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Biomedical subjects

G Bravo

Publications and source records attributed to G Bravo.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Subjective postoperative results in cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

A retrospective study of operative results after a minimum follow-up period of five years was carried out in a series of 34 patients operated upon for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). In all the cases, myelography showed involvement of two or more intervertebral spaces. Constitutional spinal cord narrowing was not present, and only one operation was performed in each patient. Of the 34 patients, 16 also had symptoms of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR). Seventy-four percent of the patients thought that operation resulted in overall improvement of the preoperative clinical picture. This subjective improvement was similar whether the operative procedure consisted of anterior intersomatic fusion or of laminectomy. Amelioration of CSM symptoms occurred in only 8 of the 20 patients subjected to anterior fusion (40%), in contrast to 10 of the 14 patients subjected to laminectomy (71%). In the 16 patients with CSR symptoms associated with CSM, amelioration of CSR symptoms occurred in 6 of the 11 patients subjected to anterior fusion (55%), and in 4 of the 5 patients subjected to laminectomy 80%). It is suggested that laminectomy offers the best results for CSM, associated or not with CSR, when two or more intervertebral spaces are affected.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Morphological study of human epileptic dendrites.

We studied 14 human epileptogenic foci with light and electron microscopy to establish their morphological patterns. Using silver staining techniques, we found dendritic areas devoid of spines, dendritic angulations, and nodular or segmentary dendritic swellings. When these findings were compared with the morphology of nonepileptic cortex, only the existence of dendritic swellings in the epileptic tissue was significant. Electron microscopy showed that the nodular dendritic swellings were due to an alteration in the normal arrangement of the microtubules. We hypothesize that an alteration in the microtubular arrangement causes a mechanical distortion of the dendritic membrane and subsequently may cause its depolarization.

Dendrites↗
PubMed1981

Tissue damage after chronic cerebellar stimulation.

Two spastic patients undergoing chronic cerebellar stimulation are studied. Biopsies taken after three months of stimulation showed various tissue changes when compared with those taken at the moment of electrode implantation. The most important alterations in the cerebellar cortex were adhesions round the electrodes, with a scarring reaction, gliosis, and loss of Purkinje cells. These findings resemble those described in various experimental reports of chronic cerebellar stimulation.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Meningioma of the anterior part of the third ventricle.

The authors report the clinical features, radiological findings, and surgical management in a case of meningioma of the anterior part of the third ventricle in a 59-year-old woman. The unusual fact in our patient compared with the other reported cases is that she never developed symptoms or signs of increased intracranial pressure. A review of the literature is presented. Ours is the second case in which CT scan has been used in the diagnosis.

Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms↗
PubMed1981

Simultaneous posterior and middle cranial fossa neurinomas.

A case of unilateral association of a neurinoma of the VIII nerve and a neurinoma of the temporal fossa in a 33-year-old woman without von Recklinghausen disease stigmata is presented. This uncommon association can mimic the picture of a trigeminal neurinoma with a dumb-bell extension into the posterior fossa.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Arachnoid cysts of the posterior fossa.

A series of 6 patients with arachnoid cysts of the posterior fossa who were treated surgically is presented. The diagnosis of the nature of the lesion and of the exact location within the posterior fossa could not be established on a clinical basis. CT scanning is the best method for diagnosing the lesion and for observing the postoperative evolution. Treatment consisted of removing the cyst walls, shunting the cyst to the peritoneum, or both. The differential diagnosis of arachnoid cysts of the posterior fossa from other cerebrospinal fluid collections, such as the megacisterna magna or the Dandy-Walker malformation, are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Computed tomography with craniopharyngiomas: a review.

A retrospective study of the computerized tomographic (CT) examinations of 20 children and 13 adults with craniopharyngiomas was undertaken, with special attention paid to the densitometric characteristics of the tumors (contrast enhancement and presence of cysts and calcifications). The aim was to quantify these characteristics and to assess their diagnostic reliability, both alone and together. In suprasellar tumors al three characteristics were present in 75% of the cases, with a diagnostic accuracy of 100%; two were present in 20.6%, with a diagnostic accuracy of 85%; and one was present in 3.4%, with a diagnostic accuracy of 50%. The unusual densitometric presentations of intrasellar tumors are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Syringomyelia: long-term results after posterior fossa decompression.

