Biomedical subjects

H R Machado

Publications and source records attributed to H R Machado.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1988

Surgical treatment of multiple intracranial aneurysms.

A retrospective study was conducted on 42 patients with multiple aneurysms surgically treated from 1975 to 1986. Thirty one of them had 2 aneurysms 6 had 3, 3 had 4 and 2 had 5 (62 in the internal carotid, 27 in the middle cerebral artery, 11 in the anterior cerebral and 3 in the basilar artery). All patients had subarachnoid hemorrhage and were classified as follows upon admission: 11, grade I; 12, grade II; 15, grade III, and 4, grade IV, and most of them improved before surgery (29, grade I, 7, grade II, and 6, grade III). In most cases, surgery was delayed and the 42 patients needed 57 craniotomies for clipping the aneurysms. Of the 24 patients with bilateral aneurysms, 15 were operated on both sides (11 are asymptomatic, 1 has hemiparesis, and 3 died later). Of the 9 patients submitted to unilateral craniotomy, 4 died and 5 are alive and well. Of the 18 patients with unilateral aneurysms, 11 are asymptomatic, 2 have hemiparesis, 1 has diplegia and behavioral disorders, and 4 died. Overall mortality was 26.1%, intraoperative mortality was 11.9%, and no mortality occurred among the patients operated over the last 5 years. The management of these patients is discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Cerebromeningeal hemorrhage. Analysis of autopsies performed over a 10-year period.

A study was conducted on the medical records of 353 patients who died of a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and who were submitted to autopsy over the last 10 years. SAH was associated with arterial hypertension in 180 (51%) cases, with ruptured aneurysms in 102 (28.9%), and with other pathologies in 71 (20.1%). The patients with hemorrhage associated with arterial hypertension were mostly males, and those with hemorrhage due to aneurysms were mostly females. Of the patients with aneurysms, 36 (35.3%) had aneurysms in the anterior communicating artery, 30 (29.4%) in the internal carotid artery, and 23 (22.6%) in the middle cerebral artery. Among the patients with aneurysms who suffered rebleeding and vasospasm, 59.1% and 61.5%, respectively, were classified as grade I and II upon admission, and all evolved toward grade IV after these complications. Vasospasm predominated from the 3rd to the 10th day after hemorrhage, and rebleeding from the 9 to 16th day and both were most frequent among patients with aneurysms of the anterior communicant artery. Sixty eight percent of the patients with aneurysms died during the first 9 days after hemorrhage. Because of our conduct was to operate systematically late, a considerable number of patients lost the opportunity to be treated surgically with possible favorable evolution due to vasospasm or rebleeding.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1986

[Multiple non-neoplastic lesions in computerized cranial tomography].

Multiple intracranial lesions observed in the computerized tomography ever cause worry due to the possibility of neoplastic etiology, although granulomatous diseases (parasitic or not) and vascular diseases can produce this type of lesions. Five patients with clinical picture that suggested expansive intracranial masses and that had multiple lesions in the computerized tomography that suggested neoplastic diseases are presented. In all patients the clinical evolution and/or other complementary diagnostic tests showed the non neoplastic etiology of the lesions. In three patients the lesions were due to parasitic diseases (intracranial tuberculomas in one case and neurocysticercosis in two cases) and in the other two cases the lesions were due to vascular disturbs (cerebral infarcts). The knowledge of the several diseases that can cause multiple intracranial lesions as seen in the computerized tomography allows to direct the etiologic diagnostic that is essential to introduce the correct treatment avoiding irradiation of non neoplastic lesions and unnecessary surgical procedures. In our country, granulomatous parasitic diseases, mainly neurocysticercosis, tuberculosis and fungal diseases must be considered in the differential diagnosis of multiple intracranial lesions observed in the computerized tomography, together with cerebral infarcts and neoplasms.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1986

Results of surgical treatment of neurocysticercosis in 69 cases.

