General and local hypothermia of the brain in the treatment of intractable epilepsy

1970 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Šourek ◽  
V. Trávníček
Keyword(s):  
Intractable Epilepsy ◽  
Clinical Results ◽  
Emotional Stability ◽  
Local Temperature ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Postoperative Changes ◽  
Local Hypothermia ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Twenty-five cases of intractable epilepsy were treated by combined deep general and local extravascular brain hypothermia plus single doses of pentothal (Thiopental) or diazepam. The final local temperature of the brain in 21 patients was below 24°C, the rectal temperatures being 27° to 30°C. There was one death 6 weeks after surgery, and in two patients slight neurological deficits were found at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. In 15 patients in whom at least 1 year had elapsed since surgery, the frequency and intensity of the seizures were reduced by 50% in two, reduced to a single seizure in five, eliminated in four, and unaltered in four. The fair and excellent results included 60% of the group. In three patients improvement in behavior and emotional stability were observed postoperatively; this change was independent of the reduction of the frequency of seizures. Postoperative changes in the electroencephalogram were less frequent than changes in the frequency of seizures and also were completely independent of the clinical results.

Stereotactic radiosurgery for arteriovenous malformations of the brain

1991 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 512-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Dade Lunsford ◽  
Douglas Kondziolka ◽  
John C. Flickinger ◽  
David J. Bissonette ◽  
Charles A. Jungreis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Complete Obliteration ◽  
Latency Interval ◽  
Subtotal Removal ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Stereotactic radiosurgery successfully obliterates carefully selected arteriovenous malformations (AVM's) of the brain. In an initial 3-year experience using the 201-source cobalt-60 gamma knife at the University of Pittsburgh, 227 patients with AVM's were treated. Symptoms at presentation included prior hemorrhage in 143 patients (63%), headache in 104 (46%), and seizures in 70 (31%). Neurological deficits were present in 102 patients (45%). Prior surgical resection (resulting in subtotal removal) had been performed in 36 patients (16%). In 47 selected patients (21%), embolization procedures were performed in an attempt to reduce the AVM size prior to radiosurgery. The lesions were classified according to the Spetzler grading system: 64 (28%) were Grade VI (inoperable), 22 (10%) were Grade IV, 90 (40%) were Grade III, 43 (19%) were Grade II, and eight (4%) were Grade I. With the aid of computer imaging-integrated isodose plans for single-treatment irradiation, total coverage of the AVM nidus was possible in 216 patients (95%). The location and volume of the AVM were the most important factors for the selection of radiation dose. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed at 6-month intervals in 161 patients. Seventeen patients who had MR evidence of complete obliteration underwent angiography within 3 months of imaging: in 14 (82%) complete obliteration was confirmed. Complete angiographic obliteration was confirmed in 37 (80%) of 46 patients at 2 years, the earliest confirmation being 4 months (mean 17 months) after radiosurgery. The 2-year obliteration rates according to volume were: all eight (100%) AVM's less than 1 cu cm; 22 (85%) of 26 AVM's of 1 to 4 cu cm; and seven (58%) of 12 AVM's greater than 4 cu cm. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed postirradiation changes in 38 (24%) of 161 patients at a mean interval of 10.2 months after radiosurgery; only 10 (26%) of those 38 patients were symptomatic. In the entire series, two patients developed permanent new neurological deficits believed to be treatment-related. Two patients died of repeat hemorrhage at 6 and 23 months after treatment during the latency interval prior to obliteration. Stereotactic radiosurgery is an important method to obliterate AVM's, especially those previously considered inoperable. Success and complication risks are related to the AVM location and the volume treated.

