Neurologia medico-chirurgica
-
Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2013
Case ReportsNew technique of decompressive skinplasty with artificial dermis for severe brain swelling: technical note.
In cases of severe uncontrollable brain swelling, simple skin closure often increases intracranial pressure. This study examined the efficacy of a new technique of decompressive skinplasty to decrease intracranial pressure following decompressive craniectomy in cases of severe traumatic brain injury with uncontrollable brain swelling. In our technique, we use artificial dermis to avoid elevation of intracranial pressure. ⋯ In all cases, decompressive skinplasty contributed dramatically to decreasing the intracranial pressure in patients with uncontrollable brain swelling. The technique of decompressive skinplasty with artificial dermis contributed to dramatically decreasing the intracranial pressure. More cases are required to investigate the indications for this technique.
-
Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2013
Case ReportsFacial nerve schwannoma arising from the cerebellopontine angle.
A 74-year-old female suffered hearing disturbance in the right ear persisting for several years, followed by sudden onset of right facial nerve palsy. Her symptoms gradually worsened and neuroradiological imaging revealed a 4-cm cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumor. Intraoperatively, the tumor was found to originate from the facial nerve. ⋯ However, preoperative diagnosis of facial nerve schwannomas is important because functional preservation of the facial nerve is more challenging than for vestibular schwannomas. Facial nerve palsy is one of the most unique symptoms in patients with facial nerve schwannomas, but is rare with vestibular schwannomas. Facial nerve schwannomas should be included in the differential diagnosis of CPA tumors with atypical clinical manifestations, and patients should be informed before surgery of the possibility of facial nerve dysfunction and the consequent need for facial nerve graft or reconstruction.
-
Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2013
Updated therapeutic strategy for adult low-grade glioma stratified by resection and tumor subtype.
The importance of surgical resection for patients with supratentorial low-grade glioma (LGG) remains controversial. This retrospective study of patients (n = 153) treated between 2000 to 2010 at a single institution assessed whether increasing the extent of resection (EOR) was associated with improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Histological subtypes of World Health Organization grade II tumors were as follows: diffuse astrocytoma in 49 patients (32.0%), oligoastrocytoma in 45 patients (29.4%), and oligodendroglioma in 59 patients (38.6%). ⋯ The only parameter associated with PFS was EOR. Based on these findings, we established updated therapeutic strategies for LGG. If surgery resulted in EOR <90%, patients with astrocytoma will require second-look surgery, whereas patients with oligodendroglioma or oligoastrocytoma, which are sensitive to chemotherapy, will be treated with chemotherapy.
-
Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2013
Prediction of outcomes in young adults with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is rare in young adults and little is known about aneurysms in this subgroup. The effect of clinical and prognostic factors on the outcome based on the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores and the predictors of unfavorable outcomes were analyzed in young adults with aneurysmal SAH. A retrospective review of the clinical parameters, including age, sex, hypertension, smoking status, hyperlipidemia, location of the cerebral aneurysm, size of the aneurysm, multiplicity, perioperative complication such as hydrocephalus, vasospasm, and hematoma, and Hunt and Hess and Fisher grading on presentation, was conducted in 108 young adults (mean age 34.8 years) managed at our institute. ⋯ Multivariate regression analysis found independent effects of sex, multiple aneurysms, size of aneurysm, and Hunt and Hess grade on the outcome at discharge. Size of aneurysm, presence of multiple aneurysms, Hunt and Hess grade, and hypertension were the predictors of outcome at mean 2-year follow up based on multivariate exact regression analysis. The multimodal approach with aggressive medical management, early intervention, and surgical treatment might contribute to favorable long-term outcomes in patients with poor expected outcomes.
-
Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2013
Acute subdural hematoma requiring surgery in the subacute or chronic stage.
The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical characteristics and pathophysiology of conservatively treated cases of acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) that ultimately require surgery in the subacute or chronic stage, and devise an appropriate form of management for them. A total of 50 patients with ASDH were admitted to our institution during a 5-year period. Hematoma removal in the subacute or chronic stage was performed in 8 patients. ⋯ After hematoma removal, no inner membrane was observed on the brain surface. One patient had typical chronic subdural hematoma in the subacute stage, and 2 patients had so-called subacute subdural hematoma (SASDH) in the chronic stage. Although the majority of such cases can be treated by burr-hole surgery, a small craniotomy or craniotomy ought to be considered as a further surgical option if SASDH is diagnosed on the basis of clinical and radiological data, especially diffusion-weighted MR imaging.