Shunt surgery in patients with hydrocephalus and white matter changes

2011 ◽  
Vol 114 (5) ◽  
pp. 1432-1438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magnus Tisell ◽  
Mats Tullberg ◽  
Per Hellström ◽  
Mikael Edsbagge ◽  
Mats Högfeldt ◽  
...  

Object Patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) often present with impaired gait and cognition together with ventricular enlargement and normal intracranial pressure. Many have vascular risk factors as well as periventricular and deep white matter changes on MR imaging. Abnormal CSF dynamics, that is, high resistance to outflow or improvement after CSF drainage, indicate good effects of shunt surgery. The authors examined whether the worst-case iNPH patients with extensive vascular white matter disease and normal CSF dynamics would benefit from shunt surgery. These patients also fulfilled the criteria for Binswanger disease. Therefore, a randomized controlled double-blind study was performed. Methods Fourteen consecutive patients fulfilling the above criteria were randomized to receive either open or closed shunts. At 3 months after surgery, the patients with initially ligated shunts had their shunts opened. Clinical evaluation consisting of 7 quantitative psychometric and 6 continuous gait tests was performed preoperatively and 3 and 6 months after surgery. Results Patients randomized to receive open shunts had improved motor (30% increase) and psychometric (23% increase) scores 3 months after shunt placement. There were no significant changes between the 3- and 6-month follow-up in these same patients. Conversely, those with initially ligated shunts were unchanged during the first 3-month period, although they improved in both motor (28%) and cognitive (18%) functions following removal of the ligature. Conclusions Patients with enlarged ventricles, hydrocephalic symptoms, and extensive vascular white matter changes benefit from shunt surgery.

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S415-S415
Author(s):  
A. Mowla

IntroductionUp to 50% of patients with OCD have failed to respond in SSRI trials, so looking for pharmacological alternatives in treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) seems necessary.ObjectivesSurveying duloxetine augmentation in treatment of resistant OCD.AimsStudy the effects of serotonin-norepinephrine enhancers for treatment of OCD.MethodsThis augmentation trial was designed as an 8-week randomized controlled, double blind study. Forty-six patients suffering from OCD who had failed to respond to at least 12 weeks of treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (fluoxetine, citalopram or fluvoxamine) were randomly allocated to receive duloxetine or sertraline plus their current anti OCD treatment. Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) was the primary outcome measure.ResultsForty-six patients (24 of 30 in duloxetine group and 22 of 27 in sertraline group) completed the trial. Both groups showed improvement over the 8-week study period (mean Y-BOCS total score at week 8 as compared with baseline: P < 0.001 and P < 0.001) without significant difference (P = 0.861). Those receiving duloxetine plus their initial medications experienced a mean decrease of 33.0% in Y-BOCS score and the patients with sertraline added to their initial medication experienced a mean decrease of 34.5% in Y-BOCS.ConclusionsOur double blind controlled clinical trial showed duloxetine to be as effective as sertraline in reducing obsessive and compulsive symptoms in resistant OCD patients. However, it needs to be noted that our study is preliminary and larger double blind placebo controlled studies are necessary to confirm the results.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2002 ◽  
Vol 60 (3A) ◽  
pp. 537-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Eduardo Bigal ◽  
Carlos Alberto Bordini ◽  
José Geraldo Speciali

Acute headache is a very frequent symptom, responsible for a significant percentage of caseload at primary care units and emergency rooms. Chlorpromazine is easily available in such settings. The aim of this study is to conduct a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study to assess the efficacy of chlorpromazine on the acute treatment of episodic tension-type headache. We randomized 30 patients to receive placebo (10 ml of saline intravenous injections) and 30 patients to receive 0.1 mg/Kg chlorpromazine intravenously. We used 7 parameters of analgesic evaluation. Patients receiving chlorpromazine showed a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) of pain compared to placebo, far up to 30 minutes after the drug administration. The therapeutic gain was 36.7% in 30 minutes and 56.6 % in 60 minutes. The number needed to treat (NNT, the reciprocal or the therapeutic gain) was 2.7 in 30 minutes and 1.8 in 60 minutes. There were reductions in the recurrence and in the use of rescue medication in the chlorpromazine group. We can conclude that intravenous chlorpromazine is an effective drug to relief the pain in tension-type headache.


