Reduction of transfusion requirements in pediatric craniosynostosis surgery by a new local hemostatic agent.

Background And Objectives: Craniosynostosis surgery is often associated with severe perioperative bleeding especially due to venae emissariae, resulting in large transfusion amounts of packed red blood cells (PRBCs). Blood loss from venae emissariae is usually reduced by the usage of bone wax. SeraSeal is a new hemostatic agent which might help to reduce transfusion amounts if used additionally to bone wax.

Segmental innervation in lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV): a comparative clinical and intraoperative EMG study.

Background: Despite the high prevalence of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV), little is known about the segmental innervation in this condition.

Methods: The authors performed a prospective comparative clinical evaluation and an intraoperative electromyographic (EMG) investigation on patients with six lumbar vertebral bodies (6LVB) and on patients with five lumbar vertebrae (5LVB). First, clinical pain distribution in 80 patients (46 patients with 6LVB, 34 patients with 5LVB) with degenerative lumbar diseases were analysed between patient groups.

Multiple intradural extramedullary tumours presenting with paraplegia after trauma.

Intraspinal nerve-sheath tumours are generally slow growing and are diagnosed after causing symptoms such as back pain and progressive neurological symptoms. We present a rare example of multiple schwannomas located in the thoracolumbar spine in a previously asymptomatic patient who developed severe neurological deficits after a motor-vehicle accident. The exact mechanism of neurological compromise in this patient remains unclear.

Distinct supratentorial lesions mimicking cerebral gliomas.

Background: Various supratentorial pathological conditions can mimic neoplastic cerebral lesions clinically as well as radiologically. Analysis of the neuroradiological findings, the clinical history, laboratory and other paraclinical data mostly help to narrow down the diagnosis of cerebral pathologies. Sometimes, however, histopathological analysis of the operative specimen after surgery reveals unexpected findings.

Anemia in Crohn's disease. Importance of inadequate erythropoietin production and iron deficiency.

Intestinal blood loss as well as chronic inflammation are regarded as the most important mechanisms in the pathogenesis of anemia in Crohn's disease. In addition, cytokines such as interleukin-6 can suppress erythropoietin production. This study was performed to investigate the importance of iron status, inflammatory activity, and endogenous erythropoietin concentrations for the development of anemia in Crohn's disease.