Sidney A. Hollin

The protective effect of hyperbaric oxygenation in experimentally produced cerebral edema and compression.

Publisher Summary Recent studies indicate that hyperbaric oxygenation may be beneficial in the management of ischemic disorders of the brain. Other reports have appeared suggesting that hyperbaric oxygenation has a protective effect in cerebral trauma. The cerebral vasoconstriction caused by hyperbaric oxygenation combination with increased available oxygen are factors which might be of value in the treatment of cerebral edema. The purpose of the present study has been to evaluate the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation on cerebral edema and compression produced by acutely and slowly expanding intracranial space-occupying lesions. In the present study, duration of treatments and atmospheric pressures used were arbitrarily chosen to avoid oxygen toxicity. It seems likely that a superior treatment schedule can be developed. Hyperbaric oxygenation appears to decrease the mortality of experimentally produced cerebral edema and compression. Mechanisms involved may be related to the dual effect of hyperbaric oxygenation in increasing available oxygen while decreasing cerebral blood flow by vasoconstriction.

Occlusion of the supraclinoid portion of the internal carotid artery

WHILE OCCLUSIONS of the most proximal portion of the internal carotid artery, at its origin in the neck, are quite common and are readily recognized, occlusions of the most distal portion are relatively rare and may not b e adequately appreciated. This is a report of 7 patients in whom angiography demonstrated complete occlusions at the supraclinoid portion of the internal carotid artery. This refers to the intradural portion of the artery and corresponds to the anatomic “cerebral” portion or the arteriographic “C 1” designation. It is of interest that all 7 patients were under the age of 40 years when studied and that, in several, conditions other than atherosclerosis were thought to be responsible for their occlusions.