Journal of neurosurgical anesthesiology
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Jan 2004
ReviewEffects of anesthetic agents and physiologic changes on intraoperative motor evoked potentials.
Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) have shown promise as a valuable tool for monitoring intraoperative motor tract function and reducing postoperative plegia. MEP monitoring has been reported to contribute to deficit prevention during resection of tumors adjacent to motor structures in the cerebral cortex and spine, and in detecting spinal ischemia during thoracic aortic reconstruction. ⋯ Understanding the effects of anesthetic agents and physiologic alterations on MEPs is imperative to increasing the acceptance and application of this technique in the prevention of intraoperative motor tract injury. This review is intended as an overview of the effects of anesthetics and physiology on the reproducibility of intraoperative myogenic MEP responses, rather than an analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of this monitoring method in the prevention of motor injury.
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Oct 2003
Case ReportsCarotid artery injury during transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumor: anesthesia perspective.
The authors describe two patients who suffered carotid artery injury during transsphenoidal resection of a pituitary tumor. Anesthesiologists were involved in resuscitation after initial hemorrhage, in securing the airway, in initiating cerebral protection strategies, and in transporting these patients. Anesthesia was provided for resection of the tumors, removal of packs from the pituitary fossae, and diagnostic and therapeutic radiologic procedures. ⋯ It was treated by trapping the internal carotid artery. The other patient developed a carotid-cavernous fistula, which was treated by balloon embolization. Both patients were discharged after dealing with these complications.
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Oct 2003
Clinical TrialTreatment of refractory fever in the neurosciences critical care unit using a novel, water-circulating cooling device. A single-center pilot experience.
Fever after acute brain injury affects neuronal function and recovery. Standard therapies have proven to be inadequate in treating hyperthermia in this patient population. We report on safety/efficacy pilot data collected using a noninvasive, novel, water-circulating cooling device in febrile acute brain injury patients. ⋯ Core temperature remained "locked" during the remainder of the treatment (36.6 degrees C, P=0.5; 36.6 degrees C, P=0.9; and 36.5 degrees C, P=0.9 at 180, 300, and 600 minutes, respectively). Skin integrity under the pads was preserved in all study subjects. Our results indicate that use of this novel technique is safe, rapidly effective, and able to maintain sustained normothermia following fever in a cohort of critically ill neurologic/neurosurgical patients.
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Oct 2003
Case ReportsUnilateral visual loss after cervical spine surgery.
This is a case report of a patient who underwent an uneventful surgery for atlanto-axial dislocation in the prone position, after which he developed painless, unilateral loss of vision in the immediate postoperative period. Based on the ophthalmologic findings a probable diagnosis of ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) was made. Although he recovered his visual acuity completely in 1 month, the visual field defects and color vision abnormalities persisted. ⋯ However, this healthy young man had an uneventful surgery with no such intraoperative complications. ION in this patient could have been due to a combination of factors, such as a malpositioned horseshoe headrest and surgery performed in the prone position, both of which have the potential to raise the intraocular pressure and lower the perfusion pressure of the optic nerve/nerve head. Variations in the blood supply of the optic nerve due to the presence of watershed zones could be another explanation for this dreaded complication.