Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · May 2008
Normobaric oxygen therapy strategies in the treatment of postcraniotomy pneumocephalus.
Postsurgical pneumocephalus is an unavoidable sequela of craniotomy. Sufficiently large volumes of intracranial air can cause headaches, lethargy, and neurological deficits. Supplemental O(2) to increase the rate of absorption of intracranial air is a common but unsubstantiated neurosurgical practice. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first prospective study to examine the efficacy of this therapy and its effect on the rate of pneumocephalus absorption. ⋯ Administration of postsurgical supplemental O(2) through a nonrebreather mask significantly increases the absorption rate of postcraniotomy pneumocephalus as compared with breathing room air.
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Journal of neurosurgery · May 2008
Use of trans sodium crocetinate for sensitizing glioblastoma multiforme to radiation: laboratory investigation.
Adjuvant treatment with radiation (radiation therapy or radiosurgery) is a mainstay of treatment for patients harboring glioblastomas multiforme (GBM). Hypoxic regions within the tumor make cells less sensitive to radiation therapy. Trans sodium crocetinate (TSC) has been shown to increase oxygen diffusion in the brain and elevate the partial brain oxygen level. The goal of this study was to evaluate the radiosensitizing effects of TSC on GBM tumors. ⋯ Use of TSC improves the extent of GBM tumor regression following radiation therapy and enhances survival. Radiosensitization of hypoxic tumors through increased oxygen diffusion may have clinical utility in patients with GBM tumors but must be explored in a clinical trial.