Acta neurochirurgica
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Acta neurochirurgica · Dec 2008
Surgical complications secondary to decompressive craniectomy in patients with a head injury: a series of 108 consecutive cases.
Decompressive craniectomy is an important method for managing refractory intracranial hypertension in patients with head injury. We reviewed a large series of patients who underwent this surgical procedure to establish the incidence and type of postoperative complications. ⋯ The potential benefits of decompressive craniectomy can be adversely affected by the occurrence of complications. Each complication secondary to surgical decompression had its own typical time window for occurrence. In addition, the severity of head injury was related to the development of a complication.
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Acta neurochirurgica · Dec 2008
Analysis of intracranial pressure changes during early versus late percutaneous tracheostomy in a neuro-intensive care unit.
We aimed to investigate intracranial pressure (ICP) changes during early versus late bedside percutaneous tracheostomy (PT) in a neuro-intensive care unit (NICU). ⋯ In patients with decreased intracranial compliance, a relatively minimally invasive procedure such as PT may lead to significant increases in ICP. The timing of PT does not seem to influence ICP, mortality, pneumonia or early complications. During the PT procedure, ICP should be closely monitored and preventive strategies should be instituted in an attempt to prevent secondary insult to an already severely injured brain.
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Acta neurochirurgica · Dec 2008
Cerebral microdialysis of interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6: extraction efficiency and production in the acute phase after severe traumatic brain injury in rats.
As a research tool, cerebral microdialysis might be a useful technique in monitoring the release of cytokines into the extracellular fluid (ECF) following traumatic brain injury (TBI). We established extraction efficiency of Interleukin(IL)-1ss and Interleukin(IL)-6 by an in vitro microdialysis-perfusion system, followed by in vivo determination of the temporal profile of extracellular fluid cytokines after severe TBI in rats. ⋯ Cerebral microdialysis allows measurement of cytokine secretion in the ECF of brain tissue in rats.