No shinkei geka. Neurological surgery
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Review Case Reports
[Shotgun pellet embolus in the cerebral circulation via the internal carotid artery in the neck; a case report].
A 57-year-old hunter was shot accidentally and admitted to our hospital without any neurological deficits. Plain X-ray films of the neck revealed the presence of several shotgun pellets, one of which was thought to be in the vicinity of the right internal carotid artery at the C1 level. One week later, while surgical removal of pellets was being performed under fluoroscopic control, the pellet entered into the lumen of the artery and migrated to the intracranial vessels. ⋯ In the literature, 20 similar cases have been hitherto reported and briefly reviewed. Of these 20, 6 cases died of cerebral infarction. We believe that embolectomy is warranted as soon as possible when patients show a condition building up to a stroke.
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Transorbital penetrating brain injury is rare during this time of peace. In our paper, we reported seven cases of these injuries and discussed the mechanism and treatment of intracranial complications. Transorbital penetrating brain injuries were caused by thin, long and relative hard objects such as chop-stick (case 3), pencil (case 6), bamboo stick (case 1, 2, 7) and a piece of metal (case 4, 5). ⋯ The one exception was a case in which a large intracerebral hematoma was over-looked in an ophthalmological clinic. This patient died. Nowadays, CT scan and MRI give clear information about the anatomical location of injuring objects and intracranial complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Clinical characteristics and therapeutic problems of neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) occurring in the acute stage of severe subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) were examined. The relationship between SAH and NPE was studied in 208 patients who arrived at the hospital in the acute stage (within 24 hours after the onset) of severe SAH in the past nine years. NPE was observed in four (6%) of 64 Grade III patients, nine (18%) of 49 Grade IV patients and 20 (21%) of 95 Grade V patients. ⋯ In comparison of the age, blood pressure, PaO2, serum electrolyte, WBC, and blood sugar level on admission between the two groups, significantly higher values of diastolic pressure and blood sugar levels were shown in the NPE group than non-NPE group. The mean interval between the onset of SAH and the diagnosis of NPE on chest film was 2.5 hours, while the NPE findings disappeared within three days after the onset of SAH (mean 1.2 days). In all cases, the NPE findings disappeared after a variety of respiratory managements had been carried out.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Seventeen patients with acoustic neurinoma were reviewed on the basis of postoperative preservation of facial and acoustic nerve functions. The sizes of tumors were intracanalicular in 5 cases, smaller than 20mm in diameter in 2 cases, smaller than 30mm in 5 cases, and larger than 30mm in 5 cases. In all cases, the facial nerve was anatomically preserved at operation. ⋯ Postoperative hearing was maintained in two cases, one of which showed a successful preservation of serviceable hearing. In this case, tumor resection was performed with intraoperative monitoring of auditory brain stem reactions (ABRs). Discussion was made concerning a possible surgical candidates for the hearing preservation, and it was proposed that every effort should be made to preserve the cochlear nerve if following conditions were verified in the case: 1) normal or nearly normal hearing (less than 40-50dB hearing loss), 2) the size of tumor is intracanalicular or smaller than 2cm in diameter, 3) there is no deterioration of intraoperative ABR.
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Case Reports
[Clinical course in poor grade patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms and extensive subarachnoidal clot].
Three hundred and eight cases with ruptured intracranial aneurysms and variable amounts of subarachnoidal clot were evaluated clinically with special emphasis on the natural course of poor grade patients. Clinical severity was classified according to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS); severe cases (score 3-8) and mild cases (score 9-15). Patients were further divided into four groups based on the preoperative clinical course, and on whether radical surgery was performed or not. ⋯ In group B, in patients with same scores (mean SAH score 2.8, mean SAH-B score 7.3), the outcome was as follows: 6 patients (33.3%) had full recovery or were capable of self-management, 6 patients (33.3%) were partially or fully dependent, and 12 patients (50%) were either in vegetative state or died. Patients in groups C and D with good outcome had significantly less amount of SAH, especially in the perimesencephalic cistern (group C--mean SAH score 2.3, mean SAH-B score 3.7, group D--mean SAH score 1.9, mean SAH-B score 3.3). It is concluded that duration and level of unconsciousness in the cases of SAH without concurrent hematoma causing mass effect, has a good correlation with the severity of SAH in the perimesencephalic cisterns.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)