Multiple intracranial aneurysms: A high risk condition

Summary There is still a relative silence in the literature on what policy should be followed in treating multiple aneurysms. The main risks are: bleeding of a formerly asymptomatic aneurysm during the haemodynamic tides of the peri-operative period; aneurysm(s) can be hidden on angiograms and tend to be overlooked easier in case of an already revealed aneursym; misjudgement of the ruptured one as a silent additional aneurysm, therefore left for second stage surgery.This paper, based on a material of 330 operations for multiple aneurysms, focuses on these problems. It advocates the one stage complete repair of all lesions using both options of bilateral pterional craniotomies or the contralateral approach. But it also describes those silent aneurysms which safely could be clipped later. Hazards and disadvantages concerning the more aggressive surgery proved to be less significant than the natural history of multiple aneurysms represents.Presented at the EANS Wintermeeting on High Risk Neurosurgery, Budapest, February 20–23, 1991.     

Venous graft repair following brachial artery thrombosis in a neonate

A case of venous graft repair to recover blood flow of a newborn's upper extremity, is described. Eventhough this complication remains uncommon, we emphasize on to avoid brachial artery for vascular monitorization and to perform microsurgical revision as elective procedure if conservative therapy is unsuccessful. Accepted: 4 February 1997     

颅内动脉瘤破裂的早期综合治疗

目的:探讨颅内动脉瘤破裂早期行显微手术治疗与血管内栓塞治疗的效果。方法:250例颅内动脉瘤破裂在3 d内早期经显微手术或血管内栓塞治疗,其中115例显微手术,135例经血管内栓塞。随访3~30个月。术前术后均行TCD监测。结果:显微手术115例,院内死亡5例,半年后优78例,良27例,差3例,植物生存1例,死亡1例,总死亡率5.22%。135例血管内治疗,院内死亡5例。半年后,栓塞组优95例,良30例,差4例,死亡1例,总死亡率4.44%。结论:要重视颅内动脉瘤破裂的早期临床综合治疗,其中显微手术与血管内栓塞治疗各有所长,还不能相互取代。有些病例需二者结合效果更好。     

儿童脊髓内肿瘤81例

目的总结儿童脊髓内肿瘤的病理特点、临床表现和手术治疗效果,探讨其特点和规律。方法81例儿童髓内肿瘤均经显微手术切除和病理证实,进行回顾性分析。结果儿童髓内肿瘤以星形细胞瘤24例(29.6%)、室管膜瘤13例(16.0%)和表皮样囊肿11例(13.6%)为多见,其运动系统损害是儿童髓内肿瘤最常见首发症状,其次为疼痛、感觉障碍、括约肌功能障碍等。放疗用于高度恶性肿瘤。椎板成形术可以有效减少脊柱畸形发生率。结论运动系统损害是儿童髓内肿瘤最常见首发症状,感觉障碍较成人发生率低。积极手术切除能获得满意疗效。     

TREATMENT OF NON-HEALING ULCERS OF THE LOWER EXTREMITY WITH FREE MUSCLE FLAPS: Case reports

The surgical management of ulcers in the lower extremity is traditionally conservative, and includes debridement and split thickness skin grafting. In the most intractable cases, however, this management is often not enough. In this report of three patients with non-healing ulcers of the lower extremity successfully treated with free muscle flaps, we advocate a more active surgical approach to the treatment of such conditions. This is also appropriate in patients for whom a microsurgical approach might not be considered because of advanced age, peripheral arterio-occlusive disease, or the presence of other risk factors.     

Purine Metabolism During Microsurgical Transfer of Human Skeletal Muscle

The effect of ischaemia followed by reperfusion on energy metabolism was studied in human skeletal muscle after microsurgical free transfer. Muscle biopsy specimen from 11 patients treated by free muscle transfer for facial palsy, injury to an extremity, or scalp defect were studied. The biopsy specimens were taken during ischaemia and after one hour of reperfusion, respectively. They were analysed for ATP to uric acid and creatine phosphate by high pressure liquid chromatography. Ischaemia lasting one or two hours affected the energy metabolism of the muscle cell as evidenced by a 50% reduction in creatine phosphate; a 20% reduction in ATP and in the energy charge; a 100% increase in inosine monophosphate, and a 700% increase in hypoxanthine and xanthine. Reperfusion for one hour improved these figures somewhat, and induced the production of uric acid. Skeletal muscle can therefore tolerate ischaemia for up to two hours in the clinical situation without permanent damage to the tissues.     

Clinical outcome of reconstruction of the lateral oropharyngeal wall with an anterolateral thigh free flap

Abstract

The anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap is widely used for various reconstructions in the head and neck. However, its use in the oropharynx has not been widely evaluated, so we have reviewed our experience. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 28 patients with oropharyngeal cancer, who were treated with immediate reconstruction with an ALT free flap after excision. We recorded history, stage of tumour, course of operation, postoperative period, oncological treatment, clinical outcome, and follow-up. The mean age of the patients was 61 years (range 44–83). Ten of the patients had clinically relevant coexisting conditions. Most of the patients had T3-4 tumours and involved neck nodes. The operations included resection of the tumour, neck dissection, and reconstruction of the oropharynx with an ALT free flap. All donor sites were closed primarily. Eight patients (29%) developed early local complications that required reoperation. Ten patients (36%) had postoperative cardiopulmonary problems. Twenty-seven flaps succeeded; one was lost. There were no other complications or late problems of the donor site except one seroma. Twenty-one patients were given postoperative radiotherapy. After the mean follow-up period of 40 months (range 13–68) 20 patients (71%) were disease-free. Three patients required a permanent gastrostomy and one a permanent tracheostomy. We conclude that the ALT free flap can be used successfully for reconstruction of a lateral oropharyngeal defect with manageable postoperative morbidity.     

Cold Induced Vasospasm in Replanted Digits: A Comparison Between Different Methods of Arterial Reconstruction

Nineteen patients each of whom had had a single digit replanted were examined after replantation. The arterial reconstruction had been done with long grafts (n = 10) or short grafts or no graft (n = 9). The effect of local or whole body cooling on the replanted and uninjured opposite digits was monitored (9–46 months after the replantation), and the patients were given a questionnaire (9–95 months after replantation) designed to explore the development of their coid related symptoms in relation to time. All patients were troubled by cold intolerance, and improvement occurred in only 60% of the cases. Pathological (vasospastic) arterial reactions to cold measured as finger systolic pressure, were less common after replantation with long grafts. Perceived cold intolerance was significantly more pronounced in the group of patients (60%) who had evidence of cold induced arterial spasm in the replanted finger.