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Biomedical subjects

J Goffin

Publications and source records attributed to J Goffin.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

The use of Vicryl Collagen as a dura substitute: a clinical review of 78 surgical cases.

We performed a retrospective review of 78 consecutive neurosurgical procedures using Vicryl Collagen, a resorbable mesh of polyglactin 910 coated with bovine collagen, for dural substitution. The complications we encountered were infrequent and mostly minor (5 cases of subcutaneous CSF collections, 2 cases of aseptic meningitis, 1 superficial wound infection), and not unusual for the surgical procedures studied. One patient, however, had a major infection, starting in the superficial tissues, and extending toward the brain. In this patient, the resorption of the dural substitute appeared to be the cause for the intracranial extension of the infection. Three patients were reoperated on for recurrent tumour after a longer interval. We found minimal adhesions and good fibrous incorporation of the Vicryl Collagen into the surrounding normal dura. We conclude that Vicryl Collagen is a valuable alternative to the patient's own fibrous tissues when dural substitution is necessary.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Use of a ventriculosubgaleal shunt in the management of hydrocephalus in children with posterior fossa tumors.

We present our experience with the use of ventriculosubgaleal shunting (VSGS) for the management of hydrocephalus associated with posterior fossa tumors in a consecutive series of 63 children. In 42 children, a temporary VSGS was inserted. There were no complications associated with the procedure, and it gave a period of several days in which to improve the general condition of the child, and to perform the necessary imaging studies, without an encumbering external drainage device. In most cases the VSGS could be removed after the posterior fossa surgery, without new general anesthesia. Other advantages and drawbacks of this technique are discussed.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1996

Lymphocytic infundibulohypophysitis presenting in the postpartum period: case report.

BACKGROUND: Lymphocytic adenohypophysitis is a well-known autoimmune disorder affecting the anterior pituitary gland. Posterior pituitary gland function can be impaired by a similar autoimmune disorder called lymphocytic infundibulohypophysitis. Only very few cases have been reported. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: We present a patient with central diabetes insipidus in the postpartum period. On radiologic and endocrine evidence lymphocytic involvement of the pituitary stalk and infundibulum was suspected. INTERVENTION: A diagnostic pterional craniotomy was performed. The diagnosis of lymphocytic infundibulohypophysitis was confirmed by biopsy. CONCLUSION: We present a case of lymphocytic infundibulohypophysitis. In view of its autoimmune pathophysiology the occurrence of this disorder in the postpartum period is not surprising, even though it has not been reported before. This rare disorder should be distinguished from the more common lymphocytic adenohypophysitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Outcome of chronic subdural haematoma: analysis of prognostic factors.

Prognostic factors for the outcome of patients with a chronic subdural haematoma were analysed in a consecutive study of 260 patients, regardless of the method of neurosurgical treatment. CT findings such as haematoma volume, midline shift and residual subdural collections had no influence on the outcome. The only statistically significant factor of importance for the outcome of patients with chronic subdural haematoma was the neurological condition at the time of treatment. Early diagnosis is therefore of major importance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of exogenous surfactant treatment strategies in an adult model of acute lung injury.

Two exogenous surfactant preparations [Survanta and bovine lipid extract surfactant (BLES)] were evaluated in saline lavage-injured adult sheep with two different delivery methods (instillation vs. aerosolization). Instilled BLES resulted in the greatest improvement in lung function, followed by aerosolized Survanta and then instilled Survanta. Aerosolized BLES was ineffective. Total surfactant recovery and distribution patterns were similar for Survanta and BLES for each delivery method tested. There were significant differences, however, in the proportion of surfactant recovered in the alveolar wash relative to the lung tissue between the groups at killing. Moreover, the ratio of poorly functioning small surfactant aggregates to superior functioning large aggregates isolated from alveolar wash samples correlated with the physiological responses. The calculated contribution of secreted endogenous surfactant to the total alveolar phospholipid pool at killing was significantly greater for the aerosolized Survanta group compared with the aerosolized BLES group. This finding suggested that there were differences in the interaction of the exogenous surfactants and their alveolar environments. We conclude that the response to exogenous surfactant in acute lung injury depends not only on the preparation used but also on how the surfactants are delivered to the injured lung.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Timing of exogenous surfactant administration in a rabbit model of acute lung injury.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate early vs. late administration of exogenous surfactant in an adult rabbit model of acute lung injury. Lung injury was induced by repetitive whole lung saline lavage and subsequent mechanical ventilation. Bovine lipid extract surfactant was instilled either 1 (Early) or 4 h (Late) after the last lavage. Animals were monitored for 7 h after the last lavage. Although arterial PO2 values increased significantly immediately after treatment in both the Early and Late groups, this improvement was not sustained in the Late group. There was also a higher incidence of pneumothoraxes in the Late group vs. both the Early group and a nontreated control group. The ratio of poorly functioning small surfactant aggregates to superior functioning large aggregates was higher in the Late group compared with the Early group. Morphological analysis revealed that early surfactant treatment prevented the progression of lung injury over time. We conclude that administration of exogenous surfactant at an early time point in lung injury resulted in superior responses compared with later treatments.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Spontaneous hematomas of the cerebellum over the age of 60 years].

