Acta neurochirurgica. Supplement
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Acta Neurochir. Suppl. · Jan 2013
Computed tomography after decompressive craniectomy for head injury.
New findings (NF) on postoperative CTs are -occasionally found in patients who undergo surgery for traumatic brain injury (TBI). We conducted a retrospective -registry-based review of the care of 102 patients who underwent decompressive craniectomy (DC) for TBI to investigate the prognostic factors of new findings on CT early after -surgery. Of the 102 patients, the mean age was 50 years and 69.6 % were male. ⋯ The univariate analysis showed that a GCS score ≤8 (P = 0.012) and the absence of a basal cistern (P = 0.012) were significantly associated with NF on postoperative CT. The logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the GCS score ≤8 (P = 0.041; OR, 3.0; 95 % CI, 1.048-8.517) was the only significant factor. TBI patients with a low GCS score who underwent DC should undergo additional CT evaluations immediately after surgery.
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Acta Neurochir. Suppl. · Jan 2013
Cerebral hemodynamic changes after wartime traumatic brain injury.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with the severest casualties from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). From October 1, 2008, the U. S. ⋯ TCD signs of mild, moderate, and severe vasospasms were observed in 37%, 22%, and 12% of patients, respectively. TCD signs of intracranial hypertension were recorded in 62.2%; 5 patients (4.5%) underwent transluminal angioplasty for post-traumatic clinical vasospasm treatment, and 16 (14.4%) had cranioplasty. These findings demonstrate that cerebral arterial spasm and intracranial hypertension are frequent and significant complications of combat TBI; therefore, daily TCD monitoring is recommended for their recognition and subsequent management.
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Acta Neurochir. Suppl. · Jan 2013
Gamma Knife radiosurgery for the management of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas.
This report presents our 15-year experience with Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKS) for the treatment of 321 patients with dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) in different locations. ⋯ GKS is a safe, effective treatment for DAVFs. It provides a minimally invasive therapeutic option for patients who harbor less-aggressive DAVFs but who suffer from intolerable clinical symptoms. For some aggressive DAVFs with extensive venous hypertension or hemorrhage, multimodal treatment with combined embolization or surgery is necessary.
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Acta Neurochir. Suppl. · Jan 2013
Effect of lumbar puncture in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage treated microsurgically or endovascularly.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of treatment modality (surgical clipping vs. endovascular coiling) and lumbar puncture (LP) in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) based on neurologic status on admission and clinical outcome. ⋯ Surgical clipping might improve clinical outcome better than endovascular coiling, although a more confident conclusion requires absolute randomization of patients for both treatments. LP could also improve clinical outcome in patients with high initial SAH evaluation scores.
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Posterior fossa injury is rare, occurring in less than 3 % of head injuries. We retrospectively reviewed patients' clinical and radiological findings, management, and outcomes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the features of posterior fossa hematoma, including posterior fossa epidural hematoma (EDH), posterior fossa subdural hematoma (SDH), and intracerebellar hematoma. ⋯ In each type of injury, occipital bone fractures were seen in many patients, and hematoma enlargement was often observed within a few days of the injury. In addition, a high frequency of associated lesions and a high poor outcome rate were features of intracerebellar hematomas and -posterior fossa SDH. The present study suggests that repeat CT imaging and careful management are necessary until the lesion is stabilized, and patients showing lesions with mass effects should therefore be immediately treated with surgery.