Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F Pluchino.
Microsurgery for supratentorial aneurysm was performed in 19 patients over the age of 65 with good results in 74%. Mortality and complications are discussed in the light of the preoperative neurological status and general condition. The indications for surgery are outlined.
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We describe here a case of holocord subependymoma in an adolescent patient, completely removed with two surgical procedures. We discuss the histological features, the diagnostic difficulties and the surgical techniques used in this case.
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Succinylcholine, a depolarizing muscle relaxant with both activating and desensitizing effects, is used to facilitate endotracheal intubation. The activating effects were found to be above-normal on induction of anesthesia in 7 neurological patients: generalized muscle spasm in 1 myotonic patient, contractures or prolonged contractions in "anatomically" denervated muscles (1 patient), in "functionally" denervated muscles (1 patient) and in "centrally" denervated muscles (4 patients). One of these four presented hyperkalemia and cardiocirculatory collapse. It is important to differentiate these anomalous responses to succinylcholine from those occurring as early signs of rhabdomyolysis or malignant hyperthermia.
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Interfascicular nerve suture with autografts is the operation of choice for repairing peripheral nerve injuries because it ensures more precise alignment of the fasciculi and so better chances of reinnervation of the sectioned nerve. The procedure as described by Millesi et al has been used at the Istituto Neurologico di Milano in 30 patients with traumatic lesions of the median, ulnar and radial nerves. All have been followed up for 2 to 7 years since operation. The results obtained are compared with those of other series obtained with interfascicular suture and with epineural suture. Microsurgery is essential. The best time to operate is discussed.
12 patients, 10 women and 2 men, were operated on for removal of a jugular foramen neurinoma. Removal was total in 11 cases and operative mortality was 16.6%. As there are no clinical or instrumental signs that permit sure distinction between these tumours and those of the cerebellopontine angle, only a thorough radiological study of the jugular foramen allows correct diagnosis. Often, however, the diagnosis is made during the operation.
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A surgical series of 59 patients with cerebellar or spinal cord hemangioblastomas or von Hippel-Lindau's (VHL) syndrome is analyzed. The presence of the tumor is easily detected by Computerized Tomography (CT) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), but angiography is still necessary for a correct surgical planning. The value of a sharp distinction among patients with single hemangioblastomas and the ones with Lindau's disease and VHL syndrome is stressed. In fact patients with single cerebellar or spinal hemangioblastomas have a good prognosis, while patients with disseminated hemangioblastomas have a rather poor outlook. Neuropathological studies with immunohistochemical techniques have been performed to identify the nature of the stromal cells of the hemangioblastomas: their origin from glial, endothelial and monociticphagocitic elements seems excluded.
A surgical graphic console is presented. It allows the display of multimodal images (CT, MR and digital angiography), and the identification of tridimensional outlines of structures of surgical relevance, within a surgical reference system, together with the trajectory of surgical approach.
The International Cooperative Study on the Timing of Aneurysm Surgery included 68 participating centers from 16 different countries. Eight Italian neurosurgical units participated in the Study: Bellaria Hospital, Bologna; Neurological Institute of Milan, Milan; University Hospital, Brescia; University of Milan, Milan; University of Padova, Padova; University of Rome, Rome; Civil Hospital, Verona; and Civil Hospital, Vicenza. The overall case contribution from the Italian centers was 485 cases, 14.1% of the total study population. As compared to the other centers included in the Study, the Italian centers exhibited a higher percentage of patients with impaired consciousness; a later interval of planned surgery from SAH; frequent use of preoperative lumbar drainage, as well as antihypertensives, anticonvulsants, antifibrinolytics, steroids, diuretics and LMW dextran; and less frequent use of sedatives and narcotics. The individual Italian centers differed significantly in regard to patient characteristics and preoperative therapeutic modalities. There was a relatively high number of stuporous or comatose patients admitted to Centers 1, 7 and 8, very few admitted to Centers 5 and 6, and none admitted to Center 2. The different distribution of key prognostic factors prevents a direct comparison of the overall management results of the centers. A stratification of the patients according to a risk scale and/or a prognostic model is required for comparison of the management results.
