Intracerebral temperature monitoring in severely head injured patients.

In a series of 6 severely head injured patients, intraventricular as well as rectal, bladder and jugular vein temperature is recorded. The relationship between these temperatures in different conditions is evaluated. Intracerebral temperature is 0.

Failure of a modified posterior lumbar interbody fusion technique to produce adequate pain relief in isthmic spondylolytic grade 1 spondylolisthesis patients. A prospective study of 20 patients.

A modified posterior lumber interbody fusion procedure is described: this technique basically uses only two tricortical bone grafts and does not produce a distraction at the interspace while inserting the bone grafts. Twenty patients with intractable back and leg pain due to an isthmic spondylolysis and a grade 1 spondylolisthesis were operated using this technique and a prospective study with a mean follow-up of 41 months was conducted to evaluate the results. The final evaluation involved a questionnaire, a clinical examination, and a lumbar spine radiographic series.

Photochemically-induced cerebral infarction in the rat: comparison of NMR imaging and histologic changes.

The evolution of a photochemically induced cerebral thrombotic infarction was followed in rats during the first week after the insult by means of NMR imaging and histology. Heavily T2-weighted images provided an excellent lesion detection and a high specificity for the discrimination of different histological abnormalities. The T2-weighted images showed a brain lesion evolving during the first 24 h from a homogeneous hyperintense area, histologically corresponding to diffuse vasogenic and cytotoxic oedema with concomitant neuronal necrosis, to an iso-intense area with a hyperintense seam, which microscopically correlated with increased vascular permeability at the periphery of the lesion.

Postsurgical follow-up by MRI of anterior cervical discectomy without fusion.

Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings are described in selected patients with cervical radiculopathy and a cervical soft disc herniation, treated by anterior cervical discectomy (ACD) without fusion. Six months postoperatively, 45 patients underwent MRI examination using a 0.5 T superconductive unit.

MR imaging of tuberculous spondylitis.

This case report describes a patient presenting with symptoms of progressive paresis of both legs. An X-ray of the thorax demonstrated an aspect consistent with miliary tuberculosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the thoracic spine revealed medullary compression.

Haemodynamic, intracranial pressure and electrocardiographic changes following subarachnoid haemorrhage in rats.

Experimental induction of subarachnoid haemorrhage in rats resulted in acute haemodynamic changes. Heart rate decreased concomitantly with a rise in arterial blood pressure. Intracranial pressure increased and consequently cerebral perfusion pressure dropped.

The course of vasospasm following subarachnoid haemorrhage in rats. A vertebrobasilar angiographic study.

The course of vasospasm following subarachnoid haemorrhage in rats was studied using vertebrobasilar angiography. Wistar and Sprague Dawley rats were compared with respect to vasospastic response after bleeding. A more pronounced vasospasm was found in Sprague Dawley rats.

Loss of constitutional heterozygosity in human astrocytomas.

Inactivation of tumour suppressor genes or anti-oncogenes as well as activation of dominant acting oncogenes seem to be important mechanisms in the pathogenesis of gliomas. We compared constitutional and tumoural genotypes at different restriction fragment length polymorphism loci (RFLP) on chromosomes 10 and 17 in 15 unrelated individuals. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) pointing to chromosomal loss or deletions was detected for at least one chromosome 17 marker in 11 gliomas (astrocytomas grades I-III and glioblastoma multiforme), whereas LOH for chromosome 10 loci was only detected in 3 out of 9 cases of glioblastoma multiforme and was not detected in low grade gliomas.

Virus inactivation of fresh frozen plasma by a solvent detergent procedure: biological results.

In order to increase the safety of blood products, we have developed a procedure for the virus inactivation of fresh frozen plasma. Several batches have been prepared and with the first 10 batches, each of them composed of 60 litres of plasma, we have determined a set of biological parameters. Virus inactivation was realised using TnBP (1%) and Octoxynol 9 (1%).

Intracerebral hemorrhage after lumbar myelography with iohexol: report of a case and review of the literature.

