Clinical neurology and neurosurgery
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Apr 2012
Review Case Reports Meta AnalysisPrognosis of phrenic nerve injury following thoracic interventions: four new cases and a review.
Phrenic nerve lesion is a known complication of thoracic surgical intervention, but it is rarely described following thymectomy and lung surgery. ⋯ Our data suggests that the prognosis of phrenic nerve lesion following thoracic intervention depends on the nature of the damage. Probably, in thymectomy and lung surgery, nerve stretch or laceration are involved, consequently the outcome is poorer in comparison with cardiac surgery, where cold lesion is more frequent. Neurophysiological tests give a direct, quantified and reliable assessment of nerve regeneration.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Feb 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyModified Lund concept versus cerebral perfusion pressure-targeted therapy: a randomised controlled study in patients with secondary brain ischaemia.
Secondary brain ischaemia (SBI) usually develops after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Current approaches to managing these conditions are based either on intracranial pressure-targeted therapy (ICP-targeted) with cerebral microdialysis (CM) monitoring according to the modified Lund concept or cerebral perfusion pressure-targeted therapy (CPP-targeted). We present a prospective, randomised controlled study comparing relative effectiveness of the two management strategies. ⋯ The modified Lund concept, directed at bedside real-time monitoring of brain biochemistry by CM showed better results compared to CPP-targeted therapy in the treatment of comatose patients sustaining SBI after aneurysmal SAH and severe TBI.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Feb 2012
ReviewSymptomatic cranial neuralgias in multiple sclerosis: clinical features and treatment.
In multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain is a frequent condition, negatively influencing the overall quality of life. Cranial neuralgias, including trigeminal, glossopharyngeal neuralgias, as well as occipital neuralgia, are typical expression of neuropathic pain. Neuralgias are characterised by paroxysmal painful attacks of electric shock-like sensation, occurring spontaneously or evoked by innocuous stimuli in specific trigger areas. ⋯ At this time, the evidence on the management of symptomatic cranial neuralgias in multiple sclerosis is fragmentary and a comprehensive review addressing this topic is still lacking. For that reason, treatment is often based on personal clinical experience as well as on anecdotal reports. The aim of this review is to critically summarise the latest findings regarding the pathogenesis, the diagnosis, the instrumental evaluation and the medical as well as neurosurgical treatment of symptomatic trigeminal, glossopharyngeal and occipital neuralgia in multiple sclerosis, providing useful insights for neurologists and neurosurgeons and a broad range of specialists potentially involved in the treatment of these painful syndromes.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Feb 2012
Feasibility of cerebral magnetic resonance imaging in patients with externalised spinal cord stimulator.
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a well-known treatment option for intractable neuropathic pain after spinal surgery, but its pathophysiological mechanisms are poorly stated. The goal of this study is to analyse the feasibility of using brain MRI, functional MRI (fMRI) and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) as tools to analyse these mechanisms in patients with externalised neurostimulators during trial period. ⋯ We can conclude that brain MRI, fMRI and MRS studies performed in patients with externalised SCS can be safely executed.