We present a retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of 50 patients, over 60 years of age, with spontaneous cerebellar hematomas. Treatment was chosen on an individual basis : conservative treatment in 8 "benign" cases, craniotomy and/or ventricular drainage in the majority of cases (37), depending on the clinical presentation and the degree of hydrocephalus on CT scan, and surgical abstention in 5 moribund patients. The outcome at one month was studied and compared for different possible prognostic factors. Seventeen patients (34%) died, and three were in a vegetative state; they later died as a direct result of their initial cerebellar hemorrhage. At the latest follow-up, five other patients had also died, one due to cancer, and the others from cardiac causes. The obliteration of the basal cisterns, the volume of the hematoma, the absence of brain stem reflexes and the presence of coma were highly significant factors determining early mortality. The age of the patients, their estimated premorbid health and the degree of hydrocephalus were not significantly associated with fatal outcome. Intensive treatment for cerebellar hematomas, including suboccipital craniotomy, may be justified even in aged patients after careful selection.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Mechanical performance of the Dick internal fixator: a clinical study of 75 patients.

A consecutive series of 75 patients with fractures of the thoracolumbar spine, stabilized with the Dick internal fixator, was studied retrospectively. Posttraumatic kyphosis was measured on the preoperative lateral radiograph by the Cobb angle and the wedge angle and the results were compared with angles measured on the radiographs after instrumentation and after removal of the implants. The presence and number of broken Schanz screws was noted. In the whole group, an average correction of kyphosis of 15.5 degrees was obtained, but 7.6 degrees was lost again at follow-up. In comparing the kyphotic angle with the wedge angle, we found that this loss was almost exclusively situated in the upper intervertebral disc space. In the group of patients with transpedicular intravertebral bone grafting, the relative loss of correction in the wedge angle was smaller than in the group without bone grafting, while the relative loss of correction of the kyphotic angle was similar. Schanz screw breakage was present in 13.3% of patients, occurring in 4.6% of inserted screws. In the group of patients with broken Schanz screws, the loss of correction in the wedge angle was somewhat higher, but not markedly different from that of the patient group without breakage of screws. Risk of screw breakage was enhanced by laminectomy and reduced by transpedicular bone grafting. Screw breakage or important loss of correction did not influence the neurological outcome of the patients. The Dick internal fixator is a very reliable implant, even in patients with highly unstable fractures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Magnetic resonance angiography of supratentorial tumours: comparison with selective digital subtraction angiography.

We compared magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (IADSA) in the study of brain tumours and assessed the utility of gadolinium-enhanced MRA. We studied 17 patients with supratentorial brain tumors. The entire brain was imaged with multiple overlapping thin volume acquisitions. After IV injection of gadolinium-DTPA, a single thick-slab MRA acquisition was performed. Standard three-dimensional (3D-TOF) acquisitions (in six patients) and 3D-TOF with magnetization transfer prepulse and tilted optimisation nonsaturing radiofrequency excitation pulses (in 11 patients) were used. Displacement of the anterior cerebral artery, main stem and insular branches of the middle cerebral artery was seen well on unenhanced and contrast-enhanced MRA. Displacement of the lenticulostriate and anterior choroidal arteries was seen only once, after Gadolinium. Tumour encasement of the middle cerebral artery was demonstrated in one patient. Tumour vessels were seen in 2 of 8 cases before and 3 of 8 after gadolinium; Tumour hypervascularity was seen only after gadolinium, in 3 of 8 cases. Study of the veins was possible only on gadolinium-enhanced MRA. Displacement of the venous angle was seen in 4 of 7 patients in the frontal, and in all of 8 patients on the lateral projections. Early venous drainage was not seen. Patency of the dural venous sinuses was demonstrated in all patients, but in one neoplastic occlusion of a cortical vein was recognized.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Coating of intracranial aneurysms: a long-term follow-up study of 34 cases.

