Acta neurochirurgica. Supplement
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Acta Neurochir. Suppl. · Jan 2016
Case ReportsEmergency Non-occlusive High Capacity Bypass Surgery for Ruptured Giant Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysms.
Managing ruptured giant internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms in an emergency situation is very challenging. By reporting two cases, we discuss the role of the Excimer Laser-assisted Non-occlusive Anastomosis (ELANA) technique as an armamentarium for cerebrovascular surgeons dealing with giant ICA aneurysms presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). ⋯ Emergency ELANA bypass surgery is a useful instrument for managing patients with giant ICA aneurysms presenting with SAH. In experienced hands, the technique does not seem to carry increased risk and may expand the surgical options due to its non-occlusive nature.
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Acta Neurochir. Suppl. · Jan 2016
Observational StudyWaveform Analysis of Intraspinal Pressure After Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: An Observational Study (O-64).
Following a traumatic brain injury (TBI), intracranial pressure (ICP) increases, often resulting in secondary brain insults. After a spinal cord injury, here the cord may be swollen, leading to a local increase in intraspinal pressure (ISP). We hypothesised that waveform analysis methodology similar to that used for ICP after TBI may be applicable for the monitoring of patients with spinal cord injury. ⋯ With increasing mean ISP, the pulse amplitude increased in all cases. This suggests that the ISP signal is of a similar character to ICP recorded after TBI. Therefore, the methods of ICP analysis can be helpful in ISP analysis.
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Acta Neurochir. Suppl. · Jan 2016
Measurement of Intraspinal Pressure After Spinal Cord Injury: Technical Note from the Injured Spinal Cord Pressure Evaluation Study.
Intracranial pressure (ICP) is routinely measured in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). We describe a novel technique that allowed us to monitor intraspinal pressure (ISP) at the injury site in 14 patients who had severe acute traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI), analogous to monitoring ICP after brain injury. A Codman probe was inserted subdurally to measure the pressure of the injured spinal cord compressed against the surrounding dura. ⋯ The ISP signal characteristics after TSCI were similar to the ICP signal characteristics recorded after TBI. Importantly, there were no associated complications. Future studies are required to determine whether reducing ISP improves neurological outcome after severe TSCI.
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Acta Neurochir. Suppl. · Jan 2016
Is Impaired Autoregulation Associated with Mortality in Patients with Severe Cerebral Diseases?
Cerebral autoregulation (CA) is a mechanism that compensates for variations in cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) by changes in cerebral blood flow resistance to keep the cerebral blood flow constant. In this study, the relationship between lethal outcome during hospitalisation and the autoregulation-related indices PRx and Mx was investigated. ⋯ Increased PRx and Mx were associated with risk of death in patients with severe cerebral diseases. The relationship with mortality was more pronounced in PRx, whereas Mx showed a better correlation with GOS score.
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Acta Neurochir. Suppl. · Jan 2016
The Evolution of the Clinical Use of Osmotic Therapy in the Treatment of Cerebral Edema.
For almost a century, it has been known that hypertonic solutions shrink cerebral tissue. Early attempts used hypertonic solutions of ions (sodium, magnesium) and sugars (glucose, dextrose, sucrose), concentrated albumin, and, later, urea. These early attempts were largely abandoned because the effect was short lived and often followed by a period of rebound edema. ⋯ In the 1990s, use of hypertonic saline was reintroduced as an alternative to address concerns about mannitol. More recently, administration of hypertonic saline has transitioned from boluses to continuous infusions. The rationale for and data supporting the use of continuous infusions are presented.