Arachnoid cysts in children: a European co-operative study.

The data on arachnoid cysts in children (0-15 years) operated upon between 1980 and 1988 were analysed in a retrospective, co-operative study. The results from 285 patients indicate a predominance of these lesions in boys (64%) more than girls (36%) and a mean age of 6 years at onset of symptoms. Focal EEG patterns corresponding to the cyst's location were encountered in 32%.

Cerebrovascular response to changes of cerebral venous pressure and cerebrospinal fluid pressure.

Using parietal cranial windows and multichannel videoangiometry, pial vessel responses were studied in cats during stepwise elevation of superior sagittal sinus pressure (Psss) to a level of 50 mmHg or reduction of CSF-pressure (PCSF). PCSF was monitored via a needle in the great cistern, known from previous studies to be identical to supratentorial CSF-pressure. During elevation of PSSS, large and small pial veins dilated by 14 +/- 6.

[Trifurcations of the middle cerebral arteries].

The furcation types of 100 human middle cerebral arteries (MCA) were investigated. Considering the physiological flow characteristics in furcations, a distinct definition for a bifurcation and a trifurcation was found. The common ramification type of the human MCA is the bifurcation.

[Study of human cerebral blood flow by corrosion casts of the carotid system].

20 corrosion casts of human anterior cerebral arteries and middle cerebral arteries were analyzed. In 588 vessel sections in between 2 bifurcations, the relation of vessel length and vessel diameter was investigated. Measurements were taken starting from the arterial trunk down to vessels with a diameter of 0.

Prognosis after acute subdural or epidural haemorrhage.

In a series of 171 patients suffering acute subdural haemorrhage (SDH) (111 patients) or epidural haemorrhage (EDH) (60 patients) after closed head injury accumulated during the years 1978-1985 at the University Hospital of Graz, the mortality rate and the grade of clinical recovery were evaluated. The overall mortality in acute SDH was 57%, in acute EDH 25%, the percentages of good recoveries--full recovery and minimal neurologic deficit--25 and 58%, respectively. Outcome was found to be predominantly influenced by the preoperative state of consciousness, associated brain lesions, and, in comatose patients, the duration of the time interval between onset of coma and surgical decompression.

Effects of vasospasm in the middle cerebral artery territory on flow velocity and volume flow. A computersimulation.

Recently blood flow velocity in large cerebral arteries became measurable non-invasively by transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD). The present study tries to quantify the relation between flow velocity and the more important volume flow in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) by means of computersimulation. A mathematical model of the MCA territory was developed.

Autoregulatory response of pial vessels in the cat.

Pial vessel responses to mean arterial pressures (MAP) between 40 and 160 mmHg, induced by withdrawal and reinfusion of blood, were studied in twelve cats under barbiturate- and N2O-anaesthesia, using the cranial window technique and videoangiometry. Very minor changes of pial arterial calibres were noted between MAP 80 and 120 mmHg. During further reduction of MAP, small arteries dilated more than large arteries and measured 43 +/- 4.

Effect of intracranial pressure on bridging veins in rats.

The behavior of bridging veins at their entrance into the superior sagittal sinus during elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) was investigated in rats using a cranial window and infusion of mock cerebrospinal fluid. The bridging veins became slightly smaller as the ICP rose (maximum reduction 17%). Compression or collapse of the veins was not observed, even at an ICP level of 100 mm Hg, and there was no cuffing of bridging veins upstream of the entrance.

Cerebrovascular response to intracranial hypertension.

Pial arterial and venous calibre changes during intracranial hypertension were studied in 11 cats under barbiturate- and nitrous oxide-anaesthesia by using a closed cranial window technique and multichannel videoangiometry. Intracranial pressure was elevated from a normal mean level of 6.4 mm Hg by cisternal infusion of mock CSF in steps to 20, 30, 40, 50 mm Hg and finally to the level of systolic pressure.

Surgical treatment of cerebrovascular occlusive disease. A follow-up study.

This prospective open study of 124 patients [80% with completed stroke (CS), 16% with TIAS, 4% with PRIND] consecutively admitted between 1976 and 1981 investigates the rates of reinfarction after surgical treatment (extra-intracranial arterial bypass, EIAB and/or carotid thrombendarterectomy, TEA). 34% of patients had unilateral carotid stenosis, 26% unilateral internal carotid artery occlusion, 17% had occlusion of one and stenosis of the contralateral internal carotid artery, 14% bilateral carotid stenosis. Combined surgical morbidity and mortality was 5% after 158 operations in 124 patients; 7 of the 8 complications occurred in patients with CS.