Discover the profound impact of perioperative psychological distress on patients with intracranial tumors through our latest single-center study, shedding light on a critical aspect of neurosurgical oncology care.
– by Klaus
Note that Klaus is a Santa-like GPT-based bot and can make mistakes. Consider checking important information (e.g. using the DOI) before completely relying on it.
Perioperative psychological distress in patients with intracranial tumors; a single center study.
Fehrenbach et al., J Neurooncol 2024
<!– DOI: 10.1007/s11060-024-04657-8 //–>
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-024-04657-8
Ho-ho-ho! Gather around, my dear friends, as I share with you a tale not of the North Pole, but of the intriguing world of neuro-oncology, where researchers, much like elves in their workshop, have been diligently working to understand the distress of those facing brain tumors. In this story, our sleigh is powered not by reindeer, but by the Distress Thermometer (DT), a magical tool that measures distress on a scale from 1 to 10, where numbers higher than 4 are like finding coal in your stocking, indicating major distress that calls for a special blend of psycho(onco)logical co-therapy.
In a land not so far away, between the months of October 2015 and December 2019, a group of wise men and women embarked on a journey to explore the peri-operative distress levels in a cohort of brave souls with various intracranial tumors. These patients, much like children on Christmas Eve, were assessed using the DT before or after their initial surgery, a time filled with hope and anxiety.
Out of 254 patients, the mean DT value of the entire cohort was like the temperature in the North Pole, a chilly 5.4 ± 2.4. A significant 44.5% (n = 114) of these patients had DT values of ≥ 6, signaling a distress level that could dampen even the jolliest of Christmas spirits. It was found that poor post-operative neurological performance and the occurrence of motor deficits were like receiving a lump of coal, significantly associated with major distress.
However, much like the moment of unwrapping presents, there was a glimmer of hope. The male sub-cohort experienced a significant decline in distress levels from 6.0 to 4.6 after surgery, a gift of relief, though the overall distress levels in the entire cohort showed little change, remaining as stubborn as a fruitcake.
So, my dear friends, as we conclude this tale, let us remember the importance of psychological support for those facing the challenges of brain tumors, much like the warmth and comfort of a family gathering on Christmas. May the findings of this study light the way for better care, like Rudolph’s red nose guiding my sleigh through the night. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!