Intracranial hemorrhage is an uncommon complication of dural puncture. In most instances, hematomas are subdural; they may be unilateral or bilateral. Rarely are intraparenchymal cerebral hemorrhages related to dural puncture.

Singlet oxygen induced cerebral vasospasm: an experimental study in rats.

A new experimental model is described which can be used as an alternative to study the effects of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in rats. Vasospasm of the basilar artery is induced photochemically after transpalatal illumination of intracisternally injected rose bengal in two different rat strains. Singlet oxygen, generated in the subarachnoid space, elicits vasospasm which has been demonstrated angiographically at 90 min and 24 h after photosensitisation.

Fiberoptic intracranial pressure monitoring in rats.

An adaptation of a fiberoptic intracranial pressure monitoring system for clinical use is described. The method allows easy and reliable acute and chronic intracranial pressure registration in anesthetized as well as conscious rats. The disposable fiberoptic probes, originally designed for human use, can be re-used limitlessly.

Consequences and complications of glycerol injection in the cavum of Meckel: a series of 120 consecutive injections.

From 1983 to 1989, 120 injections of glycerol into the trigeminal ganglion were performed to treat facialgias of different origin. The subjective and objective consequences and complications are reviewed. Since this operation yielded most often mild, transient and well tolerated consequences and complications for the patient, we now propose this method as first choice for trigeminal neuralgia when there is no anamnestic or clinical evidence of damage to the trigeminal system.

Transcranial Doppler sonography in subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Ten patients presenting a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to rupture of a middle cerebral or an anterior communicating aneurysm are presented. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) values are obtained at different time intervals after SAH. The correlation of TCD values, vasospasm and clinical course is discussed.

Gadolinium-DOTA enhanced MR imaging of intracranial lesions.

Gadolinium 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N",N"'-tetraacetic acid (Gd-DOTA) is the first of a new class of macrocyclic paramagnetic magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agents (gadolinium cryptelates) to be used in clinical practice. Gadolinium-DOTA possesses relaxation properties similar to those of gadolinium diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA). We report our initial clinical experience in 38 patients with intracranial lesions studied with MR before and after injection of Gd-DOTA.

Transcranial Doppler sonography.

A general review of the physical principles and the applications of transcranial Doppler (TCD) sonography is given. This new non-invasive technique is presented as an important diagnostic tool in neurology, neurosurgery and intensive care medicine. The applications are documented using our own patient material.

Craniostenosis: the importance of the anesthesiologist.

Based on the experience with 15 patients operated for craniostenosis in our hospital, guidelines were determined for the anesthetic and postoperative management with optimal maintenance of vital parameters. Subgaleal accumulation of blood may cause a spectacular drop of hemoglobin level during the first postoperative days. Since it is better to prevent than to cure, systematic anti-convulsive and antibiotic prophylaxis must be considered.

Atherosclerosis and cerebral ischemic attacks: intakes of cerebrography with xenon133 inhaled and platelet tests in the diagnosis, clinical and therapeutic monitoring; the preventive role of dipyridamole.

A study of patients to develop the significance of the role of the blood platelets in the recurrence of transient cerebral ischemic attacks in patients with cerebral atheromatous, develop the effectiveness of dipyridamole in the prophylactic therapeutic regimen. In the group treated with dipyridamole, a 76.3% clinical improvement was recorded (mean increases of 11.

Familial oligodendroglioma. Case report.

A case of familial oligodendroglioma, occurring in a mother and her daughter, is presented.

Pituitary abscess. Case report.

A case of pituitary abscess is reported in which the diagnosis was made during surgery. The difficulties in diagnosis and management of patients with this rare entity are stressed.

Oculomotor anomalies in sellar and parasellar pathology.

The authors report 19 cases where diplopia was the initial symptom of sellar pathology, Additionally, 5 cases with doubtful, diagnosis are discussed. Considering a series of 134 adenomata, the onset in 7 cases was intermittent diplopia with involvement of the third nerve.