Acta neurochirurgica
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Acta neurochirurgica · Jan 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialIntra-operative epidural morphine, fentanyl, and droperidol for control of pain after spinal surgery. A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind trial.
The present study was conducted to investigate the analgesic effects of intra-operatively administered epidural morphine in patients undergoing surgery for lumbar disc disease. Three treatment groups were constituted: one with 5.0 mg morphine and 2.5 mg dehydrobenzperidol (DHB) in 10 ml physiological saline, one with 5.0 mg morphine and 0.1 mg fentanyl in the same amount of saline, and one placebo group with saline only. The test solution was injected epidurally via catheter after haemostasis and before closure of the wound. ⋯ It was shown that additional epidural fentanyl offers no significant improvement of postoperative analgesia. No significant reduction of adverse effects could be found in the morphine/droperidol group compared to the morphine/fentanyl group. In conclusion, the intra-operative epidural application of morphine is a safe, effective and simple method for achieving sufficient analgesia in the first 24 hours after lumbar spinal surgery for disc disease.
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Acta neurochirurgica · Jan 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialKetamine for analgosedative therapy in intensive care treatment of head-injured patients.
Ketamine was supposed to be contra-indicated in head injured patients although it possesses numerous advantages over other commonly used analgosedative drugs. Referring to these potential advantages and the lack of definitive data about its effect upon ICP, CPP or neurological development, we conducted a prospective study in which moderate or severely head injured patients (n = 35) were prospectively allocated to receive treatment either with a combination of ketamine or midazolam or fentanyl and midazolam. The initial dose was 6.5 mg/kg/day midazolam, 65 mg/kg/day ketamine or 65 micrograms/kg/day fentanyl and was later adjusted due to clinical requirements for a period of 3 to 14 days. ⋯ A comparison of the remaining patients revealed a lower requirement of catecholamines (significant on first day, p<0.05), an on average 8 mm Hg higher cerebral perfusion pressure and a 2 mm Hg higher intracranial pressure in the study [corrected] group. Enteral food intake was better in the study group. The outcome was comparable in both groups with or without inclusion of withdrawn patients.
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Acta neurochirurgica · Jan 1996
Comparative StudyStump pressure as a guide to the safety of permanent occlusion of the internal carotid artery.
Does the absolute value of the stump pressure (post-occlusion back pressure) become a useful index of a good collateral circulation? The authors continuously monitored the mean arterial pressure before, during and after 20-minute balloon test occlusion in 24 patients. The stump pressure was then compared with the results of 99mTc-hexa-methyl propyleneamine (99mTc-HMPAO) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) performed after 20 minutes of test occlusion. Patients who failed to tolerate even brief periods of carotid occlusion and showed asymmetric decreases in cerebral blood flow (CBF) on SPECT were divided into high and moderate risk groups. ⋯ Mean stump pressure was over 50 mmHg in three of a total of 13 patients in the high and moderate risk groups, and below 50 mmHg in two of the 11 patients in the minimum risk group. The ratios of the initial mean stump pressure to the pre-occlusion mean arterial pressure (%) and of the final mean stump pressure at the end of occlusion to the post-opening mean arterial pressure (%) did not exceed 58% in any patient in the high and moderate risk groups, and were at least 60% in all patients of the minimum risk group. Maintenance of a mean stump pressure of 60% or more of the mean systemic pressure during test occlusion may be a more useful index of a good collateral circulation than the absolute value of mean stump pressure.
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Acta neurochirurgica · Jan 1996
Case ReportsManagement of subarachnoid fluid collection in infants based on a long-term follow-up study.
We report the natural history and management of subarachnoid fluid collections in infants and their management based on a longterm follow-up study in 20 cases. These subarachnoid fluid collections were resolved spontaneously in 17 of 20 patients and only 3 by surgical intervention at the age of 2. In our 20 patients the natural history of subarachnoid fluid collection in infants was benign unless the patients sustained head trauma. ⋯ Head trauma may precipitate subdural haematoma in patients with subarachnoid fluid collection. All patients except one who underwent the placement of subdural-peritoneal shunt, attained normal psychomotor development in time. During the follow-up period of 3 to 10 years after resolution of the fluid collection, no patient has had a recurrence once it resolved.
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Acta neurochirurgica · Jan 1996
Trigeminal neurinomas. A series of 111 surgical cases from a single institution.
Neurinomas arising from the trigeminal nerve are rare (0.1-0.4% of intracranial tumours: 1-8% of all intracranial neurinomas). A series of 111 trigeminal neurinomas operated on at the Institute of Neurosurgery "N. N. ⋯ Out of the 108 patients surviving surgery, long-term follow-up (min. 13 months, max. 33 years, average 13.5 years) was available in 98 cases. 84 patients (86.7%) showed good-to excellent results, with partial trigeminal deficit as the only surgical sequela. 13 patients (11.7%) had a symptomatic recurrence following incomplete tumour removal. Second surgery, ranging from 1.4 to 9 years (average 3.8 years) following the first operation, was judged radical in 9 cases (69.2), however, the rate of complications of repeated surgery was higher than that occurring after the first operation. The advent of microsurgery, together with the introduction of the techniques of skull base surgery and of modern diagnostic imaging tools, have improved surgical results in terms of increased radicality and reduced complications.