Acta neurochirurgica. Supplement
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Acta Neurochir. Suppl. · Jan 2010
The effects of selective brain hypothermia and decompressive craniectomy on brain edema after closed head injury in mice.
Intractable brain edema remains one of the main causes of death after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Brain hypothermia and decompressive craniectomy have been considered as potential therapies. The goal of our experimental study was to determine if selective hypothermia in combination with craniectomy could modify the development of posttraumatic brain edema. ⋯ Brain edema was significantly increased ipsilaterally in the trauma + craniectomy group (82.11 +/- 0.6%, p < 0.05), but not in the trauma + craniectomy + hypothermia group (81.52 +/- 1.1%, p > 0.05) as compared to the sham group (79.31 +/- 0.7%). These data suggest that decompressive craniectomy leads to an increase in brain water content after CHI. Additional focal hypothermia may be an effective approach in the treatment of posttraumatic brain edema.
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Acta Neurochir. Suppl. · Jan 2010
Serine protease inhibitor attenuates intracerebral hemorrhage-induced brain injury and edema formation in rat.
Our previous studies have demonstrated that thrombin plays an important role in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH)-induced brain injury and edema formation. We, therefore, examined whether nafamostat mesilate (FUT), a serine protease inhibitor, can reduce ICH-induced brain injury. Anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats received an infusion of autologous whole blood (100 microL), thrombin (5U/50 microL) or type VII collagenase (0.4 U/2 microL) into the right basal ganglia, the three ICH models used in the present study. ⋯ FUT attenuated ICH-induced changes in 8-OHdG and thrombin-reduced brain edema. FUT did not increase collagenase-induced hematoma volume. FUT attenuates ICH-induced brain edema and DNA injury suggesting that serine protease inhibitor may be potential therapeutic agent for ICH.
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Acta Neurochir. Suppl. · Jan 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyIs it possible to minimize overdrainage complications with gravitational units in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus? Protocol of the randomized controlled SVASONA Trial (ISRCTN51046698).
Overdrainage is a common complication observed after shunting patients with idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH), with an estimated incidence up to 25%. Gravitational units that counterbalance intracranial pressure changes were developed to overcome this problem. We will set out to investigate whether the combination of a programmable valve and a gravitational unit (proGAV, Aesculap/Miethke, Germany) is capable of reducing the incidence of overdrainage and improving patient-centered outcomes compared to a conventional programmable valve (Medos-Codman, Johnson & Johnson, Germany). ⋯ One planned interim analysis for safety and efficacy will be performed halfway through the study. To detect the hypothesized difference in the incidence of overdrainage with a type I error of 5% and a type II error of 20%, correcting for multiple testing and an anticipated dropout rate of 10%, 200 patients will be enrolled. The presented trial is currently recruiting patients, with the first results predicted to be available in late 2008.
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Acta Neurochir. Suppl. · Jan 2010
Clinical TrialOutcome of patients with severe head injury after decompressive craniectomy.
Decompressive craniectomy is an operative option for the neurosurgeon in cases of generalized traumatic brain edema. While the outcome of patients after decompressive craniectomy is often poor, we tried to identify predictors of a favorable course of the injury. Therefore, 131 patients who received a decompressive craniectomy at the Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin (ukb) between September 1997 and September 2005 due to severe traumatic brain injury were followed up. ⋯ The results stress again that the prognosis after traumatic brain injury (TBI) with decompressive craniectomy (DC) is unfavorable. Age, midline shift, and status of the basal cisterns on cranial computed tomography (cCT) were associated with the long-term outcome. When weighing whether to initiate the last resort intervention of decompressive craniectomy, the predictive factors detailed here should be taken into consideration.
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Acta Neurochir. Suppl. · Jan 2010
Clinical TrialSurgical outcome following a decompressive craniectomy for acute epidural hematoma patients presenting with associated massive brain swelling.
Acute epidural hematomas (AEDH) are generally managed with rapid surgical hematoma evacuation and bleeding control. However, the surgical outcome of patients with serious brain edema is poor. This study reviewed the clinical outcome for AEDH patients and evaluated the efficacy of the DC, especially in patients with associated massive brain swelling. ⋯ In the favorable outcome group, almost all of the patients (98%) showed less than 12 mm of a midline shift. The influential factors may be age, GCS, pupil abnormalities, size, midline shift, basal cistern effacement, coincidence of contusion and swelling. We conclude that an A DC may be effective to manage the AEDH patients with cerebral contusion or massive brain swelling.