Acta neurochirurgica
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To determine the influence of baseline paCO2 on the results of apnea testing in the diagnosis of brain death, we performed an open prospective study on 36 patients fulfilling all other criteria for the diagnosis of brain death according to the criteria proposed by the Advisory Board of the German Federal Chamber of Physicians. For testing of apnea, patients underwent hypoventilation with 100% oxygen supply until a baseline paCO2 of 40 torr (5.3 kPa, n = 24, group 1) or 60 torr (8.0 kPa, n = 12, group 2) was reached. Then, patients were disconnected from the ventilator and apneic oxygenation with insufflation of 61 O2/min into the tracheal cannula was performed for five minutes. ⋯ Secondary organ damage due to severe respiratory acidosis could not be excluded in the patients of group 2. As no complications were observed in group 1 and apnea was evident in all these patients, we consider a baseline paCO2 of 40 torr (5.3 kPa) sufficient to establish apnea after five minutes of apneic oxygenation if an increase of baseline paCO2 of at least 20 mmHg is documented by arterial blood gas sampling. A higher baseline paCO2 may endanger patients without yielding more specific testing results.
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Acta neurochirurgica · Jan 1998
Transverse microincisions of the outer layer of the dura mater combined with foramen magnum decompression as treatment for syringomyelia with Chiari I malformation.
Numerous surgical procedures have been proposed for treatment of syringomyelia associated with Chiari I malformation, but the optimal treatment has not yet been uniformly standardised. The main aim of the surgical treatment of syringomyelia/Chiari I complex is directed toward restoration of physiological cerebrospinal fluid dynamic at the craniovertebral junction. ⋯ Postoperative Magnetic Resonance showed a decrease in size of the syrinx in seven patients. These results suggest that foramen magnum decompression combined with transverse microincisions of the outer layer of the dura 1) is an effective and safe treatment option for syringomyelia and Chiari I malformation, 2) corrects the circulatory disturbances of cerebrospinal fluid dynamic, 3) leads to a decrease in size of the syrinx and to a significant improvement in neurological signs and symptoms, 4) avoids complications of intradural approaches and syringosubarachnoid shunting.
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Acta neurochirurgica · Jan 1998
The use of cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) to determine the incidence of myocardial ischemia and injury in patients with aneurysmal and presumed aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
A prospective single center study was performed to determine the minimal preoperative incidence of unrecognized cardiac injury in patients suffering aneurysmal and presumed aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). When caring for such patients in the pre- and post operative period clinicians must be aware of the possibility of cardiac injury even when a history of previous cardiac symptomatology is not present. Forty-seven consecutive patients suffering from SAH over a five-month period underwent serum measurements of the cardiac muscle marker troponin I (cTnI) immediately upon admission. ⋯ None had recordings clearly consistent with recent myocardial ischemia although 13 were suggestive of ischemic changes. None of these 39 patients had pre- or post-operative clinical changes in cardiac function. Elevations in troponin I appeared to be unrelated to the patient's Hunt and Hess grade or Fisher score although our numbers were too small to draw any meaningful conclusions.
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Sometimes charring or popping occurs and the bipolar blades get stuck to the vessel. ⋯ Experience with this instrument was still quite limited, but preliminary results were promising.
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Acta neurochirurgica · Jan 1998
Four-year experience with the routine use of the programmable Hakim valve in the management of children with hydrocephalus.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) over- and underdrainage symptoms are frequent sequelae of shunt placement in patients with hydrocephalus, sometimes requiring repeated operations. To achieve more adequate CSF drainage, the non-invasively programmable Hakim valve has been developed. Because the clinical experiences with this valve so far are confined to adults, we describe our experiences with the routine use of the programmable Hakim valve in childhood hydrocephalus. ⋯ In the majority of cases, the programmable Hakim valve allows the successful management of symptoms related to CSF over- and underdrainage by non-invasive change of the initial pressure setting of the valve. Therefore, the programmable Hakim valve should be considered as an alternative to non-programmable valves of advanced design.