Antibiotic prophylaxis in ventricular shunt surgery. I. Reduction of operative infection rates with methicillin.

Administration of prophylactic antibiotics is not a proven or universal practice in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt surgery although case and operative infection rates in hydrocephalic patients average 20 and 8%, respectively. In sequential series from 1969 through 1978 the authors achieved a reduction in case infection rates from 10.9 to 8.

Surgical embolization of cerebral arteriovenous malformations through internal carotid and vertebral arteries. Long-term results.

The authors describe the clinical results of surgical embolization in 55 patients with large cerebral arteriovenous malformations. Follow-up intervals ranged from 2 months to 14 years, averaging 4 1/2 years. The authors believe the procedure is safe in properly selected patients and is useful as a preliminary to direct surgical excision.