[Cauda equina syndrome. Diagnosis].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Guyotat.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Autologous vein grafts are commonly used conduits for coronary bypass grafts. However, as many as 20% of the grafts may occlude in the first year to a subintimal hyperplasia. Although the initiating mechanism remains unclear, it has been demonstrated that subintimal hyperplasia is dependent upon smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration from the medial to the intimal layer. The present study focused on the prevention of smooth muscle cell proliferation using a calcium antagonist. A vein bypass graft from the jugular vein on the abdominal aorta was performed in 40 rats, divided into two groups of 20. Animals in the treated group received nimodipine (15 mg/kg of body weight), and those of the control group received a placebo. Nine months after grafting, the results showed that the group receiving nimodipine presented no or only slight subintimal hyperplasia as compared with the placebo group (p less than 0.001). The data presented in this study show that nimodipine can reduce subintimal hyperplasia in rats and strongly suggest that a calcium antagonist could be employed in the prevention of venous graft disease.
An arterial bypass may be required for the management of neoplastic or cerebrovascular disease. When an arterial graft is not suitable, autologous vein grafts are the most commonly used conduits; however, as many as 20% of the vein grafts used in vascular surgery may occlude as a result of subintimal hyperplasia. Although the mechanism initiating subintimal hyperplasia remains unclear, it is known that subintimal hyperplasia is dependent upon smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration from the media to the intimal layer. The present study focused on the prevention of smooth muscle cell proliferation using a calcium antagonist. Forty rats received an autologous vein bypass graft from the jugular vein to reconstruct the abdominal aorta. They were randomly divided into two groups of 20 rats each. Animals in the treated group received a calcium antagonist (nimodipine), and those in the control group received a placebo. Nine months after grafting, the group receiving the calcium antagonist presented no or only slight sub intimal hyperplasia as compared with the placebo-treated group (P less than 0.001). These data suggest that a calcium antagonist could be used for the prevention of venous graft disease.
Seven cases of meningiomas implanted on the medial portion of the free edge of the tentorium are reported. The denomination "meningiomas of the apex of the tentorial incisura" is proposed. In 4 patients, the clinical presentation was that of an intracranial hypertension without signs of compression of the quadrigeminal plate involvement. In the other 3 patients, the initial symptoms were those of the triad of the adult chronic hydrocephalus (N.P.H.) syndrome. Angiographic evaluation provides useful informations on the arterial supply (which is mainly from the tentorial branches of the internal carotid arteries and occasionally from the middle meningeal arteries) and the relationships of the tumor with the deep venous system. C.T. and M.R.I. facilitate earlier diagnosis and better demonstration of implantation and extension of the tumor, which the selection of a surgical approach is based upon. Four patients have undergone an occipital supratentorial approach and 2 a supra-cerebellar infra-tentorial approach. The meningioma was totally removed in 5 patients, sub-totally in 1 to avoid bilateral lesions of the visual pathways and cortical areas. The 7th patient was treated by C.S.F. shunt alone. No operative mortality occurred. The follow-up is averaging 18 months: 4 patients are symptom-free, 3 exhibit minor sequelae (epilepsy: 1, visual field defects: 2, memory impairement: 2). Six patients of the series have resumed their previous activities. Discussion is focused on the difficulties of surgical removal of this particular type of tentorial meningioma, resulting from volume, implantation and relationships of the tumor with the deep veins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
In 76 of 575 children operated on for intracranial tumors during a 15 year period, symptoms had started during the first 2 years of life. Excision of the tumor was complete in 44, subtotal in 13, partial in 13, and in 6 only a biopsy was taken. Surgical mortality was 13% (10/76). 31 died later as their tumors progressed. The overall survival rate was 46% and 27 of the survivors are leading useful lives, with no signs of recurrence, 8 months to 14 years after operation. All of these had total or subtotal removal of the tumor. Only 3 required oncologic treatment. Despite radical surgery, the late neuropsychological results were good. However, 8 children who had had brain irradiation are severely handicapped. We conclude that in infancy functional recovery from a focal surgical lesion, even if extensive, is more complete than after diffuse damage to the immature central nervous system caused by irradiation. In this age group brain irradiation leads to severe handicapping in the great majority of cases. Radiotherapy should therefore be used only for highly malignant tumors, especially when surgical excision is incomplete. Radical surgery gives the best results in terms of survival and satisfactory neuropsychological state.
