Neurosurgery
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Ten cases of craniosynostosis associated with hydrocephalus were found in a retrospective review of 250 cases of children with craniosynostosis. Four children had Pfeiffer's syndrome, 3 had Crouzon's syndrome, 2 had kleeblattschädel with multiple anomalies and therefore could not be classified into a definite syndrome, and 1 had isolated sagittal synostosis. ⋯ In all patients, hydrocephalus was controlled by a shunting procedure. Possible causes of hydrocephalus in association with craniosynostosis are discussed.
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Forty-two patients with supratentorial gliomas not involving the basal ganglia (extraganglionic) were studied pre- and postoperatively with computed tomographic (CT) scans to evaluate the effect of the extent of surgical resection on the immediate postoperative results. Thirty-three patients (79%) had malignant astrocytic gliomas (glioblastoma or anaplastic astrocytoma), 4 patients (10%) had well-differentiated astrocytomas, and 5 (12%) had oligodendrogliomas. The median age was 58 years, and the median Karnofsky rating was 70. ⋯ A gross total or nearly gross total resection was accomplished in 36 patients (86%), and an improved or stable postoperative neurological status was present in 35 of these patients (97%). In contrast, the rate of neurological morbidity after a partial resection was 40%. Supratentorial extraganglionic gliomas, regardless of their histological type, generally were well-circumscribed lesions except at the level of the ventricular wall, where glioblastomas and anaplastic astrocytomas blended with the subependymal white matter from which they seemed to arise.
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Four women, aged 39 to 46 years, were urgently admitted to our neurosurgical unit after strokes. On admission, all appeared moribund, presenting with deep coma, pupils bilaterally dilated and fixed, decerebrate posture, and markedly abnormal respiratory patterns. Computed tomography revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage with an associated large intracerebral hematoma and pronounced shift of midline structures in all four cases. ⋯ Three patients are presently at home with moderate focal neurological deficits and moderate to marked cognitive impairment. The psychosocial readjustment was very good in a patient with a left giant aneurysm, satisfactory in a patient with a right giant aneurysm, and unsatisfactory in a patient with a right berry aneurysm. The indications, ethical considerations, and technical aspects of operating on seemingly moribund patients who probably harbor a ruptured MCA aneurysm are discussed.
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Two hundred fifty-five consecutive transsphenoidal procedures for pituitary adenomas were reviewed to evaluate complications and their management. There were no operative deaths. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea was the most common complication, occurring in 2.7% of cases; diabetes insipidus was next, lasting less than 1 year in 1.6% of patients and over a year in 0.4%. ⋯ Postoperative hematomas, meningitis, hydrocephalus, and deep venous thrombosis each occurred in 0.4% of cases. These results are discussed in the context of previous reports, including an international survey of pituitary surgeons. Although transsphenoidal surgery has a low morbidity and mortality, it is nevertheless associated with potentially serious difficulties that should be expeditiously recognized and managed.
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Injury to a mammalian peripheral nerve is accompanied by a restorative process that is manifested after a delay. This process is expressed morphologically by the emergence of new nerve fibers. Restoration of function occurs when the regenerating fibers reconnect with the target organ. ⋯ The studies include follow-up for 1 year after the injury. This electrophysiological manifestation of the effect of laser treatment on injured nerves was accompanied by a diminution of the size of the scar tissue from these nerves. Yet to be resolved is whether these two phenomena (i.e., electrophysiological and morphological responses) coincide or whether they relate to each other.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)