Acta neurochirurgica. Supplement
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Acta Neurochir. Suppl. · Jan 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialConservative versus surgical management of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: a prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial: study protocol.
There is no level I evidence to indicate whether placement of a shunt is effective in the management of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH), because no trial has as yet compared the placement of a shunt versus no shunt in a randomized controlled manner. We started recruiting patients into a prospective double-blind randomized controlled study aiming to provide class I evidence supporting or refuting the role of surgical management in INPH. Inclusion criterion was the diagnosis of probable INPH plus objective improvement of walking speed following 72 h of extended lumbar drainage. ⋯ Primary end point was to be an improvement in gait. Secondary end points were improvement in mental function or urinary function and incidence of complications. Final results are expected mid 2011.
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Acta Neurochir. Suppl. · Jan 2012
Syndrome of inappropriately low-pressure acute hydrocephalus (SILPAH).
Most patients with acute hydrocephalus have ventriculomegaly and high intracranial pressure (ICP). However, there is a subset of patients who are symptomatic with acute ventriculomegaly and inappropriately low ICP. ⋯ The syndrome of inappropriately low-pressure acute hydrocephalus (SILPAH) is an important entity in both children and adults. A possible hypothesis invokes loss of an effective SAS. ETV reestablishes communication between the SAS and ventricles, producing a rapid return of normal ICP dynamics and a significant decrease in the number of shunt-dependent patients.
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Acta Neurochir. Suppl. · Jan 2012
Quantification of pulsatile cerebrospinal fluid flow within the prepontine cistern.
Phase-contrast MRI (PC-MRI) has previously been used for the quantification of CSF and blood flow throughout the body. We propose a new method of semi-automated segmentation for the prepontine cistern based on anatomical and pulsatility information. ⋯ Reliable quantification of volumetric CSF flow in complex cisternal spaces is possible using a methodology combining known anatomical features with the pulsatile nature of CSF flow.
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Acta Neurochir. Suppl. · Jan 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effect of intraventricular thrombolysis in combination with low-frequency head motion after severe subarachnoid hemorrhage: interim analysis of safety, clot clearance rate and delayed cerebral ischemia.
The current clinical prospective randomized phase II study was initiated in order to analyze the effect of enhanced washout by discontinuous intraventricular thrombolysis in combination with low-frequency head-motion therapy on side effects, clot clearance rate, cerebral vasospasm and clinical outcome after severe subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). ⋯ The present study demonstrates that a combination of intraventricular thrombolysis and lateral rotational therapy is not associated with a higher complication rate. Furthermore, the therapy leads to a significant acceleration of the clot clearance rate.
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Acta Neurochir. Suppl. · Jan 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialOn the method of a randomised comparison of programmable valves with and without gravitational units: the SVASONA study.
The supremacy of low-pressure valves (LPV) in the therapy of patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) has been proven by the Dutch NPH study. The downside of LPVs is the high rate of overdrainage complications. In the meantime gravitational units have been developed with the objective of minimising overdrainage complications. Do these gravitational units allow the same favourable outcomes as in the Dutch NPH study without overdrainage complications? The goal of this prospective randomised controlled multicentre trial is to compare the rate of overdrainage complications after shunt surgery with programmable valves with or without a gravitational unit. ⋯ The design of the SVASONA study was developed to be able to confirm the primary hypothesis. Thus, the method of the study should solve the dilemma of the Dutch NPH study by the randomised comparison of LPVs with and without gravitational units.