The 8 Italian centers participating in the International Cooperative Study on Timing of Aneurysm Surgery operated upon 68% of their patients eligible for the study. This low operative rate is mainly explained by the prevailing use of a delayed surgical policy. Only 28% of cases were operated on within 3 days of hemorrhage. Although early surgery was applied in more than 50% of patients from Centers 2, 6 and 7, most other centers operated on approximately 10% of patients within this time interval. Italian centers exhibited a wide variation in planned and actual surgery interval, with only 48% of their patients eventually operated on at the planned time. Differences from planned and actual timing of surgery were less consistent in the units performing early surgery. Preoperative conditions were different between the individual centers. The percent of patients alert at the time of surgery varied from approximately 50% in Centers 3 and 7 to 90% in Center 5. Centers 2 and 6 never operated on comatose patients and rarely stuporous patients. During surgery, induced hypotension was used in 67% of Italian patients. The brain was tight at exposure in 42% of patients from Italian centers; the difference from the other study centers was very significant (p = 0.0009). Consequently major brain resection was more frequently performed in Italy than in the other centers. Brain conditions depended mainly upon timing of surgery and preoperative grade (except for comatose patients) and varied accordingly between the individual centers. Temporary arterial occlusion was rarely used in Italian centers. Intraoperative bleeding from the aneurysm was slightly more frequent than in the other centers. The overall incidence of intraoperative complications was unremarkable. There were significant differences between the Italian and the other centers regarding the use of postoperative routines and medications. In Italian centers ventricular CSF drainage, shunt insertion, ICP monitoring, sedatives and analgesics were less frequently used; lumbar CSF drainage, anticonvulsants, steroids, and diuretics were applied more frequently. In the individual centers the major differences were in the use of antihypertensives, vasopressor agents, diuretics, hypervolemia, and low-molecular weight dextran.
Overall results of management in patients admitted to the 8 Italian centers participating in the International Cooperative Study on Timing of Aneurysm Surgery were rather unsatisfactory, with good recovery in only 42% of patients, and death in 45% of patients. As compared to the other centers included in the Study, Italian centers exhibited a significantly lower recovery rate and a significantly higher mortality rate. There were significant differences also between the individual Italian centers; independently of admission neurological status and timing of surgery, the outcome was better in centers 2 and 6 (a mortality rate under 20%) and worse in centers 1 and 8 (a mortality rate around 60%). Using prognostic factor models, higher than expected mortality rates were observed in 4 centers, and lower than expected good recovery rates in 3 centers. In Italian centers vasospasm accounted for the highest morbidity and mortality rate; the difference in mortality rate from vasospasm between Italian and other centers was very significant. Other important causes of death and disability were constituted by direct effect of the initial bleed and by recurrent hemorrhage. Patients operated on in Italian centers exhibited a good recovery in 57% of cases; the mortality was 27%. Differences from the other centers were less marked than for the overall management results. Mortality rates from vasospasm and from surgical complications were significantly higher in Italian than in the other study centers. Between the individual Italian centers, vasospasm accounted for the highest mortality rate in centers 7 and 8 (17% and 28% respectively). Postoperative pneumonia was significantly more frequent in Italian than in the other centers. In regard to timing of surgery, the differences in results between Italian and other centers were less marked when surgery was performed after 10 days from hemorrhage. In Italian centers as a whole, a delayed operation was linked with a better outcome than an early or subacute operation. The lowest recovery rate was observed in drowsy patients operated on between 4 and 10 days from the hemorrhage. Focal ischemic deficits and pneumonia were prevalent after an operation within 3 days of hemorrhage, while postoperative brain swelling was most frequent in patients operated on between 4 and 10 days from hemorrhage. The differences in results between Italian and other centers and among the individual Italian centers are widely discussed; possible explanations include inadequate modalities of treatment (especially inadequate management of vasospasm) and structural deficiencies of intensive care management in seriously ill patients.
The clinical, radiological and histological findings of a huge olfactory grooves meningioma in a 14 years-old girl are described. Good result after complete removal is stressed and concerning literature is reviewed.