[Use of intravenous lidocaine in neuro-anesthesia and neuro-resuscitation].

Bolus injections of lidocaine are commonly used during neuroanesthesia to prevent or treat ICP elevations caused by tracheal or painful stimuli. Lidocaine can also be employed in case of hard intracranial hypertension, when the usual therapy fails. With continuous perfusion, at high doses, of this agent, a state of lidocaine anesthesia can be induced which is more readily reversible than barbiturate anesthesia.

[Treatment of ischemic cerebral edema with intracranial hypertension after neurosurgery of intracranial aneurysms].

Ischemic cerebral edema frequently develops after aneurysm surgery and may lead to severe intracranial hypertension. Of prime importance are reducing the level of ICP and preserving oligemic areas from becoming infarcted. Besides correction of factors known to worsen intracranial hypertension, several therapeutics may be of value: external CSF drainage, perfusion of mannitol, induced arterial hypertension and use of anesthetic agents with cerebral vasoconstricting capability.

A controlled study of Dextran 40: effect on cerebral blood flow and metabolic rates in acute head trauma.

A controlled double-blind evaluation of the effects of Dextran 40 at different concentrations on cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral oxygen consumption (CMRO2) and cerebral lactate production (CMRLact) was carried out. We studied 40 patients in coma due to recent head injury. Concentrations of Dextran solution were not significantly related to variations in CBF and metabolic rate over the period of infusion.

[Complications related to the seated position of the aged patient in neurosurgery].

The advantages of the sitting position for neurosurgery of the posterior fossa are evident and universally admitted. However, respiratory and haemodynamic consequences make this position uncommon and even exceptional for the old patient whose existing physiological cardiovascular and pulmonary disturbances may result in greater risks. In this study, the complications observed during and after surgery in twenty-two patients over 65 years are analysed.

[Treatment of head injury coma with prolonged pentobarbital anaesthesia (author's transl)].

Forty-five patients in deep coma resulting from head injury were treated with pentobarbital in doses adjusted to maintain serum barbiturate levels between 15 and 25 mg/l and short burst suppression phases on EEG. Brain death occurred in 20%. The overall mortality rate was 60%, no death being attributable to treatment; 24% of the patients were able to resume active life.

[Prevention of hospital-acquired infection. Efficacy of isolation procedures in a neurological intensive care unit (ICU) (author's transl)].

Isolation procedures were adopted after usual measures failed to control hospital-acquired infection in a neurological ICU. All patients with an intubation or a tracheostomy were treated in individual rooms following the rules of strict isolation. The circulation of contaminated equipments was strictly isolated from the rest of the ICU.