Neuroprotective effect of curcumin in an experimental rat model of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) causes a high mortality rate and morbidity. It was suggested that oxidant stress plays an important role in neuronal injury after SAH. Therefore, we assessed the effect of curcumin on reducing cerebral vasospasm and neurologic injury in a SAH model in rat.

Temporal changes in glutamate, glutamate transporters, basilar arteries wall thickness, and neuronal variability in an experimental rat model of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background: Glutamate and glutamate transporters (GTs) (including glutamate/aspartate transporter, glutamate transporter-1, and excitatory amino acid carrier 1) have important roles in the pathogenesis of ischemic neurological injury. The changes in glutamate, GTs, and neuronal injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) have not been widely investigated. In this study, we examined the changes in extracellular glutamate concentration, GTs, wall thickness of basilar arteries (BAs), and neuronal degeneration in experimental SAH rats.

Transient adenosine-induced asystole during the surgical treatment of anterior circulation cerebral aneurysms: technical note.

Background: Transient adenosine-induced asystole is a reliable method for producing a short period of relative hypotension during surgical and endovascular procedures. Although the technique has been described in the endovascular treatment of brain arteriovenous malformations, aortic aneurysms, and posterior circulation cerebral aneurysms, little description of its use in anterior circulation aneurysms is available.

Objective: To assess the benefits of adenosine-induced transient asystole in complex anterior circulation aneurysms, to describe our experience in selected cases, and to provide the first experience of the use of adenosine in anterior circulation aneurysms.

A comparison of the combination of aprepitant and dexamethasone versus the combination of ondansetron and dexamethasone for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing craniotomy.

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) occur commonly after craniotomy. In patients receiving prophylaxis with ondansetron and dexamethasone, vomiting occurred in 45% of patients at 48 hours. In addition to causing patient discomfort, the physical act of vomiting may increase intracranial pressure or cerebral intravascular pressure, jeopardizing hemostasis and cerebral perfusion.

Adenosine-induced transient asystole for intracranial aneurysm surgery: a retrospective review.

Unlabelled: BRIEF SUMMARY: We describe the use of adenosine-induced cardiac arrest to facilitate intracranial aneurysm clip ligation.

Background: Cerebral aneurysms are highly variable which may result in difficult surgical exposure for clip ligation in select cases. Secure clip placement is often not feasible without temporarily decompressing the aneurysm.

A comparison of 3% hypertonic saline and mannitol for brain relaxation during elective supratentorial brain tumor surgery.

Background: In this study, we compared the effects of 3% hypertonic saline (HTS) and 20% mannitol on brain relaxation during supratentorial brain tumor surgery, intensive care unit (ICU) stays, and hospital days.

Methods: This prospective, randomized, and double-blind study included patients who were selected for elective craniotomy for supratentorial brain tumors. Patients received either 160 mL of 3% HTS (HTS group, n = 122) or 150 mL of 20% mannitol infusion (M group, n = 116) for 5 minutes at the start of scalp incision.

Simvastatin treatment duration and cognitive preservation in experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Cognitive dysfunction, a significant complication after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), affects up to 60% of survivors. We hypothesized that oral simvastatin would improve vestibulomotor function and reduce cognitive dysfunction after experimental SAH in the rat, and explored the effects of simvastatin on vasospasm and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). In total 160 rats were enrolled.

Long-term cognitive dysfunction following experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage: new perspectives.

Cognitive dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a significant long-term complication following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), affecting up to 60% of survivors. We proposed to determine the incidence and explore potential mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction in a rat model. The effects of intracisternal blood, saline and sham injections were compared.

Use of high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) in neurocritical care patients.

Introduction: Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can be a common problem associated with the treatment of acute brain injury. High frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) is a developing therapy for the treatment of ARDS in adult patients that can be life saving. However, often patients with acute, severe brain injury demonstrate intracranial hypertension (hICP) due to a variety of injuries (e.

Role of vascular mitogens in subarachnoid hemorrhage-associated cerebral vasculopathy.

Introduction: Cerebral vasculopathy may play an important role in the development of delayed cerebral ischemia following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Platelet-derived growth factor AB (PDGF-AB) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) released from blood clot may trigger vasculopathy in cerebral arteries. We compared arteriographic and histological response to injection of blood with PDGF-AB and VEGF in basilar artery over 3 days.

Preoperative cotreatment with dextromethorphan and ketorolac provides an enhancement of pain relief after laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy.

Objectives: Both N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been demonstrated to produce better postoperative pain relief. The concept of multimodal analgesia has also been used for clinical pain management. The aim of the present study was to examine the analgesic effect of preoperative cotreatment with dextromethorphan (DM) and ketorolac on postoperative pain management after laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH).

Dissociation between vasospasm and functional improvement in a murine model of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Object: The efficacy of nimodipine was examined in a murine model of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). End points included the diameter of the lumen of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and behavioral outcome. An apolipoprotein E (apoE)-mimetic peptide, acetyl-AS-Aib-LRKL-Aib-KRLL-amide, previously shown to have promise in this model was tested both alone and in combination with nimodipine.

Anesthetic management of an AAI pacemaker patient with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation during colorectal surgery.