Stereotactic craniotomy in the resection of small arteriovenous malformations

1991 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. Sisti ◽  
Robert A. Solomon ◽  
Bennett M. Stein
Keyword(s):  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Complete Removal ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Neurological Improvement ◽  
Stereotactic Frame ◽  
Microsurgical Resection ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Radiological Studies ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Surgical resection of 10 obscure arteriovenous malformations (AVM's) was accomplished with craniotomy guided by computerized tomography (CT) or angiography and the use of the Brown-Roberts-Wells stereotactic frame. Stereotactic craniotomy was invaluable for resection of the following types of AVM's: 1) AVM's with a nidus less than 2 cm in diameter, 2) AVM's located in an eloquent area of the brain, and 3) AVM's located deep in the brain. Stereotactic localization of these AVM's on preoperative radiological studies provides a precise route to the nidus, often avoiding important areas of the brain. This series included six male and four female patients with a mean age of 32 years. All patients presented with an intracerebral hemorrhage, from which eight made a complete neurological recovery prior to surgery. Two AVM's were located on the cortex, three were found subcortically, and five were situated near the ventricles or in the deep white matter. As a guide, angiography was used in six cases and CT in four cases. In each instance, the study providing the best image of the AVM nidus was employed. Postoperatively, no neurological deficits were found in eight patients and, in the two patients with preoperative deficits, neurological improvement was observed after recovery from surgery. Postoperative studies revealed complete removal of the AVM in all patients, and all lesions were confirmed histologically. The authors conclude that stereotactic craniotomy provides the optimum operative approach for the localization and microsurgical resection of AVM's that are either obscure or located deep in the brain.

Brain injuries caused by spherical bolts

2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (5) ◽  
pp. 864-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Roth ◽  
Ami Mayo ◽  
Hanoch Elran ◽  
Nissim Razon ◽  
Yoram Kluger
Keyword(s):  
Brain Injuries ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Metallic Particles ◽  
Injured Tissue ◽  
Radiological Data ◽  
Cranial Nerve Injury ◽  
Gcs Score ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Fine Print

Object. Metallic particles contained in antihuman bombs increase the number of fatalities. The ballistics of these particles depends on the explosive that is used, the distance from the explosion, the shape of the particle projected, and the biomechanics of the injured tissue. The authors present their experience with penetrating spherical bolt injuries to the brain. Methods. The authors retrospectively reviewed clinical and radiological data obtained in eight patients with penetrating spherical bolt injuries to the cranium: four had Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores less than 8 (three died, one from an unrelated injury) and four had a GCS score of 15 (all survived). Two of the latter patients suffered unique anatomical injuries attributed to the distinctive ballistics of spherical bolts: in one patient the bolt penetrated the cavernous sinus causing minimal cranial nerve injury, and in the other patient the bolt lodged in the fourth ventricle causing acute hydrocephalus without other neurological deficits. Conclusions. Penetrating spherical bolts to the brain may be lethal. Nevertheless, they have unique ballistics that cause highly delineated anatomical damage and minor neurological deficits.

Hereditary neurocutaneous angiomatosis

1996 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
pp. 1135-1142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Leblanc ◽  
Denis Melanson ◽  
Ralph D. Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Hemorrhage ◽  
Venous Malformation ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Skin Lesions ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Male Patients ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Fine Print ◽  
Variable Penetrance

✓ The authors report the coexistence of vascular nevi (hemangiomas and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the skin) with AVMs and venous malformations of the brain in male siblings from two related but nonconsanguineous families of three generations. The proband, his siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins were examined, underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR angiography, and when appropriate, cerebral angiography. A father had vascular nevi and a mother, his sister, had an azygos anterior cerebral artery. No other cutaneous or cerebrovascular malformations were present in the parents. Each of the two families had two boys and one girl, 9 to 18 years of age. All the children had vascular nevi and all of the boys had coexisting cerebrovascular malformations: AVMs in three, and a venous malformation in another. One boy had three cerebral AVMs. Two boys had a cerebral hemorrhage, and one also had focal motor seizures. The skin lesions were not those of the Sturge-Weber-Dimitri, Rendu-Osler-Weber, or Wyburn—Mason syndromes. The association of cutaneous and cerebrovascular malformations was seen only in males in these families, but females have also been reported in the literature. The results obtained in these families and three other families reported from Western and Central Europe indicate that the association of cerebral and cutaneous vascular hamartomas constitutes a distinct, hereditary clinicopathological entity with autosomal dominant inheritance and variable penetrance. The clinical manifestations of this syndrome are visible, painful vascular nevi, epilepsy, cerebral hemorrhage, and focal neurological deficits. The preponderance of male patients with the full expression of the syndrome suggests a possible hormonal influence on the expression of the gene.