We performed a retrospective follow-up study of 33 patients, with 34 ruptured aneurysms, treated by coating using bio-adhesive polymers. The rebleeding rate after a mean follow-up of 10 years was 18% (6 patients), with 4 cases of early haemorrhage and 2 late rebleedings (late rebleeding rate of 0.7% per year). All rebleedings proved fatal. Coating of the aneurysmal wall provides some protection in patients with "unclippable" aneurysms, but is obviously inferior to clipping, and should be used only in very selected cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Chordoma of the lower cervical spine.

Vertebral chordomas are rather rare tumours, especially in the lower cervical region. We present a patient with a C7 vertebral body chordoma and a discussion of pertinent literature is given. Only three C7 chordomas have been reported previously. Diagnosis is sometimes difficult to establish and is based on radiological examinations. Once the histological diagnosis is available, one should aim at a total resection. If this is not possible, adjuvant radiotherapy should be given. For limited cervical lesions, we advise a corporectomy with fusion by an iliac crest graft and osteosynthetic plate stabilisation.

Cervical Vertebrae↗
PubMed1995

Transient cerebellar mutism after posterior fossa surgery in children.

Cerebellar mutism has been reported after surgery for posterior fossa tumors in children and, rarely, in adults. The pathogenesis of this syndrome remains unclear, and controversy exists regarding whether it is a purely psychogenic disorder or an organic syndrome. The anatomical substrate for the mutism also remains unknown. We encountered five cases of postoperative transient cerebellar mutism in a consecutive series of 63 children with posterior fossa tumors. These cases were analyzed and compared with the patients without mutism to find predictive factors for the occurrence of mutism, with the hope of elucidating further the pathophysiological mechanism. The most significant finding was the presence in all cases of a period of cerebellar dysarthria after resolution of the muteness. We, therefore, believe that cerebellar mutism is an extreme form of dysarthria, rather than a real cognitive deficit or a psychological disturbance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Upper airway obstruction caused by a cervical osteophyte.

A case of severe acute upper airway obstruction caused by a cervical osteophyte requiring urgent tracheostomy is presented. The patient was treated successfully by resection of the osteophyte followed by cervical fusion.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

Long-term results after anterior cervical fusion and osteosynthetic stabilization for fractures and/or dislocations of the cervical spine.

This study presents the 5-9-year follow-up after anterior cervical fusion and osteosynthetic stabilization anterior plating for fractures and/or dislocations of the cervical spine in 25 patients. Adequate bony fusion was obtained in all patients within 1 year postoperatively. There were no problems of late screw loosening. Fracture of the osteosynthetic plate occurred in one patient. Late degenerative changes of the cervical spine at the disc levels adjacent to the fusion area were radiologically detected in 15 of the 25 patients (60%) and were related to the following situations: fusion on more than one disc level, fusion on a lower cervical segment, Frankel class A-C at admission, and hyperflexion injuries. However, these late degenerative changes had no subjective or clinical repercussions, at least until now. From a neurological point of view all patients remained stable postoperatively and no patients had late deterioration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Neurological outcome after surgery for thoracolumbar fractures. A retrospective study of 93 consecutive cases, treated with dorsal instrumentation.

Surgical reconstruction and fusion form the treatment of choice for unstable thoracolumbar fractures. It remains difficult, however, to prove that surgical treatment provides an increased potential for neurological recovery. Also, the role of a decompressive laminectomy is still unclear. To address these issues, 93 consecutive cases of thoracolumbar fractures treated with dorsal instrumentation were reviewed. The neurological status at the time of admission and at a mean of 26 months postinjury was graded according to a modified Frankel scale. By using preoperative radiographs and computed tomography scans, we differentiated between fracture-dislocation lesions, dislocation lesions, flexion-distraction lesions, complete and incomplete burst fractures. Spinal stenosis was classified from grade 0 (no stenosis) to grade 3 (> 66% stenosis). All thoracolumbar fractures were treated with posterior instrumentation, using Dick's fixateur interne and Steffee's VSP plates and screws. During this procedure, laminectomy was performed in 33 patients (35%). In 17 cases (52% of the laminectomies), a surgically treatable lesion (dural tear, trapped nerve root, etc.) was found, especially in patients with a combination of a neurological deficit and a dislocation lesion, a fracture-dislocation lesion or a complete burst fracture with spinal stenosis grade 2 or 3. The neurological and functional outcome was excellent: none of the patients deteriorated, 68% made a complete neurological recovery, and 61% regained their previous level of activity.

Adult↗