Agent skill
neurosurgery-literature
Use when searching for neurosurgery literature, developing PubMed search strategies, identifying MeSH terms, or building systematic search queries. Invoke for literature searching in neurosurgery topics.
Stars
163
Forks
31
Install this agent skill to your Project
npx add-skill https://github.com/majiayu000/claude-skill-registry/tree/main/skills/development/neurosurgery-literature-matheus-rech-meta-agent
SKILL.md
Neurosurgery Literature Search Skill
This skill guides comprehensive literature searching for neurosurgery systematic reviews.
When to Use
Invoke this skill when the user:
- Needs to search PubMed for studies
- Wants to develop a search strategy
- Asks about MeSH terms for neurosurgery
- Needs Boolean operators help
- Mentions "literature search" or "search strategy"
Neurosurgery MeSH Terms
Subspecialties
| Subspecialty | MeSH Terms |
|---|---|
| Neuro-oncology | "Brain Neoplasms", "Glioma", "Meningioma", "Pituitary Neoplasms" |
| Vascular | "Intracranial Aneurysm", "Arteriovenous Malformations", "Subarachnoid Hemorrhage" |
| Spine | "Spinal Fusion", "Laminectomy", "Intervertebral Disc Degeneration" |
| Trauma | "Craniocerebral Trauma", "Traumatic Brain Injury", "Decompressive Craniectomy" |
| Functional | "Deep Brain Stimulation", "Epilepsy Surgery", "Movement Disorders" |
| Pediatric | "Craniosynostoses", "Hydrocephalus", "Myelomeningocele" |
Common Procedures
| Procedure | MeSH Term |
|---|---|
| Craniotomy | "Craniotomy" |
| Craniectomy | "Decompressive Craniectomy" |
| Shunting | "Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts", "Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt" |
| Endoscopy | "Neuroendoscopy", "Third Ventriculostomy" |
| Radiosurgery | "Radiosurgery", "Gamma Knife Radiosurgery" |
| Spine fusion | "Spinal Fusion" |
| Discectomy | "Diskectomy" |
Outcome Measures
| Scale | MeSH/Keyword |
|---|---|
| GCS | "Glasgow Coma Scale" |
| GOS | "Glasgow Outcome Scale" |
| mRS | "modified Rankin Scale"[tw] |
| NIHSS | "NIH Stroke Scale"[tw] |
| KPS | "Karnofsky Performance Status" |
Search Strategy Building
Step 1: Define PICO
P (Population): Patients with malignant MCA infarction
I (Intervention): Decompressive craniectomy
C (Comparator): Medical management
O (Outcome): Mortality, functional outcome (mRS)
Step 2: Map Concepts to MeSH + Keywords
Population concept:
"Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery"[MeSH] OR
"malignant MCA infarction"[tiab] OR
"malignant middle cerebral artery"[tiab] OR
"space-occupying cerebral infarction"[tiab]
Intervention concept:
"Decompressive Craniectomy"[MeSH] OR
"decompressive surgery"[tiab] OR
"hemicraniectomy"[tiab] OR
"craniectomy"[tiab]
Step 3: Combine with Boolean
(
"Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery"[MeSH] OR
"malignant MCA infarction"[tiab] OR
"malignant middle cerebral artery"[tiab]
)
AND
(
"Decompressive Craniectomy"[MeSH] OR
"decompressive surgery"[tiab] OR
"hemicraniectomy"[tiab]
)
Step 4: Apply Filters
AND (
"Randomized Controlled Trial"[pt] OR
"Controlled Clinical Trial"[pt] OR
"randomized"[tiab] OR
"randomised"[tiab]
)
AND "humans"[MeSH]
AND "2000/01/01"[PDAT] : "2024/12/31"[PDAT]
Search Field Tags
| Tag | Field | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [MeSH] | MeSH term | "Craniotomy"[MeSH] |
| [tiab] | Title/Abstract | "hemicraniectomy"[tiab] |
| [tw] | Text word | "mRS"[tw] |
| [pt] | Publication type | "Randomized Controlled Trial"[pt] |
| [PDAT] | Publication date | "2020/01/01"[PDAT] |
| [au] | Author | "Smith J"[au] |
| [ta] | Journal | "J Neurosurg"[ta] |
Study Design Filters
RCT Filter (Cochrane Highly Sensitive)
randomized controlled trial[pt] OR
controlled clinical trial[pt] OR
randomized[tiab] OR
placebo[tiab] OR
clinical trials as topic[mesh:noexp] OR
randomly[tiab] OR
trial[ti]
Observational Studies Filter
"Cohort Studies"[MeSH] OR
"Case-Control Studies"[MeSH] OR
"retrospective"[tiab] OR
"prospective"[tiab] OR
"observational"[tiab]
Key Neurosurgery Journals
"J Neurosurg"[ta] OR
"Neurosurgery"[ta] OR
"World Neurosurg"[ta] OR
"Acta Neurochir"[ta] OR
"J Neurotrauma"[ta] OR
"Spine"[ta] OR
"Eur Spine J"[ta] OR
"J Neurooncol"[ta] OR
"Neuro Oncol"[ta] OR
"Stroke"[ta] OR
"J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis"[ta]
Example Complete Search
Decompressive Craniectomy for TBI
# Population: Traumatic brain injury
(
"Craniocerebral Trauma"[MeSH] OR
"Brain Injuries, Traumatic"[MeSH] OR
"traumatic brain injury"[tiab] OR
"TBI"[tiab] OR
"head injury"[tiab]
)
# Intervention: Decompressive craniectomy
AND (
"Decompressive Craniectomy"[MeSH] OR
"decompressive surgery"[tiab] OR
"craniectomy"[tiab] OR
"hemicraniectomy"[tiab]
)
# Filters
AND "humans"[MeSH]
AND "2000"[PDAT] : "2024"[PDAT]
AND English[lang]
Using the Search Tool
mcp__neuroresearch__search_pubmed(
query="decompressive craniectomy AND traumatic brain injury",
max_results=100,
date_range="2015:2024"
)
Documentation
Always document:
- Date of search
- Database(s) searched
- Complete search string
- Number of results
- Limits applied
- Grey literature sources (if searched)
Didn't find tool you were looking for?