The authors report the results of a large series of patients which underwent surgical treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. In this retrospective study clinical findings before surgery are compared with results at the follow-up after two years; their significance as prognostic factors is investigated. Marked spasticity, prevalence of unilateral motor signs, presence of Brown-Sequard syndrome and of Lhermitte sign resulted valuable criteria in predicting outcome after surgery.

Follow-Up Studies↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The influence of the administration of pyritinol on the clinical course of traumatic coma.

(1) In a total of 100 patients with traumatic coma who were admitted to the intensive care unit of our Department of Neurosurgery we examined the effect of Encephabol after intravenous administration. (2) Compared to patients with the same clinico-neurological conditions who were, however, not treated with Encephabol, the cases treated by the preparation did not show any significant clinical improvement. Moreover, in the Encephabol group mortality rate in patients with an unfavourable prognosis sank to 35.3% (mortality rate in the comparative group: 54.2%). (3) Untoward effects on the clinico-neurological condition, cortical electrogenesis, vegetative functions and body fluid parameters were not observed after administration of the preparation.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Gastric cancer. Which resection?].

BACKGROUND: The choice of surgical technique in antral gastric cancer is still debated. Some authors support total gastrectomy in all cases. In recent years there is a trend to use total gastrectomy only if strictly necessary. Total gastrectomy allows a large lymph node excision, with better oncological results. The mortality rate and post-operative complications are quite similar today after gastric resection. Anyway, if exact histological diagnosis is possible and at least 6 cm unaffected tissue is preserved, oncological cure is possible by gastric resection. METHODS: Personal experience in 224 patients operated on from 1975 to 1994 is reported. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: 54.3% had antral gastric cancer, 16.5% body cancer and 8.7% fundus gastric cancer. Subtotal gastric resection should be the surgery of choice in antral gastric cancer. Early subtotal gastrectomy with R2, Advanced (III and IV-TNM) only resection with R2, and Advanced (II-TNM) total gastrectomy with R3.

Aged↗