Acta neurochirurgica
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Acta neurochirurgica · Jan 1997
Review Case ReportsTreatment of dissecting basilar artery aneurysm by flow reversal.
Dissecting aneurysm of the basilar artery is a rare but increasingly recognized entity, with a frequently fatal or morbid outcome. Unlike the well established proximal occlusion and trapping approaches to vertebral artery dissections, surgical intervention for basilar lesions has been limited to wrapping techniques for arterial wall reinforcement. ⋯ With the growing recognition of basilar dissection and pseudoaneurysm formation there is a need for improved therapeutic options. We suggest that definitive treatment can be achieved using the principle of proximal occlusion and flow reversal, and review the pertinent literature on basilar artery dissection.
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Acta neurochirurgica · Jan 1997
ReviewFollow-up computerized tomography (CT) scans in moderate and severe head injuries: correlation with Glasgow Coma Scores (GCS), and complication rate.
The wide availability of computerized tomography (CT) scan has popularized its use in initial and follow-up evaluations of head trauma patients. Follow-up CT scans of clinically stable patients, however, may not provide additional information, but could potentially subject the patients to secondary injuries. The authors investigated the correlation between CT scans and Glasgow coma score (GCS), and complication rate during follow-up CT scans in an attempt to dissuade clinicians from obtaining unnecessary follow-up CT scans. ⋯ Because of the correlation between the CT scan appearance and the clinical status, as well as the detrimental effect of mobilizing critically ill patients, the authors urge the use of follow-up CT scans only in patients with clinical deterioration unexplained by ICP changes alone.
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Acta neurochirurgica · Jan 1997
ReviewPrognostic factors in severely head injured adult patients with acute subdural haematoma's.
A medline search back to 1975 was undertaken to identify relevant papers published on subdural haematomas. The search was restricted, whenever possible, to adult age and comatose patients. Forty relevant reports were identified. ⋯ In terms of prognosis, the following parameters were found to be significant: age, time from injury to treatment, presence of pupillary abnormalities, GCS/motor score on admission, immediate coma or lucid interval, CT findings (haematoma volume, degree of midline shift, associated intradural lesion, compression of basal cisterns), post-operative ICP and the type of surgery. Improving the outcome of patients with acute subdural haematoma's is a difficult task. A small subpopulation of patients may have a benign course without surgical haematoma evacuation, but all comatose patients with an acute subdural haematoma should be treated in Centers where neurosurgical facilities and appropriate monitoring are available.