QEEG changes during carotid clamping in carotid endarterectomy: spectral edge frequency parameters and relative band power parameters.

Intraoperative monitoring is needed to identify accurately those patients in need of a shunt during carotid endarterectomy. EEG can be used for this purpose, but there is no consensus on the variables to use. Using a database consisting of 149 EEGs recorded from patients during carotid endarterectomy under isoflurane (n=61) or propofol (n=88) anesthesia and who did or did not receive a shunt, the authors investigated which of 16 derivations (common reference, Cz) and 12 parameters (relative and absolute powers and spectral edge frequencies [SEFs]) singly or in combination could best distinguish between the shunt and the nonshunt groups for the two anesthesia regimens.

A 3-month, follow-up, randomized, placebo-controlled study of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in depression.

Background/objective: There is evidence for an antidepressant effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), but little is known about posttreatment course. Therefore, we conducted a placebo-controlled, double-blind study in depressed patients in order to investigate the effect of rTMS on depression over 12 weeks after completion of the 2-week stimulation period.

Method: 55 patients with a moderate or severe DSM-IV major depressive episode were randomly assigned to rTMS or sham treatment.

Feasibility study of Flextube reflectometry for localisation of upper airway obstruction in obstructive sleep apnea.

One hundred and twenty-three patients with snoring problems and/or obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) were offered Rhinosleep Flextube-reflectometry during sleep registration to assess the upper airway. The main point of interest was patient acceptance of the procedure. 36 patients with OSAS received Rhino Flextube reflectometry.

High embolic rate early after carotid endarterectomy is associated with early cerebrovascular complications, especially in women.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the rate of emboli (ER), as detected with transcranial Doppler scan (TCD) monitoring during and shortly after carotid endarterectomy (CEA), and early cerebrovascular complications (CVC).

Materials And Methods: One-hunderd eighty-five consecutive patients underwent 203 CEAs with general anesthesia at the Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital. Inclusion criteria included adequate TCD monitoring during the operation and for at least 10 minutes in the recovery room.

Alcohol use, cigarette consumption and chronic post-traumatic stress disorder.

Aims: The relationship between alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was studied in 147 male former members of the civilian resistance against the Nazi occupation of Holland during World War II.

Methods: The subjects were interviewed at home. Measures included rating of current PTSD and a self-report measure of smoking and alcohol use.

Diagnostic work-up of socially unacceptable snoring. I. History or sleep registration.

Should all patients with socially unacceptable snoring (SUS) undergo polysomnography, or is history-taking sufficient to identify the presence of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS)? Three hundred and eighty consecutive patients with SUS who underwent sleep registration were evaluated retrospectively to determine the predictive value of a history of apnoea or excessive daytime somnolence (hypersomnia). Of the patients analysed, 54% had OSAS, defined as an apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI) of >15. This is higher than previously reported in the literature (46.