Carotid artery aneurysms: Serbian multicentric study

This multicentric Serbian study presents the treatment of 91 extracranial carotid artery aneurysms in 76 patients (13 had bilateral lesions). There were 61 (80.3%) male and 15 (19.7%) female patients, with an average age of 61.4 years. The aneurysms were caused by atherosclerosis in 73 cases (80.2%), trauma in six (6.6%), previous carotid surgery in six (6.6%), tuberculosis in one (1.1%), and fibromuscular dysplasia in five (5.5%). The majority (61 cases or 67%) of the aneurysms involved the internal carotid artery, 29 (31.9%) the common carotid artery bifurcation, and one (1.1%) the external carotid artery. Forty-five (49.4%) aneurysms were fusiform, while 46 (50.6%) were saccular. Twenty-nine (31.9%) cases were totally asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. The remainder presented with compression in 14 (15.4%) cases, stroke in 11 (12.1%) cases, transient ischemic attack in 33 (36.3%) cases, and rupture in four (4.4%) cases. In cases where the aneurysm involved the internal carotid artery, four surgical procedures were performed: aneurysmectomy with end-to-end anastomosis in 30 (33.0%) cases, aneurysmectomy with vein graft interposition in 20 (22.0%) cases, aneurysmectomy with anastomosis between external and internal carotid artery in eight (8.8%) cases, and aneurysmectomy followed by arterial ligature in three cases. One case of external carotid artery aneurysm also was treated by aneurysmectomy and ligature. Aneurysm replacement with Dacron graft was performed in 29 (31.9%) cases where common carotid artery bifurcation was involved. Two (2.2%) patients died after the operation due to a stroke. They had ruptured internal carotid artery aneurysm treated by aneurysmectomy and ligature. Including these, a total of five (5.5%) postoperative strokes occurred. In two (2.2%) cases, transient cranial nerve injuries were found. Excluding the five patients who were lost to follow-up, 69 other surviving patients were followed from 2 months to 12 years (mean 5 years and 3 months). In this period, there were no new neurological events and all reconstructed arteries were patent. Three patients died more than 5 years after the operation, due to myocardial infarction. Aneurysms of the extracranial carotid arteries are rare vascular lesions that produce a high incidence of unfavorable neurological sequelae. Because of their varied etiology, location, and extension, different vascular procedures have to be used during repair of extracranial carotid artery aneurysms. In all of these procedures, an aneurysmectomy with arterial reconstruction is necessary.     

Evolution of cortical activation during recovery from corticospinal tract infarction

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recovery from hemiparesis due to corticospinal tract infarction is well documented, but the mechanism of recovery is unknown. Functional MRI (fMRI) provides a means of identifying focal brain activity related to movement of a paretic hand. Although prior studies have suggested that supplementary motor regions in the ipsilesional and contralesional hemisphere play a role in recovery, little is known about the time course of cortical activation in these regions as recovery proceeds. METHODS: Eight patients with first-ever corticospinal tract lacunes causing hemiparesis had serial fMRIs within the first few days after stroke and at 3 to 6 months. Six healthy subjects were used as controls. Statistically significant voxels during a finger-thumb opposition task were identified with an automated image processing program. An index of ipsilateral versus contralateral activity was used to compare relative contributions of the 2 hemispheres to motor function in the acute and chronic phases after stroke. RESULTS: Controls showed expected activation in the contralateral sensorimotor cortex (SMC), premotor, and supplementary motor areas. Stroke patients differed from control patients in showing greater activation in the ipsilateral SMC, ipsilateral posterior parietal, and bilateral prefrontal regions. Compared with the nonparetic hand, the ratio of contralateral to ipsilateral SMC activity during movement of the paretic hand increased significantly over time as the paretic hand regained function. CONCLUSIONS: The evolution of activation in the SMC from early contralesional activity to late ipsilesional activity suggests that a dynamic bihemispheric reorganization of motor networks occurs during recovery from hemiparesis.     

Decision Support for Integrated Management of Local-Level Adaptation to Climate Changes:The Case of Serbia

Projected climate changes will additionally increase the already significant risk of natural hazard-re-lated disasters in Serbia and the west Balkan region as a...     

A new miniaturized system for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in adult respiratory failure

Introduction

Mortality of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome in adults is still unacceptably high. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) could represent an important treatment option, if complications were reduced by new technical developments.

Methods

Efficiency, side effects and outcome of treatment with a new miniaturized device for veno-venous extracorporeal gas transfer were analysed in 60 consecutive patients with life-threatening respiratory failure.

Results

A rapid increase of partial pressure of arterial oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO₂/FiO₂) from 64 (48 to 86) mmHg to 120 (84 to 171) mmHg and a decrease of PaCO₂ from 63 (50 to 80) mmHg to 33 (29 to 39) mmHg were observed after start of the extracorporeal support (P < 0.001). Gas exchange capacity of the device averaged 155 (116 to 182) mL/min for oxygen and 210 (164 to 251) mL/min for carbon dioxide. Ventilatory parameters were reduced to a highly protective mode, allowing a fast reduction of tidal volume from 495 (401 to 570) mL to 336 (292 to 404) mL (P < 0.001) and of peak inspiratory pressure from 36 (32 to 40) cmH₂O to 31 (28 to 35) cmH₂O (P < 0.001). Transfusion requirements averaged 0.8 (0.4 to 1.8) units of red blood cells per day. Sixty-two percent of patients were weaned from the extracorporeal system, and 45% survived to discharge.

Conclusions

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with a new miniaturized device supports gas transfer effectively, allows for highly protective ventilation and is very reliable. Modern ECMO technology extends treatment opportunities in severe lung failure.     

Analysen einiger Schwachsinnsfälle

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Der Hemmende Einfluss des Thalliums auf den Brunstzyklus der Maus

Ohne Zusammenfassung