1997 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 175-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Al-Muhaimeed

The efficacy and safety of the two antihistamines, astemizole and loratadine, were compared in a double-blind study of 84 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. Patients were randomized to receive orally either astemizole 10 mg once daily ( n = 40) or loratadine 10 mg once daily ( n = 44) for 1 week. No other antirhinitis medication was allowed during the study. By day 7 the mean daily symptom scores, recorded on diary cards, were lower in patients receiving astemizole than in those receiving loratadine for runny nose, itchy nose and sneezing, although not for blocked nose, and treatment differences only reached statistical significance for runny nose. After 7 days, 53.75% of patients on astemizole and 38.6% on loratadine were free of symptoms, and 87% of patients on astemizole described the treatment as good or excellent compared with 62% on loratadine. The present results suggest that astemizole may be more effective than loratadine in controlling symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis.


1994 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 202-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
P H Gebuhr ◽  
M Soelberg ◽  
W Strauss

In this multiple-dose, double-blind study 100 patients with moderate, severe or very severe pain following orthopaedic surgery were randomly assigned to receive ketorolac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with potent analgesic properties (10 mg), or the standard regimen of Ketogan® (a combination product containing the narcotic analgesic, ketobemidone, plus a spasmolytic agent) by intramuscular injection every 1 – 6 h as needed for pain. When patients were able to tolerate an oral diet and were expected to respond to oral analgesic medication, based on overall pain sensitivity, they were switched to oral doses of the same medication every 4 – 6 h as needed. A maximum of four daily doses of medication was allowed for up to 10 days. The severity of pain was scored on a five-point scale and was recorded before the first intramuscular dose, at fixed time points therafter for up to 6 h and at the end of each day. Both treatments were effective immediately after the first dose and during the subsequent multiple-dose phase. There were no statistically significant differences between ketorolac and Ketogan®. The results show that 10-mg doses of ketorolac in intramuscular injections followed by 10-mg doses of oral ketorolac are as effective as Ketogan® for the treatment of pain following orthopaedic surgery. Ketorolac appears to be better tolerated than Ketogan® since significantly fewer patients reported adverse events ( P = 0.004) when taking ketorolac.


1995 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 438-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Davis ◽  
S. Krige ◽  
D. Moyes

A prospective double-blind study was conducted to compare the anti-emetic efficacy of ondansetron and droperidol in preventing postoperative emesis following strabismus surgery. A sample size of 213 patients was divided into three equal groups to receive ondansetron 150 μg/kg (Group A), ondansetron 75 μg/kg (Group B), or droperidol 75 fig/kg (Group C). All patients received a standardized anaesthetic technique. All episodes of emesis, recovery time, and time to tolerating oral fluids were recorded. The incidence of emesis during 24 hours was Groups A and B 19.7%, and Group C 28.2%. The lower incidence of emesis recorded by the ondansetron groups compared with the droperidol group was not statistically significant. Ondansetron at 75 μg/kg was as effective as 150 μg/kg in reducing emesis when compared with droperidol. Mean time to discharge from the recovery room was 75.3 minutes (Group A), 44.4 minutes (Group B), and 41.0 minutes (Group C). The mean time to tolerating oral fluids was 356.5 minutes (Group A), 402.8 minutes (Group B), and 378.1 minutes (Group C). There was no statistical difference in discharge times from recovery or time to tolerating oral fluids in any of the three groups.


1993 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 319-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
JP Bocksberger ◽  
JP Gachoud ◽  
J Richard ◽  
Ρ Dick

SummaryIn a double-blind study carried out on elderly patients (older than 65 years) the efficacy and tolerability of the new antidepressant moclobemide was compared. Moclobemide belongs to a new class of substances called RIMA (Reversible inhibitor of the monoamine oxidase type A). Fluvoxamine, a selective reuptake-inhibitor of 5-HT, belongs to a class of antidepressants known for their better tolerability compared to tricyclic especially with elderly patients. Forty elderly patients (mean age 75 years) with major depression (according to DSM III) were randomized to receive either moclobemide (300 mg) or fluvoxamine (100 mg) twice daily. Dosages were increased when necessary on day 8, to a maximum of 450 mg moclobemide or 200 mg fluvoxamine and in most cases were maintained at these levels for the remainder of the study period (four weeks). Moclobemide was more effective than fluvoxamine showing a marked antidepressant effect and an earlier effect on psychomotor retardation. The two drugs were well tolerated showing a low incidence of side effects.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 142-148
Author(s):  
Rohini Sigdel ◽  
Anil Shrestha ◽  
Roshana Amatya