The clinical course of 69 patients with neurocysticercosis who underwent surgery to control increased intracranial pressure (ICP) or cyst removal is analyzed. Increased ICP was caused by hydrocephalus in 63 patients, by cerebral edema in four, and by giant cysts in two. Skull x-ray films showed calcifications in 14% and signs of elevated ICP in 46%. Examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) revealed pleocytosis with eosinophils in 52% of cases and a positive complement fixation test for cysticercosis in 66%. Ventriculography allowed localization of the CSF obstruction and ventricular cysts, and generally differentiated between an obstruction due to cysts and an inflammatory process. Computerized tomography showed cysts in the cerebral parenchyma and ventricular dilatation. Ventricular cysts were best seen when intraventricular metrizamide was used. Intracranial shunting and posterior fossa exploration were less effective in the treatment of hydrocephalus than was ventriculoatrial (VA) or ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting, although VA or VP shunting was associated with a high percentage of complications. Quality of survival was good in 87% of the cases in the first 3 postoperative months and in 93% of patients who survived 2 years after surgery. Forty-seven patients (68%) were readmitted one or more times for CSF shunt revision; 14 of them for shunt infection (meningitis). The early operative mortality rate was 1.8% for patients with VA or VP shunt placement and 5.3% for those with posterior fossa exploration. The authors conclude that placement of CSF shunts is indicated in the treatment of hydrocephalus, and cyst removal is indicated only when the cyst exhibits tumor-like behavior. Surgical exploration is also indicated when the diagnosis is uncertain.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1986

[Peroperative echography in pediatric neurosurgery. Experience in a series of 40 procedures].

Forty neurosurgical operations (supra-tentorial: 27; infra-tentorial: 10; intra-spinal: 3) have been performed under real time ultrasonography control. The supra-tentorial anatomical Landmarks visualized on the screen were the base of the skull, the cranial vault, the falx cerebri and the ventricles. The infra-tentorial landmarks were the petrous bone, the tentorium and the brainstem. The dura-mater, the subarachnoid space and the medulla were easily detected in the spinal canal after laminectomy. Intra operative real time ultra sonography performed on the dura-mater or on the cortex allows the detection of pathological structures. Tumors, whatever their location, are hyperechogenic; cysts, on the contrary, are hypoechogenic. Tumors are therefore precisely delimited by intra operative ultrasonography; thus the amount of normal nervous tissue which must be removed to reach a subcortical or intra medullary tumor can be reduced to a minimum. Moreover, the use of intra operative ultra sonography gives control ever the completeness of tumor removal as it shows any residual tumor intra operatively. Echography also facilitates other operations such as placement of a ventricular catheter, tapping of an abscess or biopsy of a tumor. Large arterial vessels or arterio-venous malformations are easily located because their pulsations are visible on the screen. For all these reasons, real time ultrasonography should always be available in the operating theater. In this series, it has provided essential information in 15 cases out of 40.

Brain Abscess↗

PubMed1985

Ultrasonographic evaluation of infantile hydrocephalus before and after shunting. A study in 20 children.

The authors present the results of a prospective study of 20 children with congenital or acquired hydrocephalus of nontumoral etiology and submitted to ventriculo- (or cyst-) peritoneal shunting with valve. The diagnosis was established by B-mode or real-time brain sonography, in association with another neuroradiological procedure (computed tomography, ventriculography with air or Dimer-X, cerebral angiography). Among the proposed measurements (cortical thickness, lateral ventricle height, III ventricle width and ventricular ratio) for pre- and postoperative comparison, the cortical thickness and the lateral ventricle height were the ones that changed significantly when analyzed by sonography. The routine use of brain sonography allowed the visualization of the ventricular catheter position and the diagnosis of complications, such as subdural collection, progressive enlargement of cysts, isolated IV ventricle, etc, even before symptoms arise. The authors conclude that sonography is easily performed, inexpensive and innocuous, and should be used routinely during the follow-up of children with hydrocephalus.

Cerebral Cortex↗

PubMed1984

[Computerized tomography in patients with neurocysticercosis with intracranial hypertension due to obstructive hydrocephalus: comparison with Dimer-X ventriculography].

The authors reviewed the alterations observed on computerized tomography (CT) examinations of 16 patients with increased intracranial pressure and obstructive hydrocephalus due to cerebral cysticercosis. Plain radiograms of the skull were available in all cases and Dimer-X ventriculography in 12 cases. In 7 cases there were radiologic signs of increased intracranial pressure. CT scan showed normal cerebral parenchyma in 9 cases and low density areas, with various size, with or without surround contrast enhancement, and/or small calcifications in the parenchyma. Hydrocephalus was the only alteration observed in the ventricular system in the case that the examination was done before ventricular drainage. Ventriculography was analyzed in other paper and permitted to situate the obstruction, determine its morphological characteristics and identify occuping space lesions within the ventricles. Comparison between ventriculography and CT scan made in the same period evidence that the former gives best information about the ventricular system and that tomography gives additional information about the cerebral parenchyma. In conclusion, CT scan and ventriculography are investigations that complete each the other for evaluation and diagnosis of cerebral cysticercosis.

