Neurosurgery
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To demonstrate the feasibility of transcranial high-frequency electrical stimulation with the patient under general anesthesia with propofol and alfentanil. This method may be a useful tool for intraoperative monitoring of the motor pathways during cerebral and spinal operations. ⋯ Transcranial high-frequency repetitive electrical stimulation seems to be a new method for monitoring the motor tract. With this method, it is possible to monitor the motor function without interfering with the surgical team or with the surgical treatment of infratentorial and spinal lesions. Monitoring of relaxation is necessary to compare the amplitude of MEPs.
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Biography Historical Article
Birthday of peripheral nervous system surgery: the contribution of Gabriele Ferrara (1543-1627).
SURGERY OF THE peripheral nerves has only recently achieved brilliant results thanks to technological advances in the development of neurosurgical instrumentation. In past centuries, few surgeons made relevant contributions to this topic and improvement was slow and difficult. ⋯ He described applying gentle traction on the retracted stumps, suturing using a special needle with an eye, after immersion in a decoction of red wine, rosemary, and roses (alcoholic disinfection?), and, finally, insulating the sutured segment with a mixture of oils. We are celebrating the 400th anniversary of the first edition of his fundamental work (1596-1996), and we truly esteem this surgeon, a pioneer of peripheral nerve surgery wo primarily contributed to its progress.
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Intrinsic brain tumors can arise within regions of the cortex that are essential to language, motor, and somatosensory functions. Although it is commonly thought that such tumors can be safely resected, as long as the resection is limited to grossly abnormal cortex, functional mapping of the cerebral cortex during tumor resection does not support this contention. ⋯ Intrinsic brain tumors grow by infiltration of normal brain. Consequently, brain that appears to be abnormal may remain functional, thus precluding safe tumor resection.