Stereotactic and functional neurosurgery
-
Stereotact Funct Neurosurg · Jan 1991
Historical ArticleFunctional neurosurgery for psychiatric disorders: a historical perspective.
Functional neurosurgery for psychiatric disorders ('psychosurgery') has a colorful, and sometimes dubious, history. From the time of the first operations in 1935 to today, its usefulness has been overshadowed by doubts and ethical questions. Psychosurgery became popular in the 1940s and early 1950s, especially in the United States. ⋯ The indications remain as affective, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Despite approval by the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in 1978, psychosurgery is still not a common treatment. This low acceptance is perhaps due to continued concern over ethical problems and inadequate reporting of outcomes.
-
Stereotact Funct Neurosurg · Jan 1990
Electrophrenic respiration in patients with craniocervical trauma.
We implanted electrophrenic respiration (EPR) units in 15 apneic quadriplegic patients with brain stem or high cervical cord injury. 11 of the patients achieved full-time respiration with EPR and another 2 achieved half-time respiration. Despite the loss of patients due to unrelated problems, 7 now use EPR continuously, 1 for 18 years. The factors involved in the significant success rate with EPR are discussed from the point of view of a neurosurgeon.
-
Stereotact Funct Neurosurg · Jan 1990
Integration of stereoscopic DSA with three-dimensional image reconstruction for stereotactic planning.
Following 4 years of experience using a microcomputer-based system for the planning of stereotactic neurosurgery, we have now developed a workstation with the capability of displaying and analyzing three-dimensional images for this purpose. In addition to viewing volumetrically rendered three-dimensional computer tomograms and magnetic resonance images, we may directly view and analyze stereoscopic digital angiograms. In addition to each set of images being viewed in isolation, we may also combine the three-dimensional anatomical images with the stereoscopic angiograms. This new system is based on a computer equipped with a light polarization switched screen capable of displaying stereoscopic images directly to the observer, thus permitting him to interact with the three-dimensional volume directly, determining coordinates and positioning probe trajectories.
-
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) was used in 49 cases to control resistant deafferentation pain resulting from causalgia, phantom limb, plexus and nerve root avulsion, postherpetic neuralgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy and amputation. In all cases, one or two standard percutaneous leads were introduced into the epidural space and manipulated until the spinal segment at which external stimulation provoked paresthesic sensation in the painful area. Two weeks of external stimulation trial was used to determine the efficiency of the system. ⋯ In 36 out of the 49 tested cases showing a positive response to percutaneous SCS, the device was permanently implanted. After a mean follow-up of 5.5 years, 57% of patients had satisfactory pain relief (over 75%). Side effects were limited to dislodgement of the electrode in 1 case and wire extrusion in another, both requiring replacement of the stimulator.
-
Stereotact Funct Neurosurg · Jan 1989
Pacing of the diaphragm to control breathing in patients with paralysis of central nervous system origin.
Thirty-five patients, 21 males and 14 females, aged 2-69 years (mean 25 years) with partial or total respiratory paralysis due to high cervical cord lesions, brain stem lesions, or central hypoventilation syndrome (sleep apnoea, 'Ondine's curse'), received phrenic nerve stimulators for pacing of the diaphragm. At a mean follow-up time of 46 months (range 2 months to 10 years) 15 patients are entirely independent of respirator and 8 quadriplegics ventilate with pacers at different daytime intervals and use mechanical ventilators during the night. Five patients have stopped pacing and 7 additional cases have died of causes unrelated to electrophrenic stimulation.