Ethics submission

Juxtamedullary tumors are typically benign tumors of the spinal canal that can cause neurological deficits due to compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots.

Treatment options include neurosurgical resection, irradiation, or a wait-and-see approach based on observation. The impact of the chosen treatment method on postoperative outcomes remains unclear.

The aim of this study is to determine the optimal timing, method, and approach for treating juxtamedullary tumors.

• BASEC No. 2023-00834
• Sponsor: Universitätsklinikum Münster
• Principal investigator: 
  • PD Dr. med. Martin N. Stienen, Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Münster
  • Kathleen Seidel, Department of Neurosurgery, Interspital Bern
  • Martin Stienen, Department of Neurosurgery and Spine Center of Eastern Switzerland, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen
• Investigator at HUG: Dr. Granit Molliqaj, Senior Resident, Division of Neurosurgery

With symptomatic subdural haematomas, surgical evacuation of the haematoma is performed in order to avoid severe after-effects and enable the best possible neurological recovery. However, recurrence of these haematomas is often observed.

Recent studies suggest that embolization of the middle meningeal artery (the artery that stimulates this bleeding), in addition to surgical evacuation of the haematoma, would limit the recurrence of the haematoma.

The STORMM project aims to study whether the effectiveness of embolization of the middle meningeal artery in the recurrence of subdural haematomas is good, equivalent or superior to conventional radio-clinical follow-up.

• Application in progress
• Sponsor: Prof. Karl Schaller, Head of Division, Division of Neurosurgery and Head of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences
• Principal investigator: Dr Aria Nouri, Resident, Division of Neurosurgery

Cerebral aneurysms are abnormalities in the blood vessels supplying our brain. Aneurysms are diagnosed by X-ray, CT scan, angiography or MRI. When a brain aneurysm ruptures, treatment of the aneurysm is essential for the patient to survive.

The @neurIST project aims to determine the causes and development of cerebral aneurysms in order to improve their treatment.

• BASEC No. 2022-00426
• Sponsor: HUG
• Principal investigator: Prof. Philippe Bijlenga, Senior Staff Physician, Department of Neurosurgery
• aneurist.org
• SwissNeuroFoundation

In the presence of a smell disorder, tests are carried out to measure olfactory function and make a diagnosis. However, the results of these tests can be improved, because they are influenced by the individual experience of smells and the genetic code of each person.

The Rhinology and Olfactology Unit seeks to determine the reliability of SMELL-RS, a new universal olfactory test.

• BASEC No. 2020-02581
• Sponsor: HUG
• Principal investigator: Prof Basil Landis, Senior Staff Physician, Head of the Rhinology and Olfactology unit, Department of Otolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery
• Link to the SMELL-RS study

Nearly half of hospitalized patients suffer from pain. There is considerable evidence that non-pharmacological adjunct techniques, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation techniques, can reduce pain perception.

Virtual reality is an exciting new technology that offers multiple possibilities for use in the hospital. It allows a complete immersion in a distant virtual place and a total escape, without physical displacement. Its positive effects have been studied since the 90s in pain and anxiety management, neuro-rehabilitation and psychotherapy.

In our study, we want to use virtual reality during the period of sedation induced by anesthesiologists in the preoperative period to measure the beneficial effect on stress, and on the intraoperative and postoperative parameters that follow. By improving the patient's environment at the time of sedation we hope to decrease the effect of the impact of stress and pain on surgery and its complications.

•    BASEC No. 2020-00962
•    Sponsor: HUG
•    Principal investigator: Prof. Karl Schaller, Head of Division, and Dre Insa Janssen, Senior Resident, Division of Neurosurgery

Oxytocin, in addition to its effect on women during childbirth and breastfeeding, seems to have less known effects including effects on behavior (including confidence), hydro-electrolyte balance (salt), and metabolism (fats).

In this study, we wish to test the hypothesis of a release of oxytocin after pituitary surgery and, if it occurs, try to evaluate the effects of this release on confidence, salt balance and fat metabolism.

•    BASEC No. 2021-01193
•    Sponsor: HUG
•    Principal investigator: Pr Shahan Momjian, Senior Staff Physician, Division of Neurosurgery, and Pre Sophie de Seigneux, Head of Division, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension

Degenerative disorders of the cervical spine are common causes of myelopathy, especially in patients over 40 years of age.

The purpose of this study is to monitor regularly and with standardized means all patients operated on for cervical myelopathy in the Neurosurgery Department of HUG in order to better understand, diagnose and treat the disease, and to identify patients respond best to surgical treatment.

•    BASEC No. 2018-00122
•    Sponsor: HUG
•    Principal investigator: Prof. Enrico Tessitore, Senior Staff Physician, Division of Neurosurgery
 

EUROSPIN is an observational study taking place in several European hospitals in Austria, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

The purpose of this study is to compare, in patients requiring fixation of the spine with pedicle screws, three different techniques to assist with screw insertion: 1) traditional surgery to fix pedicle screws using x-ray control, 2) navigated surgery using a camera and a frame of reference attached to the patient, and 3) robot-assisted surgery.

•    BASEC No. 2019-00901
•    Sponsor: Bergman Clinics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
•    Principal investigator: Pr Enrico Tessitore, Senior staff physician, et Dr Granit Molliqaj, Senior resident, Division of Neurosurgery

Memory, learning, time estimation and decision making, which are essential for everyday life, are supported by many brain structures. Cognitive decline is caused by multiple failures in the superficial and deep structures of the brain.

New non-invasive stimulation techniques have the potential to help the brain preserve or even repair certain defective functions. The PlasMA project aims to evaluate the effects of transcranial electrical stimulation on learning and memory.

• BASEC No. 2020-00127
• Sponsor and principal investigator: Dr Friedhelm Christoph Hummel, Physician, Department of Neurorehabilitatation