Editorial

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>External ventricular drainage systems are often necessary in neurological and neurosurgical patients. The purpose of this literature review is to review the problem of external ventricular drain related infections resulting from repeated cerebrospinal fluid sampling and manipulation of the drain systems. The aim is to provide an appropriate improved protocol for care of patients undergoing external ventricular drainage treatment. Routine analysis of cerebrospinal fluid is often performed to diagnose external drainage related bacterial meningitis at an early stage. Nurses are routinely instructed to collect cerebrospinal fluid from ventricular catheters for analysis. Does the way in which sampling occurs relate to increased infection?</p><p>This literature review will discuss that prophylactic frequent cerebrospinal fluid sampling is of no benefit and increases infection risk and should be limited. It will also provide evidence that duration of the external ventricular drain (EVD) systems does not correlate with infection and therefore the EVD should stay insitu for as long as clinically needed or be removed if infected.</p></abstract>

Does duration and sampling of external ventricular drainage systems influence infection rate?

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis (LC) is the dissemination of cancer, commonly breast, lung, melanoma, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma occurring through either direct extension from surrounding tumours or metastasis of a preexisting, parenchymal central nervous system tumour. A rise in the diagnosis of leptomeningeal disease has been seen with increased survival rates of cancer due to improved medical treatment, with 5-8% of patients with cancer going on to develop LC.</p><p>Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis spreads to the meninges, the outer covering of the brain and spinal cord, directly migrating into the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), arachnoid and pia mater. This migration of tumour cells occurs throughout the arachnoid vessels or choroid plexus into the surrounding outer layers extending into the CSF. On entry into the CSF, tumour cells are infiltrated in a diffuse or multifocal manner where the leptomeninges cover the surface of the brain and spinal cord. This covering causes the meninges to become irritated causing patients to exhibit signs of photophobia, neck stiffness, neurological decline and cranial nerve defects. LC has a significant morbidity and mortality rate with a median survival of 4-6 weeks if untreated and 2-3 months if treated. Diagnosis is based on analysis of the cerebral spinal fluid, through detection of positive cytology of LC tumour cells, elevated protein and CSF pressures. Magnetic resonance imaging findings identify areas of meningeal enhancement indicative of meningeal irritation.</p><p>The neuroscience nurse role in the patient care includes providing a supportive environment and thorough assessment of vital and neurological signs. Treatment aims to improve or maintain a patient’s neurological status while prolonging survival and palliation. The literature review will highlight the diagnosis, progression and treatment for LC to further increase awareness and inform neuroscience nurses of increasing trends in management.</p></abstract>

Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis: Cerebral spinal fluid tumours

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_ajon-2017-129_s_001"><h3>Introduction</h3><p>This study reports on the clinical, nursing and health outcomes on the out-patient lumbar microdiscectomy program at a single institution. A multi-disciplinary team approach to the pre- and post-operative planning and education is key to the success of this program.</p></sec><sec id="j_ajon-2017-129_s_002"><h3>Methods</h3><p>A retrospective review of prospectively collected data for two patient groups (out-patient microdiscectomy and in-patient microdiscectomy) over a two-year period in a single institution was performed. Clinical, demographical, surgical and economic measures were collected including a 10-point visual analogue pain scale (VAS), patient satisfaction, direct and indirect costs of treatment. Patients included had a single level lumbar disc prolapse with persistent disabling sciatica of more than 8 weeks consistent with failure of conservative measures.</p></sec><sec id="j_ajon-2017-129_s_003"><h3>Results</h3><p>Twenty-one out-patient and forty-one in-patient microdiscectomy patients were treated over this period. Post operatively pain levels showed a significant improvement in VAS levels from 5.2 ±2.9 to 1.6 ±0.8 and 0.7 ± 0.8 at day 1 and 7 post-operatively respectively. This was not different across both groups. Patient satisfaction was high in both surgical groups. There was a significant cost savings in out-patient lumbar micro-discectomy with the majority of savings coming from costs associated with staff (nursing, allied health and medical) funding. There was successful discharge 100% of out-patient microdiscectomy patients without readmission.</p></sec><sec id="j_ajon-2017-129_s_004"><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Outpatient lumbar microdiscectomy is a viable option in Australia. It demonstrates no difference in patient outcomes as compared to in-patient lumbar microdiscectomies and has high patient satisfaction outcomes. There are significant benefits in terms of health economics and nursing care in establishing an out-patient lumbar microdiscetomy program.</p></sec></abstract>

Clinical and health economic benefits of out-patient lumbar microdiscectomies in Australia

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 34 (2024): Issue 1 (May 2024)

Volume 33 (2023): Issue 2 (October 2023)

Volume 33 (2023): Issue 1 (May 2023)

