Journal of neurological surgery. Part A, Central European neurosurgery
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J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg · Nov 2015
Clinical, Radiologic, and Legal Significance of "Extensor Response" in Posttraumatic Coma.
The timely detection of neurologic deterioration can be critical for the survival of a neurosurgical patient following head injury. Because little reliable evidence is available on the prognostic value of the clinical sign "extensor response" in comatose posttraumatic patients, we investigated the correlation of this clinical sign with outcome and with early radiologic findings from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ⋯ The correlation of extensor response and loss of pupil function with an unfavorable outcome and with brainstem lesions revealed by MRI is highly significant. Their sudden onset may be associated with the sudden onset of brainstem dysfunction and should therefore be regarded as one of the most fundamental warning signs in the clinical monitoring of comatose patients.
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J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg · Nov 2015
Intraoperative Micro-Doppler in Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations.
Intraoperative micro-Doppler (IOMD), intraoperative digital substraction angiography (DSA), and microscope-integrated indocyanine green angiography are methods that guide neurosurgical resection of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in the brain and minimize the trauma of healthy tissue. In this study we emphasize the use of IOMD in AVM surgery, analyzing the advantages and the limitations of this method. Patients and ⋯ IOMD constitutes a safe, accurate, and low-cost imaging modality for evaluating blood flow velocities and for optimal stepwise AVM elimination without unnecessary sacrifice of veins. PI and RI are reliable parameters in diagnosing cerebrovascular malformations, but systolic and diastolic flow velocities may vary to a greater extent. This phenomenon has never been elucidated previously and therefore needs to be emphasized when using this technique intraoperatively.