Comparison of middle cerebral artery trunk occlusion by silicone cylinder embolization and by trapping

1983 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 492-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshikazu Okada ◽  
Takeshi Shima ◽  
Noboru Yokoyama ◽  
Tohru Uozumi
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Infarction ◽  
Middle Cerebral Artery ◽  
Cerebral Artery ◽  
Clinicopathological Features ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Midline Shift ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chronic Stage ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The authors produced occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) trunk in dogs by two methods: silicone cylinder embolization and trapping. Comparative analyses of the clinicopathological features in these models, extending from the acute to chronic stage, were performed. Within 24 hours after embolization, the brain exhibited swelling without macroscopic infarction. Microangiograms revealed impaired filling in the deep areas of the brain with midline shift. At 4 to 7 days after embolization, the animals showed major neurological deficits, evident deep cerebral infarction, and poorly perfused areas in the deep cerebrum with prominent midline shift. At 3 to 4 weeks after embolization, the neurological deficits improved and the affected regions showed cavities or localized lesions. Microangiograms demonstrated hypervascular areas with abnormal vessels in the affected cerebrum. On the other hand, trapping of the MCA trunk produced mild neurological deficits, although there was no evidence of macroscopic lesions or impairment of filling. This study shows that silicone cylinder embolization in the MCA trunk produces a reliable and reproducible deep cerebral infarction in dogs.

Waterjet dissection of the brain: experimental and first clinical results

1998 ◽  
Vol 89 (5) ◽  
pp. 861-864 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jürgen Piek ◽  
Christian Wille ◽  
Rolf Warzok ◽  
Michael-Robert Gaab
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Results ◽  
New Method ◽  
Surrounding Tissue ◽  
Histological Evaluation ◽  
Neurosurgical Procedures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Device ◽  
Waterjet Dissection ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Control of bleeding during dissection is a problem that is still not completely resolved in neurosurgical procedures. To overcome this problem in some settings, the authors, in close collaboration with their institution, developed a new device for blunt dissection of brain tumors that is based on a waterjet technique. This report describes their first experimental and clinical experience with this new method. Numerous cutting experiments were performed in porcine cadaver brains. The best results were obtained using pressures from 4 to 6 bars with a 100-jxm tip, which produced very small, precise cuts. Histological evaluation showed no disruption or vacuolization of the surrounding tissue. The authors have used the new device in nine patients (seven with gliomas and two undergoing temporal lobe resections for epilepsy), and no complications have been observed. The waterjet device allowed dissection of the brain tissue while even small exposed vessels were spared injury. The instrument was found to be easy to use. Future investigations will concentrate on adapting this new method to endoscopic surgery and evaluating fluids with low surface tension to avoid foaming and bubbling during open surgery.

Delayed neurological deterioration following resection of arteriovenous malformations of the brain

1999 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 695-701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael K. Morgan ◽  
Lali H. S. Sekhon ◽  
Simon Finfer ◽  
Verity Grinnell
Keyword(s):  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Cerebral Arteries ◽  
Venous Drainage ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Grading System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Drainage Networks ◽  
Middle Cerebral Arteries ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Fine Print

Object. The aim of this study was to analyze delayed neurological deficits following surgical resection of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).Methods. The authors report on a consecutive series of 200 patients with angiographically proven AVMs of the brain that were surgically resected between January 1989 and June 1998. The 30-day mortality rate for patients in this series was 1%, with one death caused by AVM resection and one death attributed to basilar artery aneurysm repair following successful AVM resection. The Spetzler—Martin grading system correlated well with the difficulty of surgery. No permanent incidence of morbidity resulted from resection of Grade I or II AVMs; the percentage of patients with a significant neurological deficit due to resection was 7.8% for those with Grade III lesions and 33.3% for those with Grade IV or V AVMs. However, this grading system did not accurately predict the development of delayed neurological deficits.Ten patients (5%) developed delayed neurological deficits after recovering from anesthesia and surgery. The delayed deficit was due to hemorrhage in four of the 10 patients and all four had undergone resection of AVMs measuring at least 4 cm in diameter. An increase in blood pressure during the first 8 postoperative days precipitated hemorrhage in these patients. Edema arising as a consequence of propagated venous thrombosis (two patients) was associated with extensive venous drainage networks rather than large AVM niduses. Both hemorrhagic and edematous complications can be included under the umbrella term of “arterial-capillary-venous hypertensive syndrome” to describe the common underlying pathogenesis accurately. An additional four patients developed a delayed deficit as a result of vasospasm. Vasospasm occurred when resection had involved extensive dissection of proximal anterior and middle cerebral arteries; in such cases the incidence of vasospasm was 27%.Conclusions. On the basis of their analysis of these complications, the authors recommend strict blood pressure control for patients with lesions measuring 4 cm or more in diameter (particularly those with a deep arterial supply). Thromboprophylaxis with aspirin and heparin is prescribed for patients with extensive venous drainage networks, and prophylactic nimodipine therapy and angiographic surveillance for vasospasm are suggested for patients in whom extensive dissection of proximal anterior or middle cerebral arteries has been necessary.