This paper describes both the development of and results of the use of a self-administered questionnaire designed specifically to investigate the relation between the psychologic attitudes of pregnant women toward pregnancy and an eventual subsequent premature birth. The questionnaire (entitled Pregnancy Psychologic Attitudes Test--in relation to Premature Birth [PPAT(p)]) was derived from the synthesis of interviews with women who had given birth prematurely, comprised 40 questions grouped in six dimensions, and was used in a prospective survey. All women who had an antenatal visit in their fifth to sixth month of pregnancy in one of four maternity hospitals in Lyon, France, between October 1983 and March 1985 were asked to complete this questionnaire. A quantitative PPAT(p) score (ranging from 0 to 6) was constructed in a working sample (n = 643), and its relation with a subsequent premature birth was analyzed in a study sample (n = 1,500). Application of the logistic regression model showed, after controlling for personal and medical factors, that this relation was statistically significant. The risk of premature birth increased from 1 to 1.5 when the PPAT(p) score increased one point (p less than 0.001). This study contributes to a better understanding of psychologic factors that may affect pregnant women and be associated with premature birth. This new component must be considered in the development of policies for preventing premature birth.
The paper reports on the role of consultation-liaison psychiatry in a pain clinic, where posttraumatic disorders are prevalent. An original approach to consultation is described.
Four patients were referred during the last year for treatment of an intradural metastasis. Primary sites were a bronchogenic carcinoma (one case), a prostatic carcinoma (one case) and in the two other cases the primary tumor was not found. In all cases Noot pain had lasted 1 to 5 months, despite CT examination during this painful period. Except in case n.4, diagnosis was not established until the onset of myelopathy. Surgical removal was complete in one case and subtotal in the three other cases, with complete postoperative relief of the pain in all cases and significative improvement of neurological status. The authors emphasize the importance of root pain as an early sign in these patients as well as the difficulty in establishing diagnosis. They discuss the different pathogenic mechanisms and the methods of treatment.
The DSM-III multiaxial classification was used to evaluate the one-year clinical activity of a psychiatry and medical psychology department in a general hospital. Compared to the general population, the patients (n = 1,071) corresponded to a sample of professionally active subjects in which top and middle executives as well as students were over=represented. Fifty-one per cent of the patients suffered from anxiety or affective disorders, while 9 per cent presented somatoform disorders. Histrionic and dependent personalities were more frequent in women. Thirty six per cent of the subjects had a concurrent physical illness. Psychosocial stress and altered adaptation were higher in unemployed people and in patients with physical illness. Specific diagnostic and socioprofessional patterns corresponded to the various types of mental care: psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy, behaviour therapy, psychopharmacological treatments, consultation-liaison, pain consultation.
Seventy-six children were studied who had been operated on for intracranial tumors; they ranged in age from 0 to 2 years. Twenty-nine cases were under 1 year and 47 between 1 and 2 years of age. The outlook was relatively poor regarding the highly malignant tumors, but surprisingly encouraging in benign and low-grade malignant neoplasms. The undesirable effects of complementary oncological treatment in this age category are stressed. On the other hand the importance of radical surgery is emphasized as the best treatment for these lesions.
The authors report the case of a patient having suffered a section of the oculomotor nerve during the excision of a tumor located in the tentorium incisura. The nerve was immediately sutured (end to end anastomosis). After 18 months, a partial recovery of the function of the nerve was seen clinically and on EMG. Ptosis had disappeared and adduction of the eye reappeared. An analysis of available data on the suture of oculomotor nerves is then given: reparation of the third nerve in animals and man give variable and partial results. Partial recovery and aberrant regeneration are explained by the fact that this nerve innervates many muscles and by the absence of ultrastructural systematisation. On the contrary, some still rare studies have indicated that the suture of the fourth and sixth cranial nerves give better results probably because these nerves have a simple ultrastructural organization, are purely motor and innervate only one ocular muscle.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
10 patients in whom an early post operative alteration of the level of consciousness or of the neurological status could be related to a tension pneumocephalus are reviewed. Four underwent a surgical procedure in the sitting position. Among these, 2 had been previously shunted for hydrocephalus. A 5th patient underwent a IIId ventriculocisternostomy for tumorous occlusion of the aqueduct. The other five patients were involved with supra-tentorial conditions (hemispheric glioma: 1 case, meningioma: 1 case, chronic subdural hematoma: 3 cases). The post-operative deterioration clinically suggested a post operative hematoma. CT showed a very low density effusion either located in the operative area or in the subdural space or both, with significant mass effect. 9 patients steadily improved after conservative therapy. In 1 case, reoperation was required. Pathogenesis of symptomatic pneumocephalus remains controversial. The role of the sitting position and of CSF drainage seem likely. Spontaneous or nitrous oxide induced expansion of post-operative residual intra cranial air plays a debatable role. It is postulated that tension pneumocephalus may result from a discrepancy between spontaneous reexpansion of the cerebral mass and a residual air collection. Such complications are regarded as serious enough to justify several preventive measures.
The authors report their experience with the C.D. material for the atlantoaxial displacement. Four cases are presented. The characteristics and advantages of this material are discussed, and compared with the other methods of fixation specially the Knodt-Chirossel.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.