Background: Ondansetron has been used successfully for prophylaxis and treatment of intrathecal morphine induced pruritus. Gabapentin has anxiolytic, antiemetic, antipruritic effects and has also been shown to potentiate the analgesic effect of intrathecally or epidurally administered opioids. Materials and method: We compared the effectiveness of oral gabapentin with intravenous ondansetron to prevent incidence of intrathecal morphine induced pruritus. In a prospective, double-blind study, sixty patients aged 18-65 years with ASA physical status I and II undergoing surgery under subarachnoid block were randomized to receive placebo tablets (ondansetron group) or gabapentin 1200 mg (gabapentin group) 2 hours before surgery. Patients receiving placebo tablets received 8 mg of intravenous ondansetron and those receiving gabapentin received 4 ml of intravenous normal saline just prior to subarachnoid block with 3 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine plus 0.2 mg morphine. The incidence, onset, severity, location of pruritus and incidence of side effects were studied for next 24 hours. Results: The overall incidence of pruritus was 48.3%. The incidence, severity, location of pruritus was comparable between the two groups. There was significant difference between the onset of pruritus between groups (p=0.009). The incidence and grade of nausea vomiting, requirement of intraoperative sedation was comparable between groups. The incidence of urinary retention was significantly high in gabapentin group (p=0.020). Respiratory depression was observed in one patient. Conclusion: A single dose of 1200 mg oral gabapentin 2 hours before, is as effective as prophylactic intravenous ondansetron 8 mg for prevention of intrathecal morphine induced pruritus.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S311-S311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Beth Wire ◽  
Marion Morrison ◽  
Maggie Anderson ◽  
Thangam Arumugham ◽  
John Dunn ◽  
...  

Abstract Background BCV is a lipid conjugate nucleotide that has shown rapid viral clearance in patients with adenovirus infection and improved survival in animal models of smallpox. In preclinical studies in rats, IV BCV dosed twice weekly for up to 29 days was not associated with gastrointestinal (GI), hematopoietic, hepatic, or renal toxicity. This study evaluated the safety and PK of IV BCV in healthy subjects. Methods In this double-blind study, subjects were randomized 3:1 to receive IV BCV or placebo in sequential single ascending dose cohorts (Table 1). Plasma PK samples were collected over 7 days and assayed by HPLC-MS. Plasma BCV PK parameters were determined by non-compartmental analysis and dose proportionality was assessed. Safety assessments were collected over 14 days. Results Forty healthy male subjects (18–46 years, 83% White) were enrolled and completed the study. Plasma BCV Cmax and AUC∞ increased in proportion to dose (Table 1). AEs and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevations were dose- and infusion duration-related (Table 1). GI AEs were mild. All AEs and ALT elevations were transient and no serious AEs occurred. Conclusion Single doses of BCV 10–50 mg administered as a 2h IV infusion were well tolerated and not associated with significant clinical or laboratory abnormalities. BCV IV 10 mg and BCV IV 50 mg achieved geometric mean plasma BCV AUC∞ similar to and 4.5-fold, respectively, values achieved with BCV oral 100 mg tablets (Cmax = 251 ng/mL and AUC∞ = 1394 ng hours/mL). These data support evaluation of repeat dose administration in healthy subjects and virally-infected patients. Disclosures M. B. Wire, Chimerix: Employee and Shareholder, Salary. M. Morrison, Chimerix: Employee and Shareholder, Salary.M. Anderson, Chimerix: Employee and Shareholder, Salary. T. Arumugham, Chimerix: Employee and Shareholder, Salary. J. Dunn, Chimerix: Employee and Shareholder, Salary. O. Naderer, Chimerix: Employee and Shareholder, Salary.


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