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Biomedical subjects

B George

Publications and source records attributed to B George.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Surgical treatment of radicular sciatica].

The surgical treatment of radicular sciaticas has to be fitted to the patient's mainly functional problem. In every case but the obviously surgical sciaticas due to tumor, surgery and percutaneous techniques must be discussed with regard to the anatomical factors participating in the root compression and the patient tolerance to his pain. The surgical approach is now limited but the disc removal must be extensive. Complications are very rare, especially infectious ones. Failures account for less than 10% in case of good indications and are related to recurrence of disc herniation and to so-called fibrosis. The operative results are to a large extent related to the patient's psychological profile and his active involvement in the treatment.

Humans

Intra-operative monitoring of the facial nerve with an air inflated balloon. Technical note.

A simple, reliable and cheap device for intra-operative monitoring of the facial nerve during surgery for cerebellopontine angle tumours is presented. It consists of a single use tracheostomy tube with a low pressure air inflatable cuff placed in the mouth of the patient on the side of the tumour, connected by a pressure transducer to a monitoring unit. It records any pressure changes in the patient's mouth induced by muscular contractions as a result of excitation of the inferior parts of the facial nerve.

Equipment Failure

Jugulare foramen paragangliomas.

A survey is given of the clinical picture, diagnosis and management of foramen jugulare paragangliomas (JFP), based on reports of 175 cases from the literature and personal experience of 26 cases. Special emphasis is given to the operative techniques. Improvements of diagnostic possibilities as well as operative techniques, including the pre-operative occlusion of tumour-feeding arteries by endovascular methods have markedly reduced the operative mortality to a rate between 0 and 5 percent. The rate of incomplete removal of C and D tumours dropped to about 15%. But very large and extensive tumours remain a real challenge. Teamwork between neuroradiologists, ENT-surgeons and neurosurgeons is mandatory.

Adolescent

Arteriovenous malformations of the posterior fossa.

AVMs of the posterior fossa are reviewed on the basis of personal experience of 47 cases including 2 venous angiomas, 7 cavernous angiomas, 5 arteriovenous fistulas and 33 true arteriovenous malformations and of the few series reported in the literature. MRI is now an indispensable tool to define the exact localization of any malformation. Combined with angiography, it permits one to choose the most adequate therapeutic strategy and the best surgical approach. Radical cure is to be contemplated in most cases considering the often dramatic consequences of bleeding at the infratentorial level. Deep AVMs and moreover cavernous angiomas, even those located in highly functional structures such as the brain stem, can now be discussed for treatment. Encouraging results have already been obtained using, alone or in association, the recently advanced modalities of treatment: interventional neuroradiology, radiosurgery, and microsurgery.

Brain Neoplasms

[Intra- and extracranial nasopharyngeal fibroma. Contribution of imaging and study of local failure. Report on 34 patients].

Thirty-four patients with nasopharyngeal angiofibroma were treated between 1975 and 1990. Lesions were classed according to Sessions' classification. 17 showed intracranial extension. Treatment always associated embolization and surgical excision using a transfacial approach and, if necessary, neurosurgical techniques. A total of 13 patients (38.2%) developed recurrent lesions; these included 3 (17.6%) patients in the extracranial group and 10 (58.8%) patients in the intracranial group. Erosion of the clivus and displacement of the cavernous sinus seem to be 2 factors significantly associated with the development of recurrent lesions. Symptomatic recurrences were managed by surgery. Close clinical and radiological follow-up of patients with asymptomatic recurrent tumor made it possible to observe the stabilization, or even, the regression of the tumor. This study also underlines the importance of modern diagnostic and interventional imaging, which makes it possible to better determine tumor extension and to perform highly selective embolizations. Modern imaging also detects recurrences which once would have remained unknown because of their small size and the absence of symptoms. The techniques of embolization of the tumor branches from the internal and external carotid arteries are explained. Finally, our results are compared to those published in the literature.

Adolescent

[Multiple intracranial aneurysms. Endovascular treatment by coils].

The authors report the case of a 30 years-old man presenting with 3 intracranial aneurysms, which were treated by endovascular techniques. The aneurysm responsible for two previous subarachnoid hemorrhages was a giant supracavernous left internal carotid artery aneurysm. Endovascular therapy using coils caused intraoperative rupture which was successfully managed by balloon occlusion of the internal carotid artery. The two other aneurysms (basilar top, and right middle cerebral artery) were small and asymptomatic; complete obliteration of both aneurysms was achieved by selective coils embolization. Persistent occlusion of the three aneurysms was documented ad six months angiographic follow up.

Adult

[Value and control possibilities of the vertebral artery in tumor surgery at the base of the skull].

Following anatomical description of the third segment of the vertebral artery (from C2 to the foramen magnum), the surgical techniques which permit to expose and control this artery at this level are presented. Choice is between the posterior approach in sitting or procubitus position and the lateral approach in supine position. The former is mainly applied on intradural tumors or prolongments and the latter on extradural tumors. These techniques were utilized on more than 60 cases including for the most frequent types meningiomas, neurinomas, paragangliomas and osseous tumors and were associated with a very low morbidity and mortality.

Humans

[Cerebral blood flow in the determination of vasospasm and surgical decision].

