Acta neurochirurgica
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Acta neurochirurgica · Jan 2000
The relationship between cerebral blood flow velocities and the amount of blood clots in computed tomography after subarachnoid haemorrhage.
127 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) were analyzed for the relationship between the amount of blood clots as detected by initial computed tomography (CT) up to 48 hours after SAH and changes of blood flow velocities as measured using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD). All patients were operated on within 72 hours after SAH. Patients who presented with remarkable brain oedema or with pathological intracranial pressure (ICP) due to mass effects of a haematoma, and who were in a poor neurological condition classified according to Hunt-Hess as grade V were excluded from this study. ⋯ If the SAH was extensive in the CT scan, pathological values of MFV > 90 cm/s were observed in ACA, and this was more pronounced in group CT III than in group CT IV. Blood flow velocities obtained via TCD were registered to compare side-to-side differences and particularly high differences were observed in patients with severe SAH. It is concluded that the amount of blood clots in the initial computed tomography after SAH is significantly correlated with cerebral blood flow velocity measurements by TCD.
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Acta neurochirurgica · Jan 2000
Informed consent in neurosurgery: patients' recall of preoperative discussion.
Informed consent (IC) is an important principle of modern medicine and the quality of the process is likely to receive increasing attention in future due to complex surgical procedures and a development of social mistrust for medical treatment. Medico-legal action is also becoming an important influence on IC, in particular the extent of warning to be given about the degree of risk. Evaluation of IC, however, encounters various problems. One key element of a knowledgeable decision is an analysis based on the disclosed risks. ⋯ The general principles of memory apply and have implications in states of emotional arousal. Whereas education and age, unlike in previous reports, did not appear to influence recall, thus indicating that we had succeeded in tailoring IC to the individual, recall rate was low in most cases. Physicians should highlight the discrepancy and conflict between the requirements for the defence of medical practice in the law courts and the actual interests of patients. They should promote research to establish what really is 'appropriately informed consent'.
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Acta neurochirurgica · Jan 2000
Systemic administration of mexiletine for attenuation of cerebral vasospasm following experimental subarachnoid haemorrhage.
Mexiletine is a class Ib drug that is widely used to treat ventricular arrhythmias. This compound is mainly known as a sodium channel blocker, but studies have demonstrated that it can also activate ATP-sensitive K+ channels and block Ca2+ channels. Recent in vitro data from experiments on liposomes indicate that mexiletine is also a potent antioxidant. ⋯ Considerable vasorelaxation was seen in the prevention study, in which average arterial cross-sectional areas were reduced by only 17.86% and 39.29% in the mexiletine 80- and 20-mg/kg/day groups, respectively, compared with controls (p < 0.001). Compared with controls, average arterial cross-sectional areas were reduced by 53.58% and 64.29% in the mexiletine 80- and 20-mg/kg/day reversal groups, respectively. Our findings indicate that mexiletine induces potent relaxation in cerebrovascular arteries contracted with various agents, and that it prevents and partially reverses SAH-induced vasoconstriction.
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Acta neurochirurgica · Jan 2000
Spinal subdural and epidural haematomas: diagnostic and therapeutic aspects in acute and subacute cases.
The diagnosis of spontaneous spinal haematomas mainly depends on magnetic resonance imaging. This study evaluates the MRI characteristics of spinal epidural and subdural haematomas. The results were correlated with medical history, coagulation abnormalities and therapeutic outcome to provide guidelines for early diagnosis and treatment of spinal epidural and subdural hematomas. ⋯ Spontaneous spinal hematomas are frequently located in the thoracic spine. Subdural spinal haemorrhage is more frequent than epidural. Epidural haemorrhage is frequently located dorsal to the spinal cord because of the tight fixation of the dura to the vertebral bodies.
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Acta neurochirurgica · Jan 2000
Comparative StudySystemic and cerebral haemodynamics during craniotomy under mild hypothermia in patients with acute subarachnoid haemorrhage.
Mild hypothermia provides cerebral protection against ischaemic insults in various animal models. We compared systemic and cerebral oxygenation between mild hypothermic and normothermic management in 60 patients with acute subarachnoid haemorrhage who underwent clipping of cerebral aneurysms. ⋯ The balance between oxygen supply and demand systemically and in the brain may worsen during aneurysm surgery for patients with acute subarachnoid haemorrhage under mild hypothermia. Oxygenation of the brain and the whole body should be monitored closely during this surgery, and adequate circulatory assistance is recommended under mild hypothermia.