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Volume 15
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10.3390/brainsci15070670
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Safety and Efficacy Evaluation of Ultrasound Aspirators in Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors Surgery: An Experimental Study on a Swine Model

by
Mauro Palmieri
1,
Alessandro Pesce
2,*,
Mattia Capobianco
1,
Massimo Corsini
1,
Giorgia Iovannitti
1,
Fulvio Aloj
3,
Giuseppa Zancana
1,
Vincenzo Esposito
3,
Maurizio Salvati
2,
Antonio Santoro
1,
Gianpaolo Cantore
1,3 and
Alessandro Frati
1
1
Human Neurosciences Department, Neurosurgery Division, “Sapienza” University, 00161 Rome, Italy
2
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Rome ‘’Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
3
IRCCS “Neuromed”, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(7), 670; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15070670 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 11 May 2025 / Revised: 13 June 2025 / Accepted: 19 June 2025 / Published: 21 June 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comprehensive Research on Neuro-Oncology: From Brain Functional Anatomy to the Newest Treatments)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Introduction: Intradural extramedullary and intramedullary spinal tumors are rare, complex to treat, and require advanced surgical techniques. Ultrasonic aspirators, commonly used for tumor removal, can cause sensory and motor deficits, including loss of motor evoked potentials (MEPs). This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasonic aspirators in intramedullary tumor surgery using a swine model, comparing different systems and techniques. Methods: Ten pigs underwent D1-D3 laminectomy and myelotomy, with adipose tissue simulating a tumor. The ultrasonic aspirators were tested under varying conditions (fragmentation power, suction, application time, and vibration mode). The primary endpoint is to evaluate the impact of the chosen variables on motor function damage. The secondary endpoints are histological evaluation of the type of damage caused by ultrasound aspirators and the effect of steroid drugs on MEPs’ impairment recovery. Results: Ultrasound aspirators can cause a significant MEP signal reduction when used in continuous mode, with fragmentation power >30 for more than 2 min (p < 0.001). Suction does not affect MEPs. When used in alternating/pulsatile mode, fragmentation power and application time do not affect MEPs. The two-way ANOVA analysis on the interaction between fragmentation power and application time in continuous mode did not demonstrate a significant interaction (p = 0.155). Time alone does not affect motor damage (p = 0.873). Betamethasone can restore MEPs’ signal after damage if administered immediately. Conclusions: Using ultrasonic aspirators in an animal model of intramedullary tumor surgery is safe. The main factor that resulted in the responsibility of motor function impairment is the fragmentation power.
Keywords: ultrasound aspirator; CNS tumors; spinal cord; intramedullary tumors; animal model ultrasound aspirator; CNS tumors; spinal cord; intramedullary tumors; animal model

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MDPI and ACS Style

Palmieri, M.; Pesce, A.; Capobianco, M.; Corsini, M.; Iovannitti, G.; Aloj, F.; Zancana, G.; Esposito, V.; Salvati, M.; Santoro, A.; et al. Safety and Efficacy Evaluation of Ultrasound Aspirators in Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors Surgery: An Experimental Study on a Swine Model. Brain Sci. 2025, 15, 670. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15070670

AMA Style

Palmieri M, Pesce A, Capobianco M, Corsini M, Iovannitti G, Aloj F, Zancana G, Esposito V, Salvati M, Santoro A, et al. Safety and Efficacy Evaluation of Ultrasound Aspirators in Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors Surgery: An Experimental Study on a Swine Model. Brain Sciences. 2025; 15(7):670. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15070670

Chicago/Turabian Style

Palmieri, Mauro, Alessandro Pesce, Mattia Capobianco, Massimo Corsini, Giorgia Iovannitti, Fulvio Aloj, Giuseppa Zancana, Vincenzo Esposito, Maurizio Salvati, Antonio Santoro, and et al. 2025. "Safety and Efficacy Evaluation of Ultrasound Aspirators in Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors Surgery: An Experimental Study on a Swine Model" Brain Sciences 15, no. 7: 670. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15070670

APA Style

Palmieri, M., Pesce, A., Capobianco, M., Corsini, M., Iovannitti, G., Aloj, F., Zancana, G., Esposito, V., Salvati, M., Santoro, A., Cantore, G., & Frati, A. (2025). Safety and Efficacy Evaluation of Ultrasound Aspirators in Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors Surgery: An Experimental Study on a Swine Model. Brain Sciences, 15(7), 670. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15070670

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