The interest of C.B.F. studies performed on patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage is discussed on the basis of the literature and of our experience of 142 cases. C.B.F. results in basic condition are influenced by many factors which make its use very limited and especially during the first days after haemorrhage (J0-J3). However, the analysis of the evolution of C.B.F. values in the same patient and moreover the C.B.F. reactivity to acetazolamide are good indicators of the occurrence of a vasospasm; progressive drop of the C.B.F. or poor reactivity are generally observed before clinical signs of vasospasm. Our policy is therefore to decide the date of surgery according to C.B.F. values but only for patients planned for delayed surgery (after the 3rd day).

Acetazolamide

[Giant intracranial aneurysm. Elective endovascular treatment using metallic coils].

The authors present nine cases of giant aneurysm treated endovascularly by obliteration of the aneurysm lumen using platinum coils. Three aneurysms were located on the anterior circulation and six on the vertebrobasilar system. Presenting symptoms were mass effect in five cases and subarachnoid hemorrhage in four. Total occlusion of the aneurysms was achieved in four patients and partial occlusion in five. On follow-up (15 months), there was one repermeation and one neo-aneurysm. Both of these cases were retreated with placement of additional coils. All patients who presented with a mass effect had improvement of their symptoms (two after transient aggravation). Two patients died: one partially treated from hemorrhage, and the other from M.C.A. infarct after surgical clipping of the aneurysm. One technical complication included a lost coil which did not result in any angiographic or clinical change. One year follow-up angiographies show a permanent stable occlusion induced by coils. This technique should be considered as an option when treating giant non surgical aneurysm.

Adult

[Cisternal cysticercosis of the cerebellopontine angle. A surgically-treated case and review of the literature].

Most neurocysticercosis (N.C.C.) cases reported occur in undeveloped countries where contaminated food by Taenia solium gives rise to human infection. People of developed countries are exposed by migrations and travels. We report a case of a 36 years old french woman living at La Reunion. Her symptomatology consisted of left unilateral hypoacusis progressing over a two years period accompagnied by intermittent headaches. CT scan showed a hypodense mass with a ring enhancement in the left cerebello pontine angle (C.P.A.). M.R.I. showed multicystic arrangement of vesicles in a racemous fashion that spread out to peduncular and carotid cisterns. Parenchymatous or ventricular involvement was not observed. A lateral suboccipital craniectomy was carried up in the sitting position. After division of a thickened arachnoid in the C.P.A., the vesicles were dissected an pulled out easily because the membranes had not any adhesions. Progressive improvement of hearing was observed in the next week. Primary cisternal involvement of N.C.C. is rare and, in literature, there is not any other reported case in the C.P.A. Different mechanisms of invasion to the C.N.S. are discussed.

Adult

Anterior skull base tumour. The choice between cranial and facial approaches, single and combined procedure. From a series of 78 cases.

In order to define the most adequate surgical procedure to apply on anterior skull base lesions, we reviewed 78 cases of either benign (43 cases) or malignant (35 cases) tumours; they were treated either by a single surgical approach including transfacial approach (TF) in 9 cases, transbasal approach (TB) in 15 cases and fronto-orbital ridge deposition (FORD) in 16 cases or by a combined procedure: TB + TF (28 cases), TB + FORD (10 cases). In 7 cases, a pterional approach was associated to one of these combined procedures. A classification is proposed, based on the tumour extension along the anteroposterior axis: I) anterior to the crista galli; II) anterior to the anterior clinoïd process; III) posterior to the anterior clinoïd process; and along the vertical axis A: below the bone level; B: below the dura level; C: at and above the dura level. This classification appears very useful to choose among the surgical procedures which one is the more appropriate. In type A tumour (N = 8), TF is sufficient while in type B (N = 38) and C (N = 32) a cranial route is always necessary; among the latter, a combined procedure is frequently asked for posterior tumours type II (N = 29) and III (N = 24). However, others parameters such as tumour consistency, vascularization and need for en-bloc removal are also relevant in this choice.

Adolescent

MRI in spontaneous dissection of vertebral and carotid arteries. 15 cases studied at 0.5 tesla.

Fifteen patients were observed between 1987 and 1990: there were six with angiographically confirmed vertebral artery dissection, and 9 with carotid artery dissection. Results showed concordance of MRI and angiographic findings, in all cases but one. The dissected portion consistently showed a semilunar hyperintensity narrowing the residual eccentric signal void of the lumen when the artery was not completely occluded. In one angiographically occluded vessel, MR detected a small signal void within the hyperintensity, indicating that the artery was not completely occluded. The length of the dissected portion was clearly demonstrated by MR. Follow up MR and angiographic studies confirmed the regression of the dissection, and also allowed examination of the cerebral parenchyma.

Aortic Dissection

MRI in multiple vascular lesions: identification of the ruptured malformation.

4 patients were recently admitted for subarachnoid haemorrhage with multiple vascular lesions. 3 of them presented with multiple aneurysms, and one with an aneurysm associated with an arteriovenous malformation. In these 4 cases identification of the ruptured lesion was difficult in spite of clinical examination, CT scan, and complete panangiography; on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was found a signal hyperintensity, mainly on T2 weighted views, corresponding to blood clots around the ruptured aneurysm. This signal hyperintensity was completely absent in the vicinity of the associated vascular lesion, which appeared only as a signal void corresponding to the blood flow inside the unruptured lesion. Therefore MRI can be used in such cases to identify the ruptured lesion, so permitting the choice of the best approach and strategy of treatment.

Adult