Yasuto Kawakami

Coagulation and Fibrinolysis in Chronic Subdural Hematoma

In 19 patients with chronic subdural hematoma, coagulation and fibrinolysis in venous blood taken at the time of surgery and in the hematoma contents aspirated from chronic subdural hematoma were studied. Compared with coagulation results for venous blood, the hematoma contents demonstrated marked prolongation of the recalcification time, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time, and marked reduction of clotting factor V, the hepaplastin test, prothrombin, and fibrinogen. Antithrombin III was also decreased, and fibrinopeptide A was increased in the hematomas. Fibrinolytic results demonstrated that both plasminogen and alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor were decreased, and both fibrinopeptide B beta 15-42 and fibrin and fibrinogen degradation products were increased in the hematomas. These findings indicate excessive activation of the clotting system, thrombin generation, and increased fibrinolytic activity occurring in the hematomas. From these results, excessive activation of both the clotting and fibrinolytic systems is emphasized to be the possible etiological factor for the origin and development of chronic subdural hematoma.

Cisternal Drainage after Early Operation of Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysm

The authors reviewed 22 cases of intracranial aneurysm of the anterior part of the circle of Willis. All patients presented with the signs and symptoms of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and were in good neurological condition on admission. In all cases, early operation was performed to obliterate aneurysm. Subarachnoid blood clots were extensively removed and cisternal drainage was done. With topical application of povidone-iodine and intravenous administration of antibiotics, cisternal drainage continued for 14 days or more after the onset of SAH in 21 cases. Five patients developed symptomatic vasospasm, which was treated with hypervolemia and hypertension, and three received shunts later for chronic hydrocephalus. The overall result demonstrated that 21 patients were independent and had returned to their previous social lives. Therefore, it was strongly recommended that patients is good neurological condition after SAH secondary to ruptured intracranial aneurysm be treated with early operation, removal of subarachnoid clots, and long term application of cisternal drainage.

Nonsurgical treatment of posterior fossa epidural hematoma

The recommended treatment for posterior fossa epidural hematoma has been prompt surgical evacuation. We report 2 patients who were treated conservatively. Both patients were younger than 10 years of age and developed subacute symptoms and signs. Serial computed tomography demonstrated complete resolution of the hematomas and no development of hydrocephalus during nonsurgical treatment. They recovered well without any neurologic deficits. In order to evaluate an indicative factor for nonsurgical treatment in young children with posterior fossa epidural hematoma, we review both of our patients and 36 well-documented patients from the literature, all of whom were younger than 10 years of age. The results demonstrate that the development of hydrocephalus is a critical factor in clinical progression. Nonsurgical management can be applied in these circumstances until spontaneous resolution of the hematoma unless early signs of medullary compression appear acutely after head trauma or serial computed tomography demonstrates the development of hydrocephalus followed by medullary compression.

Immunohistochemical demonstration of IgG in meningioma

SummaryTwenty human meningiomas were examined for IgG and IgM by the direct immunofluorescence or immunoperoxidase methods, or both. IgG was conspicuously found in and around the blood vessels, whorls, and psammoma bodies. It was also clearly present on the cytoplasmic membranes of the tumour cells. On the other hand, IgM was seen only within the blood vessels.Significance of these findings is briefly discussed including possible humoral immune reactions in regard to whorl and psammoma body formation in meningioma.