Effect on management mortality of a deliberate policy of early operation on supratentorial aneurysms

Of 736 patients with intracranial aneurysms seen at the University of Alberta from 1968 to 1985, 437 were admitted on the day of or the day after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) from a supratentorial aneurysm. Of these, 205 were managed from 1968 through 1977 and 232 were managed from 1978 through early 1985 after a policy of early aneurysm operation had been implemented. Postoperative and management mortality and morbidity rates were related to the grade of the patient at the time of admission and the time interval before operation. Overall management mortality (and postoperative mortality) rates for patients treated before 1978 were 47% (19%) for all grades, 17% (12%) for Grades 1 and 2, 51% (25%) for Grades 3 and 4, and 100% (100%) for Grade 5. Since 1978, mortality has been reduced to 38% (11%) for all grades, 10% (5%) for Grades 1 and 2, 39% (17%) for Grades 3 and 4, and 96% (60%) for Grade 5. Management mortality for patients operated on Day 0 to 3 was lower than for those operated later after SAH both before and after 1978. Postoperative mortality was lowered in all patients operated from 1978 to 1985 regardless of the interval from SAH to operation, and management mortality was reduced overall, as well as for patients operated on day 0 to 3, in those treated from 1978 to 1985. The authors conclude that a policy of early aneurysm operation has contributed to a reduction of both postoperative and management mortality.     

The association of post-stroke neurological improvement with risk of subsequent deterioration due to stroke events

We sought to simultaneously confirm that substantial recovery at day 1 and day 7 after acute ischaemic stroke onset is associated with subsequent neurological deterioration in patients of the Acute Stroke Therapy by Inhibition of Neutrophils randomized clinical trial. Substantial recovery was assessed by improvement in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Score (NIHSS). Neurological deterioration was defined as any stroke event or NIHSS worsening from recovery assessment to day 90. After adjusting for age, t-PA and day 1 NIHSS, there was a non-significant tendency of substantial (pre-specified as 75%) recovery at day 1 to be associated with later deterioration [odds ratio (OR) 2.47; 95% CI, 0.95–6.50]. The corresponding OR for substantial (pre-defined as 65%) recovery at day 7 was 1.84 (0.85–3.96). Other thresholds for recovery were significantly associated with later deterioration: >50%, 80%, 90% and 100% for day 1 and >50%, 60%, 70%, 90% and 100% for day 7. The effect of recovery at day 1 was more important than that of later recovery. This study confirms the association between recovery and subsequent neurological deterioration and is the first to indicate the greater importance of acute recovery at day 1 in comparison with later recovery.     

A dosage study of the effect of the 21-aminosteroid U74006F on chronic cerebral vasospasm in a primate model

The efficacy of the 21-aminosteroid U74006F was investigated using different dosages in a restricted, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Forty cynomolgous monkeys were divided into five groups of eight. There were two groups given treatment with placebos, one being saline and the other the vehicle in which U74006F was delivered. There were three U74006F treatment dosage groups: 0.3, 1.0, and 3.0 mg/kg. Each monkey underwent baseline cerebral angiography followed by right-sided craniectomy and subarachnoid placement of a clot around the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Treatment was administered intravenously every 8 hours for 6 days. Seven days after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage, angiography was repeated, and the animals were killed. In both saline or vehicle placebo treatment groups, significant vasospasm (VSP) occurred on the clot side in the extradural internal carotid artery (C3), the intradural internal carotid artery, the precommunicating segment of the anterior cerebral artery (A1,) and the MCA (P less than 0.01). After U74006F treatment, significantly less VSP developed in the A1 on the clot side (0.3 mg/kg U74006F treatment group) and the MCA (all U74006F treatment groups, P less than 0.05). When the percentages of change from the baseline for the vessel diameters on the clot side were compared, VSP was attenuated in the A1 (P less than 0.05) and MCA (P less than 0.001) of all U74006F treatment groups as compared with the placebo treatment groups. Only 0.3 mg/kg of U74006F significantly prevented VSP in C3 (P less than 0.01). Although the 0.3 mg/kg dosage appeared to have the most favorable effect, no significant differences were observed among the three dosage groups. Electron microscopy of the MCA on the clot side in the animals treated with U74006F still showed luminal convolutions and morphological changes in the endothelial cells. These changes appeared less prominent in those MCAs with milder VSP. If these results in primates are applicable to humans, U74006F would be useful in reducing VSP after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.     

Anaesthesia for appendicectomy in childhood: a survey of practice in Northern Ireland.

A postal questionnaire was sent to all members of the Northern Ireland Society of Anaesthetists to determine current practice in anaesthesia for children with acute appendicitis. Respondents were asked to describe their usual practice in such cases. They were also asked about the occurrence of complications due to the use of suxamethonium, and for their views on the use of rocuronium in such cases. Few major differences in anaesthetic technique were demonstrated. 74% of consultants and 84% of trainees always perform a rapid sequence induction for appendicectomy. However 15% of consultants do not feel that this is necessary. Only 6% of consultants and 6% of trainees would normally use rocuronium, with the majority still preferring suxamethonium. Only 28% of consultants and 20% of trainees see rocuronium as a possible alternative to suxamethonium in these cases, although others expressed increasing concern over the use of suxamethonium in children. There was wide variation in the type of intra-operative and post-operative analgesia prescribed, with less than one third of consultants and trainees using combinations of opioids, local anaesthetics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.     

Are common mutations of cystathionine β-synthase involved in the aetiology of neural tube defects?

Mildly elevated maternal plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels (hyperhomocysteinemia) have recently been observed in some neural tube defect (NTD) pregnancies. Plasma levels of Hcy are governed by both genetic and nutritional factors and the aetiology of NTDs is also known to have both genetic and nutritional components. We therefore examined the frequency of relatively common mutations in the enzyme cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), which is one of the main enzymes that controls Hcy levels, in the NTD population. Neither the severely dysfunctional G307S CBS allele nor the recently reported 68 bp insertion/I278T CBS allele was observed at increased frequency in the cases relative to controls. We therefore conclude that loss of function CBS alleles do not account for a significant proportion of NTDs in Ireland.