[Differential diagnosis of spasm and hypoplasia of the vertebral artery with ultrasound methods].

The aim of the study was to establish ultrasound criteria of the differentiation between functional and morphological vasoconstriction of the vertebral artery (VA) using hypercapnia test in patients with signs of vertebral-basilar insufficiency. The inclusion criteria were the presence of clinical symptoms of vertebral-basilar disturbances of circulation and small diameter of VA (< or =2.9 mm).

[Arterial and venous brain reactivity in the acute period of brain concussion].

Arterial and venous brain reactivity has been studied in 38 patients in the acute period of brain concussion (BC) and 32 healthy volunteers using transcranial color duplex scanning of brain vessels. The assessment of arterial inflow was conducted for the medial brain artery (MBA) and that of venous outflow - for the basal vein (BV) of Rosenthal. Hyperkinetic and orthostatic probes were used for assessment of cerebrovascular reactivity.

[Venous haemodynamics response to hypercapnia].

The authors' aim was to evaluate the response of the intracranial venous system to application of functional tests. In 46 healthy volunteers, the basal veins were examined using venous transcranial color-coded duplex sonography. We evaluated angle-corrected venous peak-systolic flow velocities (V(vb)) in response to hypercapnia (I group: 29 subjects) and the orthostatic test (II group: 17 subjects).

[Effect of anesthesia and anticoagulant prophylaxis on the occurrence of postoperative thromboembolic complications in orthopedic patients].

Different prevention regimens of venous thromboembolism, by using the low molecular-weight heparin Fraxiparin, were studied in 152 patients who had undergone major orthopedic leg surgery under spinal and general anesthesia. The regimens differed in the time of Fraxiparin administration (before or after surgery). Fraxiparin and spinal anesthesia were found to promote the lower incidence of venous thromboembolism.