J. Gilsbach

Microsurgery of deep-seated cavernous angiomas: Report of 26 cases

SummaryThe authors review 26 patients with deep-seated cavernous angiomas which were removed by microsurgery. Ten of the angiomas were located in the insula and basal ganglia, 2 in the thalamus, 5 in the midbrain, 8 in the pons, and 1 in the brachium pontis. The patients were among 73 consecutive cases operated on between August 1983 and December 1989 for symptomatic cavernous angiomas in various locations.In 11 cases total excision of the cavernoma was achieved without producing additional neurological deficits. Postoperative neurological recovery was delayed in 7 patients. In the remaining 8, the complicated postoperative course was caused by bleeding from residual parts of the malformation or damage to long-tract pathways in two cases, respectively, vascular injury during dissection in three cases, and paradoxical air embolism in one case. In order to achieve a satisfactory surgical result, it is stressed that particular attention has to be paid to the operative approach, to careful dissection and complete removal of the malformation, to perforating arteries, and to anomalous venous drainage.

Morbidity and mortality after early aneurysm surgery--a prospective study with nimodipine prevention.

SummaryBased on the outcome in 116 consecutive patients who were subjected to early aneurysm operation combined with additional nimodipine treatment, and who were controlled by transcranial Doppler (TCD) sonography, a morbidity and mortality analysis was performed. Of the 84 patients who preoperatively were in Hunt & Hess grades III, 79 patients (94%) were considered to show a favourable (good-fair) late recovery, while one patient (1%) had a poor outcome, and four patients (5%) died. Of the 32 poor condition patients (H & H IV–V), 17 (53%) showed a favourable recovery, while seven (22%) had a poor outcome, and eight patients (25%) died. Altogether, 20 patients (17%) had an unfavourable (poor-dead) outcome. Only two of these patients showed delayed ischaemic deterioration, one as a consequence of a secondary occlusion of perforating branches from the basilar artery and one with decompensated vasospasm after the evacuation of an epidural haematoma and a longlasting severe systemic hypotension; both these patients died. In another six of the patients with an unfavourable outcome, this was mainly related to a complicated surgery. The unfavourable outcome was related to primary brain damage produced by the subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) in ten patients and in two patients to internal medical complications. In addition to the two patients who died following delayed deterioration, secondary neurological dysfunction occurred in 11 patients. In 10 of these patients transient neurological dysfunction was attributed to vasospasm or to a combination of vasospasm with intraoperative or postoperative complications. One further case of delayed deterioration was attributed to secondary occlusion of the internal carotid artery after a complicated operation. From these data we conclude that following early aneurysm operation combined with intravenous nimodipine treatment, vasospasm alone is no more a major clinical problem. Morbidity and mortality are mainly related to primary effects of the SAH and/or complicated surgery.

Early aneurysm surgery: a 7 year clinical practice report

SummaryOne hundred and fifty patients with intracranial aneurysms, operated on consecutively in the early stage in our department, were re-evaluated retrospectively. Seven surgeons operated on 159 aneurysms in 150 patients. Seventy-nine percent of the patients were in grades I–III (scale of Hunt and Hess), 21% in grades IV–V. Seventyone percent had a severe haemorrhage (classification of Fisheret al.), 21% had an intracerebral haematoma.Intraoperative CSF drainage was an almost indispensable tool while postoperative external drainage did not prove to be helpful in preventing vasospasm and/or hydrocephalus. Induced hypotension was abandoned in favour of temporary clipping.Thirteen percent of the patients suffered a permanent or fatal immediate postoperative deterioration, while 11% developed delayed neurological deficits. Five percent were related to vasospasms alone, they were all transient. Five percent had vasospasm combined with other complications. One of them had permanent and the other one fatal deficits. One percent deteriorated due to embolism or occluded vessels.The results improved with the introduction of the calcium channel blocker nimodipine, induced hypertension and transcranial Doppler sonographic control of the vasospasm. Patients in good preoperative condition had a good early outcome in 69%. The result was fair in 21% and poor in 4%, while 6% of the patients died. In the poor condition group 22% of the patients made a good, 13% a fair, and 59% a poor recovery, 16% of whom died.We conclude that today the results of early surgery are becoming similar to those of delayed surgery and that the importance of vasospasm for an unfavourable outcome is insignificant in comparison with lesions produced by the haemorrhage and operation.

Incidence of wound infection in patients undergoing craniotomy: Influence of type of shaving

SummaryHow the method of shaving affects the incidence of deep postoperative wound infections was examined in 475 patients. It is shown that the rate of infection is not lower after wet shaving than after dry shaving. The overall infection rate was 4.2%, 2.9% in patients who had been shaved wet versus 5.5% in patients shaved dry. The difference is, however, not significant on the 5% level. With respect to dry shaving, the infection rate was not affected by whether the hair was removed with electric clippers alone (2.8%) or whether a disposable razor was also used for additional hair removal in the area of skin incision (3.2%).

