Neurosurgery
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Fifty-two patients were each given a constant infusion of 1.5 g of epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA) per hour after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) from an intracranial aneurysm. Each patient's available plasminogen activity (APA), a measure of plasma fibrinolytic activity, was determined by fluorometric assay before and during EACA treatment. Five categories of potential EACA complications were identified: rebleeding, cerebral vasospasm, hydrocephalus, thrombosis, and miscellaneous (bleeding time prolongation, thrombocytopenia). ⋯ It is apparent from these studies that, after the initiation of EACA treatment, a maximal steady state inhibition of fibrinolytic activity is not achieved for 2 days and, after the cessation of EACA therapy, normal fibrinolytic activity is not restored for a period of 3 to 4 days. In addition, patients with thrombotic events may show persistently low serum plasminogen activity after discontinuance of EACA therapy, probably due to continuing thrombosis and consumption of plasminogen. These results indicate that patients with recurrent preoperative aneurysmal hemorrhage while on EACA therapy may have inadequate fibrinolytic inactivation, and this may be an important factor contributing to rebleeding episodes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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the occurrence of spontaneous arterial subdural hematomas is very rare. We report five patients who presented with sudden severe headache and who developed progressive neurological deficits, two becoming comatose. None had a history of trauma. ⋯ The source of bleeding was identified as a cortical artery located near the sylvian region in four of our five patients and in most of the reported cases. There are several possible anatomical situations that may predispose a cortical artery to "spontaneous" rupture: (a) spontaneous rupture of a cortical artery at the point of origin of a fragile arterial twig, especially a right-angled branch, a point of potential weakness; (b) rupture of a small artery traversing the subdural space and connecting a cortical artery to the dura mater (a "bridging" artery); (c) adhesions between a cortical artery and arachnoid or dura mater; (d) a knuckle of cortical artery protruding through the arachnoid and adherent to the dura mater. In each situation, the artery is probably torn by a sudden movement of the brain during a vigorous head movement, not severe enough to be considered trauma.
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Historical Article
Perspectives in international neurosurgery: neurosurgery in Spain.