Journal of neurosurgical anesthesiology
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Jan 2009
ReviewGlycemia management in neurocritical care patients: a review.
Intensive research investigating the relation between the management of glycemia and outcome in patients receiving neurocritical care has underlined the possible benefits and adverse events related to glucose control. Here, we review experimental and clinical studies investigating the effects of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia on the brain that advance current knowledge on managing glycemia in patients receiving neurocritical care.
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Jan 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyBispectral index-guided administration of anesthesia for transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumors: a comparison of 3 anesthetic techniques.
The main aims of anesthesia for pituitary surgery include maintenance of hemodynamic stability, provision of conditions that facilitate surgical exposure, and a smooth emergence to facilitate a prompt neurologic assessment. The primary aim of our study was to compare the effects of 3 anesthetic regimens on hemodynamics and recovery characteristics of the patients. Ninety patients undergoing transsphenoidal surgery were enrolled in the study. ⋯ The pressor response after intubation and emergence hypertension was significantly less with propofol. Better recovery profile was seen in sevoflurane and propofol groups and a better cognition in patients receiving propofol. Propofol plus nitrous oxide anesthesia could be the technique of choice in patients undergoing transnasal transsphenoidal pituitary surgery.
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Jan 2009
Clinical TrialOptic nerve ultrasound for detection of intracranial hypertension in intracranial hemorrhage patients: confirmation of previous findings in a different patient population.
Bedside ultrasonographic measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) has been proposed as a method to detect raised intracranial pressure (ICP) in various clinical settings. The aim of our study is to evaluate the use of ultrasonography in the case of intracranial hemorrhage and to assess the validity of the conventional cut-off point of 5 mm. A prospective blind observational study in a 10-bed multivalent intensive care unit was carried out by enrolling 53 adult patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage (23) or subarachnoid hemorrhage (30), requiring ICP monitoring, sedation, and mechanical ventilation and 53 control patients with no intracranial pathology, requiring sedation and mechanical ventilation. ⋯ In the 34 patients with ICP <20 mm Hg, ONSD was 5.0+/-0.5 mm, and it resulted not significantly different from ONSD in the control group (4.9+/-0.4 mm). A receiver operator characteristic curve was constructed and an ONSD threshold of 5.2 mm as a predictor of ICP >20 mm Hg proved to be an attractive combination of sensitivity and specificity (94% and 76%, respectively). In conclusion, our study confirms the utility of optic nerve ultrasound in the early diagnostic evaluation of patients with known or suspected intracranial hemorrhage.
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Jan 2009
In-hospital complications and mortality after elective spinal fusion surgery in the united states: a study of the nationwide inpatient sample from 2001 to 2005.
Spinal fusion surgery has increased dramatically and patients presenting for surgery are often more medically challenging. We hypothesized that advanced age and coexisting morbidities have increased in the population undergoing spinal fusion and are associated with greater risks for immediate complications and mortality. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was retrospectively reviewed for discharges after a principal procedure code for elective spinal fusion. ⋯ Although it is known for some other forms of complex surgery, we showed that elderly and medically complex spinal fusion patients were at increased risk for in-hospital mortality and early complications. The majority of complications were operative, pulmonary, cardiovascular, or genito-urinary. Patient risk correlated with the number and nature of coexisting morbidities.
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Propofol is widely used for neurosurgical anesthesia; however, its effects on the pial microvasculature are unknown. We therefore evaluated the direct effects of propofol on pial microvessels in rabbits. Pial microcirculation was visualized using a closed cranial window technique in 20 Japanese white rabbits. ⋯ Phenylephrine constricted and nitroglycerin dilated pial arterioles and venules. Pentobarbital did not produce either burst suppression or an isoelectric electroencephalogram. The results confirm our hypothesis: clinically relevant concentrations of propofol, that is, approximately 10 mol/L, do not dilate pial arterioles or venules.