Perioperative management of patients with cardiac pacemakers may be challenging because of the increasing sophistication of these devices. We report a case of a patient with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) and with a permanent AAIR (bipolar atrial-inhibited adaptive rate) pacemaker who suffered life-threatening episodes of arrhythmias during operation. The first episode was vagally induced PAF during bowel manipulation; the second, induced by the increased pacing threshold from the external electric cardioversion and hyperkalemia.

Correlation between changes in regional cerebral blood flow and pain relief in complex regional pain syndrome type 1.

Objective: Analyzing changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) with SPECT in complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS 1), formerly known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy, is an optimal method for evaluating effective pain relief. We attempted to investigate the correlation of changes in rCBF with pain relief during treatments of sympathetic blockade and multimodal epidural pain control.

Case Report: We describe a patient with severe CRPS 1 in whom conventional treatment failed to relieve the pain.

Comparing the effects of minimal low-flow desflurane with that of semi-close high flow desflurane on perioperative cytokine response in patients undergoing gastrectomy.

Background: Anesthetic techniques may influence the perioperative cytokine response. We investigate two anesthetic techniques: minimal low-flow anesthesia (LFA) and semi-closed high flow anesthesia (HFA) with desflurane on the effect of cytokine response in gastrectomy.

Methods: Forty patients scheduled to undergo elective gastrectomy were randomly allocated to LFA (0.

Thromboelastography detects inadequate response to abciximab therapy during stent-assisted cerebral aneurysm coil embolization complicated by stroke.

Introduction: Thromboembolic stroke is the most common severe complication following coil embolization of intracerebral aneurysms, with a 5% incidence of permanent deficits. Despite heparin anticoagulation, rescue therapy with the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist abciximab may be required. However, we describe a failure of abciximab rescue therapy and discuss the importance of monitoring the variable individual response to abciximab.

Neurogenic pulmonary edema during intracranial endovascular therapy.

Neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) is a well-known complication of acute brain injury. Neurogenic stunned myocardium (NSM) occurs clinically in a significant subset of patients with NPE. A 49-year-old woman developed refractory cerebral vasospasm requiring angioplasty following a subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Magnesium neuroprotection is limited in humans with acute brain injury.

Based on the results of preclinical models, magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) has gained attention as a putative neuroprotective agent. The negative results of a large-scale, randomized clinical trial using MgSO4 in acute stroke have tempered the initial enthusiasm for a neuroprotective benefit of the ion. Additional, large-scale clinical trials in stroke and other forms of brain injury are underway.

A retrospective analysis of a remifentanil/propofol general anesthetic for craniotomy before awake functional brain mapping.

Unlabelled: We performed this study to summarize drug dosing, physiologic responses, and anesthetic complications from an IV general anesthetic technique for patients undergoing craniotomy for awake functional brain mapping. Review of 98 procedures revealed "most rapid" IV infusion rates for remifentanil 0.05, 0.

Analysis of the brain bioavailability of peripherally administered magnesium sulfate: A study in humans with acute brain injury undergoing prolonged induced hypermagnesemia.

Objective: Based on preclinical investigations, magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) has gained interest as a neuroprotective agent. However, the ability of peripherally administered MgSO4 to penetrate the blood-brain barrier is limited in normal brain. The current study measured the passage of intravenously administered Mg into cerebrospinal fluid in patients with brain injury requiring ventricular drainage.

Postdural puncture headache with abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Dural puncture or a rent in the dura with prolonged cerebrospinal fluid leakage may cause noninfectious arachnoiditis and may be associated with urinary and fecal incontinence. Visceral dysfunction is common for patients with noninfectious arachnoiditis of the lumbosacral nerve roots after dural puncture. We report a case of postdural puncture headache associated with abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Treatment of cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage--a review.

Delayed cerebral ischemia as a result of cerebral vasospasm is the most common cause of death and disability after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). It leads to death or permanent neurologic deficits in over 17-40% of SAH patients. The initial and main symptom of cerebral vasospasm is diffuse headache and may be accompanied with a slight increase in discomfort from neck stiffness and fever.

The interaction effect of perioperative cotreatment with dextromethorphan and intravenous lidocaine on pain relief and recovery of bowel function after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Both dextromethorphan (DM) and IV lidocaine improve postoperative pain relief. In the present study, we evaluated the interaction of DM and IV lidocaine on pain management after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). One-hundred ASA physical status I or II patients scheduled for LC were randomized into four equal groups to receive either: (a) chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM) intramuscular injection (IM) 20 mg and IV normal saline (N/S) (group C); (b) DM 40 mg IM and IV N/S (group DM); (c) CPM 20 mg IM and IV lidocaine 3 mg .

Preincisional intravenous pentoxifylline attenuating perioperative cytokine response, reducing morphine consumption, and improving recovery of bowel function in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery.

Cytokine release during surgery can produce a long-lasting hyperalgesia. Thus, preoperatively-administered cytokine inhibitors might reduce the production of cytokines, decreasing central nervous system sensitization and improving the quality of postoperative pain relief. We investigated the hypothesis that preincisional IV pentoxifylline (PTX) treatment could attenuate the release of proinflammatory (tumor necrosis factor, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and IL-8) and antiinflammatory (IL-1 receptor antagonist) cytokines in patients who underwent elective colorectal cancer surgery.