The influence of acute and chronic alcohol treatment on brain edema, cerebral infarct volume and neurological outcome following experimental head trauma in rats.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of acute and chronic ethanol treatment on neurological outcome following head trauma in rats. Eight-two Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 10 groups. Four groups received sham head trauma (surgical incision of the scalp but no trauma) and were treated with (A) nothing, (B) chronic ethanol (6% ethanol in drinking water for 40 days), (C) acute ethanol 1.

Therapeutic time window and dose response of the beneficial effects of ketamine in experimental head injury.

Background And Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the time and dose response of the therapeutic effects of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist ketamine in experimental head injury.

Methods: Sixty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into eight groups. Groups A, B, and C were surgically prepared but received no trauma.

Prevention of postoperative intracerebral hemorrhage with topical recombinant factor XIII in the rat.

Factor XIII is an endogenous clotting factor that retards thrombus degradation by cross-linking fibrin. To determine the efficacy of Factor XIII as a topical clot-stabilizing agent in preventing postoperative hemorrhage associated with coagulopathy, a rat model of experimental craniotomy and standardized bilateral frontal corticectomy was developed. In 25 rats (50 lesions), recombinant human Factor XIII or placebo solution was topically applied to corticectomy cavities after hemostasis was achieved; each animal served as its own control.

Risks of anticoagulation therapy after experimental corticectomy in the rat.

To determine the optimal postoperative interval after which heparin therapy can be safely initiated, a rat model for experimental craniotomy and corticectomy was developed. In 50 rats (100 lesions), heparin therapy was initiated 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 days after standardized bilateral frontal corticectomy and was continued for 7 days. Intraperitoneally administered heparin, 75 to 100 U/kg.

The effect of alfentanil on cerebral blood flow velocity and intracranial pressure during isoflurane-nitrous oxide anesthesia in humans.

Background: Intravenous opioids often are used as a component of anesthesia during neurosurgical procedures. However, the cerebrovascular effects of alfentanil administered to patients are controversial. In this study, the effect of alfentanil in patients with and without intracranial pathology was studied.