Acta neurochirurgica
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Pituitary surgery is a recent development in neurosurgery and most of the surgical techniques concerned have been described within the last century. We provide a historical perspective by reviewing the major steps in the development of this neurosurgical subspecialty through the ages. We concentrate on the most important figures whose advances in the study of the physiology and anatomy of the pituitary are most significant. This journey into the past will demonstrate that our current knowledge is the summation of a long road of investigation.
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Acta neurochirurgica · Nov 2011
Low-frequency sampling for PRx calculation does not reduce prognostication and produces similar CPPopt in intracerebral haemorrhage patients.
The cerebral pressure reactivity index (PRx) correlates with the outcome in intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) patients and has been used to define an autoregulation-oriented "optimal cerebral perfusion pressure" (CPPopt). PRx has been calculated as a moving correlation coefficient between mean arterial pressure (MAP) and intracranial pressure (ICP) averaged over 5-10 s, using a 2.5- to 5-min moving time window, in order to reflect changes in MAP and ICP within a time frame of 20 s to 2 min. We compared PRx with a different calculation method [low-frequency PRx (L-PRx)], where rapid fluctuations of MAP and ICP are cancelled (waves with frequencies greater than 0.01 Hz). ⋯ L-PRx correlated with the outcome as good as PRx did. CPPopt could be identified in more patients using L-PRx. Slower MAP and ICP changes (in the range of 1-20 min) can be used for autoregulation assessment and contain important prognostic information.
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Acta neurochirurgica · Nov 2011
Case ReportsEnhanced analysis of intracerebral arterioveneous malformations by the intraoperative use of analytical indocyanine green videoangiography: technical note.
In cerebral arterioveneous malformations (AVMs) detailed intraoperative identification of feeding arteries, nidal vessels and draining veins is crucial for surgery. Intraoperative imaging techniques like indocyanine green videoangiography (ICG-VAG) provide information about vessel architecture and patency, but do not allow time-dependent analysis of intravascular blood flow. Here we report on our first experiences with analytical indocyanine green videoangiography (aICG-VAG) using FLOW 800 software as a useful tool for assessing the time-dependent intraoperative blood flow during surgical removal of cerebral AVMs. ⋯ Effects of stepwise vessel obliteration on velocity and direction of AVM blood flow can be objectified. High quality of visualization, however, is limited to the site of surgery. Colour-encoded aICG-VAG with FLOW 800 enables intraoperative real-time analysis of arterial and venous vessel architecture and might, therefore, increase efficacy and safety of neurovascular surgery in a selected subset of superficial AVMs.