Brain Diseases↗

PubMed1984

[Tumor form of neurocysticercosis: surgical removal of a cysticercus measuring 70X77 mm and treatment with praziquantel].

The authors report a case of a female patient, age 22, who presented episodes of focal seizures, right hemiparesis and dysphasia of five months duration. The neurologic exam revealed bilateral papilledema and computarized tomography of the head showed a cystic lesion (70X77 mm) in the left fronto-temporo-parietal area, midline shift and similar lesions scattered in the brain parenchyma. She was submitted to a left craniotomy with the diagnosis of cerebral cysticercosis and the major cyst (Cysticercus racemosus) and a small cortical cyst (10X10 mm) were removed to aliviate the increased intracraneal pressure and for histopathological examination. Thirteen days after surgery she was discharged without neurological deficits, except mild papilledema. One month later she was treated with praziquantel (50 mg/kg/day) during 21 days. The CSF examination was normal before the treatment started and showed a transient eosinophilic cellular reaction with positivation of the complement fixation test for cysticercosis while on treatment. The CT-Scan performed before the medical treatment revealed ventricular dilatation and several low density areas (10 to 40 mm) scattered in the cerebral parenchyma, including the operative site. CT-Scan performed three months later showed small low density areas only in the left cerebral hemisphere, including the operative site, calcification in the parenchyma, and slight dilatation of the left lateral ventricle. The clinical evolution was uneventful and the neurologic examination was normal three months later.

Adult↗

PubMed1982

[Cerebral ultrasonography in children during the 1st year of life. A method for diagnosis and follow-up of ventricular dilatation].

The ultrasonography (Mode B--Real Time) experience was analyzed to evaluate neurological diseases in children during their first year of life. Forty-two examination were accomplished in twenty-eight children with the following diagnosis: hydrocephalus (22), normal (15), subdural hygroma (3), intracranial cyst and hydrocephalus (1), giant encephalocele (1). The technique consists of positioning the transducer in the coronal, sagital and axial direction and selecting dynamically the images to be photographed. In the coronal position, the height of the lateral ventricle and the width of the third ventricule were obtained. In the axial position, the ventricular ratio-lateral ventricle width cerebral hemisphere width was obtained. Although it was a small group of patients, those indexes can objectify the ventricular size variation in children with well or poor functioning shunts. The importance of this method was the possibility to follow the development of hydrocephalus in cases of myelomeningocele and to analyze the etiology and features of hydrocephalus with or without shunts. In conclusion, this test is very usefull, mainly because it is very brief (about 20 minutes), the patient does not need sedation, it is innocuous, very precise even when compared with computerized tomography and for its low cost.

Brain Diseases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

MIB-1 labeling index in astrocytic tumors--a clinicopathologic study.

BACKGROUND: Although neuroimage and surgical techniques have improved substantially, the prognosis of patients with astrocytic tumors remains unchanged. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the proliferative activity in astrocytic tumors in different grades of malignancy and correlate it to other clinical features. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From archival paraffin-embedded surgical specimens of 40 patients of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School with World Health Organization grade II (n = 10), grade III (n = 5) and grade IV astrocytomas (n = 25), the MIB-1 labeling index (LI) was determined using at least a half of the blocks per case. The results were correlated to the biological behavior of the tumors. The aims of this study were to determine the level of MIB-1 LI values (cut-off) that reflect differences in biological behavior of these tumors, the impact on survival of clinical features such as age, tumor location or extension of surgical removal as well as the adjuvant therapy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: As expected, a wide range of MIB-1 LI values was disclosed (mean of 2.35% in grade II astrocytomas to 12.28% in glioblastomas). A close relationship was found between MIB-1 LI and survival of patients with astrocytomas according to the histological grade. All but 1 recurrent tumor presented higher MIB-1 LI in the second biopsy, and the mean MIB-1 LI of the patients who died in the immediate postoperative period (n = 7) was higher in comparison to the MIB-1 LI of the respective grade. Postoperative radiation therapy was an important factor that affected the survival of patients with high-grade astrocytomas (p = 0.006). MIB-1 LI cut-off of 3% divided the astrocytomas in 2 groups with significantly different survival (p < 0.001): median survival time of 12 months (low-grade) versus 45 months (high-grade). On the other hand, univariate analysis did not show any correlation between survival and extension of surgical resection (radical versus partial), tumor's location or patient's age at surgery.

Adolescent↗