Neurochirurgie
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The authors -- about a series of 124 cancerous patients treated during the 12 last years with open spino-thalamic cordotomy for intractable pain -- have tried to evaluate effectiveness of the operation with regard to its levels in relation to the site of pain. Patients suffering median or bilateral perineo-pelvic pain, isolated or associated with algias in one or both legs (group I: 50%) underwent a bilateral C8-C6 cordotomy in one stage. Patients with the same perineo-pelvic cancers but suffering only unilateral pain (group II : 31,8%) and patients with painful cancers in the leg (group III : 3,2%), were operated on with a C7 controlateral cordotomy. ⋯ Thus, our general management for pain of malignant origin is now as follows: C8-C6 bilateral cordotomy for all the perineo-pelvic cancers whatever uni- or bilateral the site of pain may be; C7 controlateral cordotomy for the painful cancers of the leg; and C2 controlateral cordotomy for hemithoracic and/or arm pain, when related to very extended lung or breast cancers. We prefer complete posterior rhizotomy for limited cancers of the thoracic wall, and selective posterior rhizotomy through the scope, from -- the brachial plexus roots down to T4 -- for pain as from the PANCOAST-TOBIAS syndromes, or in case of painful involvements of the upper limb roots. For cervico-facial cancers we generally use combined sections of the sensory cranial nerves in the posterior fossa and of the cervical posterior roots.
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Sitting position during surgery of the posterior fossa is very convenient for the neurosurgeon but can be dangerous, specially concerning the risk of air-embolism. We discuss the major problems of this special position, and the modifications of respiratory and hemodynamic functions from our experience on 84 cases. We study the monitoring of these patients during surgery, with special emphasis on prevention and detection of air-embolism with the capnograph. With the protocol suggested we can avoid major risk in this position.