore novel findings that correlate with the relevant concepts based on past reliable evidence. Here, we explore the role of the central SN (CSN) system in SAH pathophysiology and provide a comprehensive review of the functional CSN network; brain injury in hyperacute phase involving the CSN system; pathophysiological overlap between the CSN system and the two major SAH complications, CVS/DCI and EBI; CSN-modulating factors; and SAH-related extracerebral organ injury. Further studies are warranted to determine the specific roles of the CSN system in the brain injuries associated with SAH.

Background:Penetrating vertebral artery injuries (VAIs) are even rarer than carotid artery injuries. For anatomical reasons, the surgical management of VAI is difficult, and endovascular management often yields a good outcome. We report our strategy for the endovascular treatment of a patient with a penetrating VAI at the V2 segment of the left vertebral artery.Case Description:In a fall on a large rake, a 76-year-old man was stabbed in the left neck by three tines. Although he manifested no neurological deficits, computed tomography (CT) suggested penetrating VAI. Digital subtraction angiography confirmed VAI and extravasation, and he underwent endovascular coil embolization. Two microcatheters, inserted proximal and distal to the injury sites, were used for successful endovascular coil embolization. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging - and single photon emission CT studies denied cerebral infarction and a decrease in cerebral perfusion. The patient exhibited no neurological deficits and was able to leave the hospital on foot.Conclusion:This is the rare documentation of a patient whose penetrating VAI was treated by simultaneous coil embolization and foreign body removal. Imaging studies confirmed the patency and perfusion of the intracranial artery. Our treatment strategy produced a good outcome in this unusual patient.

Lumboperitoneal shunt appears to improve quality of life if the patient is suffering from symptoms of leptomeningeal metastasis-related hydrocephalus. Compared to ventriculoperitoneal shunt, lumboperitoneal shunt is less invasive and simpler, providing a suitable option for frail patients with end-stage cancer. Adjustable pressure shunt valves can cope with varying symptoms and ventricle sizes.

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BACKGROUND Image-guided systems improve the safety, functional outcome, and overall survival of neurosurgery but require extensive equipment. OBJECTIVE To develop an image-guided surgery system that combines the brain surface photographic texture (BSP-T) captured during surgery with 3-dimensional computer graphics (3DCG) using projection mapping. METHODS Patients who underwent initial surgery with brain tumors were prospectively enrolled. The texture of the 3DCG (3DCG-T) was obtained from 3DCG under similar conditions as those when capturing the brain surface photographs. The position and orientation at the time of 3DCG-T acquisition were used as the reference. The correct position and orientation of the BSP-T were obtained by aligning the BSP-T with the 3DCG-T using normalized mutual information. The BSP-T was combined with and displayed on the 3DCG using projection mapping. This mixed-reality projection mapping (MRPM) was used prospectively in 15 patients (mean age 46.6 yr, 6 males). The difference between the centerlines of surface blood vessels on the BSP-T and 3DCG constituted the target registration error (TRE) and was measured in 16 fields of the craniotomy area. We also measured the time required for image processing. RESULTS The TRE was measured at 158 locations in the 15 patients, with an average of 1.19 ± 0.14 mm (mean ± standard error). The average image processing time was 16.58 min. CONCLUSION Our MRPM method does not require extensive equipment while presenting information of patients’ anatomy together with medical images in the same coordinate system. It has the potential to improve patient safety.