Volume 32 (2022): Issue 2 (October 2022)

Volume 32 (2022): Issue 1 (May 2022)

Volume 31 (2021): Issue 2 (October 2021)

Volume 31 (2021): Issue 1 (May 2021)

Volume 30 (2020): Issue 2 (October 2020)

Volume 30 (2020): Issue 1 (May 2020)

Volume 29 (2019): Issue 2 (May 2019)

Volume 29 (2019): Issue 1 (May 2019)

Volume 28 (2018): Issue 2 (November 2018)

Volume 28 (2018): Issue 1 (June 2018)

Volume 27 (2017): Issue 2 (November 2017)

Volume 27 (2017): Issue 1 (November 2017)

Volume 26 (2016): Issue 2 (May 2016)

Volume 26 (2016): Issue 1 (May 2016)

Volume 25 (2015): Issue 2 (October 2015)

Volume 25 (2015): Issue 1 (May 2015)

Australasian Journal of Neuroscience

Australasian Journal of Neuroscience (AJoN) Journal Scope and Aims  Published bi-annually (May and October), the Australasian Journal of Neuroscience (AJoN), the official journal of the Australasian Neuroscience Nurses Association (ANNA), has published original peer reviewed articles since 1988 making it one of the longest standing neuroscience nursing journals.  The AJoN is an international peer reviewed open access journal that aims to promote the development and exchange of knowledge that reflects the broad and emerging interests of neuroscience nursing and the neuroscience nursing profession. The AJoN is at the forefront of disseminating and communicating knowledge and through the promotion of clinically related scholarship, the AJoN supports and advances the practice and discipline of neuroscience nursing.  The mission of the AJoN is to further the neuroscience nursing profession through representation and the provision of works that best represent neuroscience nursing expertise and experience. Through this provision evidence is translated into neuroscience nursing practice to improve health outcomes for individuals, families, and populations.  Fields of nursing represented in the AJoN include, but are not limited to, neurology, movement disorders, neurosurgical, neuro-intensive, neuro-rehabilitative, neuropsychiatry, neuro-gerontology, neuro-paediatric, neuro-emergency and neuro-trauma. Contributions are also welcome from other healthcare fields on issues and developments that have a direct impact on neuroscience nursing practice.  The AJoN welcomes manuscripts from both new and experienced authors wishing to contribute neuroscience knowledge to nursing practice and research. Both National and International submissions are welcome, with the AJoN supporting the exchange of ideas and experience that represents different practices and cultures.  Submitted original articles should make a novel contribution to neuroscience nursing with examples including advances in neurosurgical and neurological nursing, patient care, complex care interventions, research, policy, professional issues, and theory. Submissions must be of a high quality and the journal accepts various article types including (but not limited to) review articles, systematic reports, case series, case studies, quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research articles, practice updates, guest editorials, clinical trials, quality improvement articles, letters to the editor, commentaries, and the development of new guidelines that provide a unique insight into the field of neuroscience nursing. The journal’s purpose is to advance the field of neuroscience nursing by presenting published works with an emphasis on knowledge that will influence the way neuroscience nursing is practiced, taught, researched, and administrated. This information is applicable to nurses working in clinical, administrative, educational,  leadership and research settings. Each issues contains a variety of papers, commentaries and published works resulting from the National ANNA conference. The target audience of the AJoN includes nurses, student nurses, nurse practitioners, managers, executives, administrators, educators, and higher research degree students as well as allied health professionals.  Topics relevant to the AJoN include the development of clinical research and knowledge, evidenced based practice, leadership, and scientific enquiry. Works that explore the patient and family experience, illness, and recovery within the neuroscience field. Organisational factors including governance, patient safety, role development and models of service delivery. As well as cultural comparisons and evaluations of neuroscience nursing practice across different healthcare sectors, social and geographical settings.  The AJoN offers authors the benefits of a highly respected journal in the field of neuroscience nursing, indexed in a wide range of databases including (EBSCO, Elsevier, MIAR, MtScienceWork, ReadCube, SCILIT and Semantic Scholar). The journal has a truly global readership, rapid manuscript screening and efficient editorial processes. The journal also offers a highly visual format, with full colour figures, images, and tables.  The AJoN Editor is advised and supported by a Board of Reviewers that represent all facets of neuroscience nursing. Submitted papers are reviewed by Reviewers who meet a high standard of academic and clinical expertise. The AJoN will ensure that practice and policy development is evidenced based, research is informed at an advanced level and that readers are challenged to engage in critical debate and critically reflect on the interface between practice, policy, and research. The AJoN team believes that every neuroscience nurse should have the opportunity to grow and develop their practice and career through quality education and professional development. The AJoN is essential reading for anyone with an interest in neuroscience nursing.   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 