Supratentorial intra-arachnoid cyst

1971 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 477-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nitya R. Ghatak ◽  
Grace J. Mushrush
Keyword(s):  
Brain Stem ◽  
Arachnoid Cyst ◽  
Cerebral Hemisphere ◽  
Arachnoid Cysts ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Pathological Features ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Clinical And Pathological Features ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The clinical and pathological features of a primary supratentorial arachnoid cyst are described. Expansion of the cyst led to progressive neurological deficits that terminated fatally. There was severe compression and marked distortion of the brain with secondary brain stem hemorrhage. It is suggested that intra-arachnoid cysts may represent a distinct pathological entity among the heterogeneous cysts overlying the cerebral hemisphere.

Cavernous malformations of the brain stem

1991 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard S. Zimmerman ◽  
Robert F. Spetzler ◽  
K. Stuart Lee ◽  
Joseph M. Zabramski ◽  
Ronald W. Hargraves
Keyword(s):  
Brain Stem ◽  
Cavernous Malformation ◽  
Venous Malformation ◽  
Neurological Status ◽  
Shunt Infection ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Cavernous Malformations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Once they become symptomatic, cavernous malformations of the brain stem appear to cause progressive morbidity from repetitive hemorrhage, and can even be fatal. Twenty-four patients with long-tract and/or cranial nerve findings from their cavernous malformations of the brain stem were seen for initial evaluation or surgical consultation and thereafter received either surgical or continued conservative treatment. The decision to operate was based on the proximity of the cavernous malformation to the pial surface of the brain stem, the patient's neurological status, and the number of symptomatic episodes. Sixteen patients were treated by definitive surgery directed at excision of their malformation. In four patients, associated venous malformations influenced the surgical approach and their recognition avoided the risk of inappropriate excision of the venous malformation. Although some of the 16 patients had transient, immediate, postoperative worsening of their neurological deficits, the outcome of all except one was the same or improved. Only one patient developed recurrent symptoms: a new deficit 2½ years after surgery required reoperation after regrowth of the cavernous malformation. She has been neurologically stable since the second surgery. One patient died 6 months postoperatively from a shunt infection and sepsis. The eight conservatively treated patients are followed with annual magnetic resonance imaging studies. One has a dramatic associated venous malformation. Seven patients have either minor intermittent or no symptoms, and the eighth died from a hemorrhage 1 year after his initial presentation. Based on these results, surgical extirpation of symptomatic cavernous malformations of the brain stem appears to be the treatment of choice when a patient is symptomatic, the lesion is located superficially, and an operative approach can spare eloquent tissue. When cavernous malformations of the brain stem are completely excised, cure appears permanent.

The fate of retained intracerebral shotgun pellets

1970 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 646-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren P. Sights ◽  
Robert J. Bye
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Clinical Significance ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Histological Changes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Autopsy Examination ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Fine Print

✓ An experimental study is presented of the histopathological reaction of the brain to shotgun pellets surgically implanted in cats. Hardened lead shot produced the least reaction, copper-coated pellets the most, and nickel-coated shot an intermediate reaction. Seven histological changes and neurological deficits were apparent in cats with implanted copper-coated pellets; a marked migration of copper-coated shot was revealed by x-ray and autopsy examination. Three clinical cases are presented to illustrate the clinical significance of the laboratory data.

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