title: Early surgery for brainstem cavernomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose was to review our experience with the surgical management of brainstem cavernomas (BSCs) and especially the impact of the surgical timing on the clinical outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 22 patients harboring a BSC, who underwent 23 procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surgery was carried out during the early stage after the last haemorrhage, with a mean delay of 21.6 days (range 4-90 days). Sixteen procedures were performed after a first bleeding event while seven after multiple bleedings. Complete resection was achieved in 19 patients (86.4%). Early after surgery, 12 patients (52.2%) improved neurologically, 5 (21.7%) were stable and 6 (26.1%) worsened. New postoperative deficits were noted after 9 procedures (39.1%). Statistically significant factors for postoperative aggravation were: late surgery (P = 0.046) and multiple bleedings (P = 0.043). No patient operated on within the first 19 days after bleeding did worsen (n = 11), as opposed to 6 out of 12 who did when operated on later. After a mean follow-up of 44.9 months, 20 patients (90.9%) were improved, 1 patient (4.6%) was worse and 1 patient was lost to follow-up (4.6%), after reoperation for rebleeding of a previously completely resected cavernoma. Late morbidity was reduced to 8.6%. The mean Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at the end of the follow-up period was 4.24, compared to a mean preoperative GOS of 3.22 (P<0.001). Complete neurological recovery of motor deficits, sensory disturbances, cranial nerves (CNs), internuclear ophtalmoplegia and cerebellar dysfunction were respectively 41.7%, 38.5%, 52.6%, 60.0% and 58.3%. Among the most affected CNs: CN 3, CN 5 and CN 7 were more prone to completely recover, respectively in 60.0%, 70.0% and 69.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical removal of BSCs is feasible in experienced hands with acceptable morbidity and good outcome. Early surgery and single bleeding were associated with better surgical results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bruneau
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bijlenga
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reverdin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rilliet
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Regli
authors.forename: J-G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Villemure
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Porchet
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: de Tribolet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*