PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Spanu

Publications and source records attributed to G Spanu.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

[Neurosurgical emergencies: cranio-cerebral injuries and their diagnosis and therapy (author's transl)].

The neurotraumatological case material of the Neurosurgical Clinic of the University of Pavia, from the August 1st 1972 to July 31st 1975, includes N. 122 patients, submitted to neurological surgery. All data are examined and discussed in relation to age, to the coma level, to the type of endocranial lesion and the results obtained are compared with the data of literature. The incidence of associated lesions, both endocranial and in other regions, is made standing out more clearly. The importance of an early diagnosis, by neuroradiological tests, is made cospicuous in order to get a correct surgical therapy. The survival is discussed in relation to the type of surgical act and of pathology.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[State of the art in the treatment of cerebral gliomas].

Current knowledge on the multiple aspects of intracranial glioma is presented. In particular, after illustrating the most recent epidemiological data and the latest acquisitions in the biological and biochemical fields, the present status of multidisciplinary treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, and chemo-immunotherapy) of these neoplasia is described.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Complications following anterior cervical spine surgery for disc diseases: an analysis of ten years experience.

The purpose of this study is to define, analyse and discuss the incidence and severity of the complications associated with anterior cervical spine surgery for degenerative disc diseases. The results and the management of complications of anterior spine surgery are discussed in relation to numerous previous published reports: precise knowledge of all potential accidents and pitfalls related to the surgical approaches and of their aetiology may contribute to preventing failures. The most common complication was a recurrent laryngeal nerve injury that developed in 7.9% of the cases. Dysphagia occurred in 5.6%, hoarseness in 5.2%, transient sore throat in 4.8%, worsening of pre-existing myelopathy in 3%, graft extrusion in 1.7%; root injury, haematoma, and wound infection developed in 0.87%. There was one case of oesophageal injury (0.43%) and there were no deaths related to the surgical approach. The rate of complications in our series has been reduced in the past years by 1) better patients selection: all of the patients in fact had previously received conservative treatment for at least four weeks; 2) more care in correct positioning of the patient during the operation; 3) meticolous removal of all harmful structures.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Surgical therapy of malignant gliomas.

The authors have presented the current state of surgical therapy of malignant gliomas underlining the advantages and disadvantages of traditional and stereotactic surgery, preparation for surgery, mortality, morbidity, prognostic factors, and complications. Particular attention was placed on cell kinetic studies. Of the methods used in this study we would like to recall those of flow cytometry associated with administration of BUdR and utilization of the monoclonal antibody Ki-67 associated with immunohistochemical techniques.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Postoperative scars and recurrent disk herniation: clinical, neuroradiological, and surgical findings.

Authors present 36 patients with recurrent sciatica or low-back pain after lumbar disk operation. All patients were submitted to clinical and instrumental devices. CT-scan was performed in 36 patients, 12 underwent myelography and 4 EMG. Authors verified reliability of clinical and instrumental devices on the basis of surgical results. We believe that myelo-CT is actually the first choice investigation in the neuroradiological ones. In the near future MRI will take its place in investigating spinal pathology.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Idiopathic hydrocephalic dementia in aging brain the neurosurgical approach.

On the basis of our 16 years' experience, we have treated 36 patients by extrathecal shunt for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. All patients were submitted to clinical evaluation, neuroradiological, and neuropsychological (Mini Mental Test) tests. Seventy-six per cent of patients showed a significant clinical improvement. No change was found in 24% of them, including two patients who died. In a group of 13 patients we measured the level of main neurotransmitter metabolites (MHPG, HVA, 5-HIAA) in order to evaluate the functional status of encephalic monoaminergic system. If care is taken to make a correct diagnosis and give adequate treatment with a shunt, hydrocephalic dementia has a good prognosis.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Spinal epidural hematoma without vertebral fracture or dislocation. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

Authors present 2 cases of spinal epidural hematoma without vertebral fracture or dislocation and review the literature. 169 fully described cases were found in literature and have been analyzed. Data confirm our opinion that the results of an early diagnosis is a better prognosis. The severity of preoperative neurological status is another important factor for the post-operative recovery, any way the absence of neurological function before the operation is not necessarily leading to a poor prognosis. Prognosis is usually poor when after the removal of the hematoma the dural pulsation is absent.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Supra- and subtentorial "hourglass" dermoid. Clinical case and review of the literature].