Intraoperative doppler and real time sonography in neurosurgery

SummaryUltrasound Doppler sonography with miniaturized probes and high resolution offers new possibilities of intraoperative control of neurovascular procedures. Patency, flow direction stenoses and changes in resistance can be investigated atraumatically, repeatedly and without additional preparation.In bypass and aneurysm surgery, about 10% of the cases were shown by Doppler examinations to be unsatisfactory, with stenoses and occlusions. These could be immediately corrected without loss of time. In normal cases, the information on the local haemodynamics enlarges the knowledge as to the effects of the operation and make it safer.Real time ultrasonography, which can be easily adapted to neurosurgery, is a new atraumatic tool for localizing, in two dimensions, subcortical intrinsic processes, haematomas, ventricles ect. It is useful for guided biopsies and punctures and for the centering of the dura and brain incision over the middle of the lesion, especially in microsurgical procedures.

Dural AV malformation of the lateral and sigmoid sinuses as possible cause of trigeminal neuralgia

SummaryThe case of a patient suffering from dural AV malformation in the area of the sigmoid sinus, who had been treated by vascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve ten months previously, is described.Rare examples of AV malformations of the dura are often found in the area of the lateral and sigmoid sinuses. They cause tinnitus synchronous with the pulse, which can be made to disappear by compression of the feeders from the external carotid arteries, as well as headaches, chemosis, and seizures3–5, 7–9, 12–14, 16–20. Trigeminal neuralgia in connection with this malformation has not been described.

Large colloid cyst in lateral ventricle simulating brain tumour. Case report.

SummaryThis case report describes a patient presenting with symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, whose computerized tomographic (CT) scan was highly suggestive of a large low-grade glioma invading the basal ganglia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a well-demarcated space-occupying mass of increased intensity in the left lateral ventricle and adjacent white matter. Following stereotactic biopsy, which yielded a homogeneous jelly-like material, the mass was removed microsurgically and was found to be most like a colloid cyst on histological examination. Discussion focusses on the clinical and differential diagnostic implications of this very unusual combination of findings.

Pituitary adenoma and meningioma in the same patient

SummaryThree patients are presented in whom both pituitary adenoma and meningioma were found. The pituitary tumour was a prolactinoma in one case and non-secreting adenoma in the other two. In one case the meningioma originated from the planum sphenoidale and was seperate from the pituitary adenoma. Another patient had a parasellar meningioma, which was suspected preoperatively by different enhancement on the CT scan. In the third case, both tumours were mainly infradiaphragmatic and could not be differentiated preoperatively or intraoperatively. This appears to be the first case with both tumours below the diaphragm. The clinical, radiological and histopathological findings are presented.

Transoral operations for craniospinal malformations

SummaryThe transoral approach to the lower third of the clivus and to the ventral aspect of the upper cervical spine is used in craniospinal malformations with or without dislocation as well as in basilar aneurysms, ventrally situated cranio-spinal tumours, fractures of the odontoid process, and in rheumatoid arthritis compressing the spinal cord.In consideration of the literature and ten personal cases the indications and techniques of the transoral approach in craniospinal malformations are discussed.According to our own experiences and those of other authors it is possible to expose the lower clivus and the cervical spine down to C2 by a midline incision of the pharyngeal wall using a mouth retractor and oral intubation. Splitting of the soft palate or resection of the hard palate are not necessary, a tracheotomy should be performed only in exceptional cases. In congenital craniospinal malformations without dislocation or instability causing a ventral compression of the spinal cord, for instance by the odontoid process, the transoral decompression is preferable to dorsal decompressing operations.In cases of pure instability without any space-occupying lesion the transoral and posterior approach are possible in order to perform a fusion. The last one seems more advantageous in these cases.In craniospinal malformations with dislocation causing a ventral and dorsal narrowing of the spinal canal, apart from the decompression a stabilization has to be achieved. In these usually complex malformations individual treatment is necessary.According to the rare cases in the literature and to our own experience a primary anterior decompression, followed by a most careful posterior stabilization seems to produce the most favourable results.

Possibilities and limits of the midline interhemispheric approach.

Based on experience in 17 children operated upon between 1978 and 1984, the possibilities and limitations of the interhemispheric parafalx approach to lesions of the anterior and posterior lateral ventricles and the third ventricle are described. The interhemispheric approach seems more advantageous than transcortical approaches since additional cortical and white matter lesions can be avoided. The limitations of visibility are the same as in transcortical approaches.