A retrospective study of the surgical results in 31 adult patients with syringomyelia associated with Arnold-Chiari malformation was carried out. The standard surgical procedure consisted of a posterior fossa craniectomy. The vallecula was opened in 28 patients, with plugging of the central canal in 19. In three patients, severe arachnoidal scarring was present, and dissection was not attempted. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 5 to 10 years. More than half of the patients considered themselves improved by surgery; however, only five cases showed objective improvement. Despite the operation, six patients experienced progressive neurological deterioration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Pubertas praecox in craniopharyngioma. Case report.

A case of craniopharyngioma associated with true precocious puberty is reported in a child operated on when she was 2 years and 8 months of age. Precocity was noted 10 months after operation and was fully documented 1 year later. A pneumoencephalogram showed a recurrence of tumor in the hypothalamic area. Hormonal therapy was instituted to stop sexual maturation. Reoperation was undertaken only when her visual symptoms reappeared. She received a postoperative course of radiotherapy. On last examination, she was neurologically well, and computerized tomography did not show further growth of the residual tumor. The diagnosis of precocious puberty and its etiology in this patient are discussed.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1981

Conservative management of mesencephalic tuberculoma. Case report.

A case of clinically unsuspected mesencephalic tuberculoma that was diagnosed at operation is presented. After intraoperative diagnosis, the surgical procedure was interrupted and specific treatment with tuberculostatic agents was started. The symptoms remitted totally in a few months. This conservative management is preferable to surgical removal when diagnosis of brain-stem tuberculoma has been established.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Craniopharyngiomas: a critical approach to treatment.

The authors have conducted a retrospective statistical study in a series of 45 patients with craniopharyngiomas in order to assess the value of different therapeutic approaches. All the patients included in the study were placed in three groups according to their method of treatment: 1) total excision; 2) subtotal excision; and 3) surgery followed by a course of radiotherapy (RT). Symptomatic recurrence was used to define failure of treatment. Of the patients subjected to total excision, 30% experienced recurrence after a mean time of 2 years. Tumors recurred in 71% of those treated by subtotal excision, with a mean time of 2.6 years. Of patients receiving RT in addition to surgery, only 6% had recurrence, after a mean time of 1 year. The authors conclude that the elective treatment for craniopharyngiomas is controlled subtotal surgery plus RT. Total excision should be attempted only if there is a negligible danger of mortality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Medically intractable epilepsies of tumoural aetiology. Report of 4 cases treated according to the method described by J. Talairach et al.

The authors present 4 patients with medically uncontrollable epilepsy of tumoural aetiology (grade I-II gliomas). In two of them, CT scan showed probable neoplastic lesions, located deeply in the left frontal and right temporal lobes respectively, reflected in the SEG studies only in the second case. The other two were patients with left frontal gliomas in whom seizures did not disappear after removal of the tumour. After SEEG studies defined the epileptogenic zone and the lesion and these were removed, complete suppression of the seizures was achieved in two patients and the other two only unfrequently suffered seizures. We emphasize the importance of SEEG studies for success in treating patients with gliomata previously diagnosed by CT scan, and who have seizures uncontrolled by anticonvulsants as the only symptom.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Combined approach (stereotactic-microsurgical) to a paraventricular arteriovenous malformation. Case report.

The authors present one case of a 42 years old male patient who had a small right paraventricular arteriovenous malformation. At operation the patient was placed in the Talairach's stereotactic frame and, after performing a right carotid angiogram to locate the lesion exactly, a flexible cannula was inserted stereotactically, through a previous trephine hole, until the tip reached the AVM. Using a microsurgical technique and through a 1-2 cm corticotomy the cannula pathway was followed easily reaching the AVM. Total removal of the AVM was confirmed by a carotid angiogram, the patient was discharged without symptoms 7 days later. The authors propose that due to the special design of the Talairach's stereotactic frame, its application as a locating system for small and deep AVM's would greatly facilitate their removal using microsurgical techniques.

Adult↗