Authors report a case of 58 year-old woman suffering from a "clepsydra" shaped dermoid tumor spreading from the middle cranial fossa to the left posterior cranial fossa. The diagnostic importance of computed cysternotomography and the minor diagnostic value of other techniques such as angiography and pneumoencephalography is emphasized. The clinical picture and the surgical procedure are discussed in relation to a review of data available in the literature.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Comparison of clinical examination, electromyography, myelography, computerized tomography and surgical findings in lumbar disc hernias].

The authors report 152 cases of patients with suspected herniated lumbar disk, operated on by traditional surgical approach. Thirteen of 152 patients underwent exploratory surgery at two vertebral spaces as a result of their neuroradiological examinations. All patients were examined clinically before of instrumental devices. CT-scan was performed on 113 patients, 62 underwent myelography and 36 electromyography. The authors verified reliability of clinical and instrumental devices on the basis of surgical results. Clinical examination was reliable in 83% of cases, electromyography in 78%, myelography in 83% and CT-scan in 87%. The percentage of false positive was 11% for the clinical examination, 9% for CT-scan, 8% for myelography and 11% for electromyography. The percentage of false negative was 6% for the clinical examination, 4% for CT-scan, 9% for myelography, and 11% for electromyography. The authors conclude that the CT-scan is the most reliable method of examination. This is even truer when dealing with extreme lateral disk herniation.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Post-traumatic hydrocephalus].

Post-traumatic hydrocephalus is a complication of cranio-cerebral injuries and can manifest itself through different clinical syndromes. These include obtunding, a tetrad composed of psychomotory delay, memory loss, motility disturbances and sphincter incompetence, and unusual symptoms which comprehend emotional disturbances. Intracranial pressure monitoring, lombo-ventricular infusion test, in addition to neuroradiologic exams, are necessary in order to decide wether or not to derivate a post-traumatic hydrocephalus; neuropsychologic tests complete these investigational methods. The post-traumatic hydrocephalus bearer patient's recovery is always problematic when an important parenchimal damage exists. When a NPH (normal pressure hydrocephalus) is found the shunting operation is always indicated. However it is difficult to take a decision when the patient has a normal liquoral pressure but is too wounded to show a NPH or when he has an atypical clinical feature.

Brain Injuries↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Outcome following acute supratentorial subdural hematoma in pediatric age.

The authors report their experience in surgical treatment of 39 cases of acute subdural hematoma, followed by intensive therapy and physiokinesitherapy. The causes of head injuries, types of fractures, localization of the hematomas, concomitant lesions, diagnostic and therapeutic clinical features are discussed. The most common neurological evaluation scales for rating the state of comas are used for comparing the cases of head injury in adults (Glasgow Coma Scale) and in children (Children's Coma Scale). The Authors also report clinical follow-up, morbidity, and general mortality rate. Moreover, they emphasize the frequency and clinical importance of cases with unapparent symptomatology and demonstrate that extrinsic eye movement is a very important factor for prognostic evaluation.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Growing skull fractures of childhood. Case report and review of 132 cases.

Authors report a case of growing skull fracture, unusual complication of linear skull fracture in infancy and childhood. A review of 132 cases reported in literature is done with an analysis of general characteristics of this lesion. The most common localization is parietal (50%); clinical presentation is represented by development of seizures (54 cases), focal neurological deficit (57 cases) or loss of consciousness (50 cases). In 50% of cases interval time between head injury and first symptom varies between 1 day and 1 year. After the first year of age the 34.4% of patients develop seizures and 59% present loss of consciousness. Among patients from 1 day to 6 months of age, 46% develop seizures, 38% focal neurological deficit and 21% loss of consciousness. Asymptomatic presentation is more common in fronto-parietal or fronto-parieto-occipital localizations. In parieto-occipital and occipital localization (30 cases), 13 patients (43.3%) have seizures, 36.7% a focal neurological deficit and 60% loss of consciousness. In parieto-temporal localization there is a higher probability of seizures (62.5%) and loss of consciousness (62.5%). The long-term follow-up and the functional recovery in patients which undergo surgery is linked to the clinical presentation and early diagnosis.

Arachnoid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic hydrocephalus.

From August 1972 to December 1980, 36 patients were operated on at the Neurosurgical Clinic of the University of Pavia for post-traumatic hydrocephalus. The materials and methods for making a correct diagnosis of post-traumatic hydrocephalus and for follow-up assessment are discussed. Of our patients who were surgically treated 45% improved, 22% remained unchanged, 22% died and we have no follow-up data on the remaining 11%. Comparisons are made with data from the literature regarding the immediate and long-term results.

Adolescent↗