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Biomedical subjects

R H Britt

Publications and source records attributed to R H Britt.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Experimental brain abscess evolution: computed tomographic and neuropathologic correlation.

Brain abscess evolution was studied in dogs by correlating the CT appearance with the neuropathologic findings. The abscess, produced by direct inoculation, progressed from an area of cerebritis to a well encapsulated abscess over 14 days. Ring enhancement was seen in the cerebritis stage prior to capsule formation. The ring reached its maximum size at this stage and correlated best with the area of cerebritis surrounding the developing necrotic center; the rim of this ring increased in thickness, resulting in progressive diminution of the central lucent area on scans delayed up to 60 min. The diameter of the ring decreased as cerebritis receded. Once the capsule had formed, the central lucent area was similar and no longer filled in on delayed scans.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Anterior fibular strut graft in neoplastic disease of the cervical spine.

An anterior operative procedure using a strut of fibular graft material was performed either alone or in combination with a posterior stabilization in five patients with cervical spine instability secondary to neoplastic disease. Osseous tumor was present in four of the five patients (osteoblastoma, metastatic adrenal carcinoma, metastatic renal cell carcinoma, multiple myeloma) and the fifth had spine instability as a result of a posterior decompression for cervical spinal cord glioma. The anterior approach using fibula to replace diseased vertebrae and provide axial support for the neck was a valuable therapeutic modality in this group of patients, all of whom had a limited life expectancy. Cervical spine stability obtained by operative intervention led to a reduction of neck pain and maintenance of ambulation until the neoplastic condition became terminal.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1979

Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy in the treatment of metastatic breast and prostate carcinoma.

The cases of 70 consecutive patients having a transsphenoidal hypophysectomy for metastatic carcinoma of the breast or prostate are reviewed. In half of the patients with cancer of the breast an objective remission was obtained. In 30 percent of the patients with cancer of the prostate there were objective signs of tumor regression and in 75 percent there was relief of pain. The operative mortality was 1.4 percent and the morbidity of the procedure was gratifyingly small. There is some indication that hypophysectomy may be preferred to adrenalectomy in patients with hormone-responsive metastatic mammary cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Radiation-induced carotid artery disease.

Nine patients with atherosclerotic carotid artery disease associated with neck radiation were compared to 40 control patients. The data suggest that significant differences in age, incidence of coronary and peripheral vascular disease, elevated lipids and serum cholesterol, and the angiographic incidence of disseminated atherosclerosis justify the description of radiation-induced carotid disease as a clinical entity. Elevated serum cholesterol and hyperlipidemia may contribute to the development of radiation-induced vascular disease. Successful surgical reconstruction does not appear to be influenced by the prior radiotherapy, although periarterial fibrosis and increased difficulty in separating the plaques from the vascular media was encountered.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Percutaneous radio-frequency rhizotomy in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.

A percutaneous technique of selective partial trigeminal root coagulation was evaluated in the treatment of 38 patients suffering from trigeminal neuralgia, 1 patient with pain secondary to oral carcinoma and 1 patient with atypical facial pain. The pain of trigeminal neuralgia was relieved in 94.7 percent of patients. Pain was relieved in the patient with oral carcinoma, but not in the patient with atypical facial pain. There was no mortality and no permanent morbidity outside of the trigeminal nerve lesion. The procedure requires only a brief hospital stay without the time, expense and hazards of open cranial surgical procedures.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Intracellular study of synaptic events related to phase-locking responses of cat cochlear nucleus cells to low frequency tones.

In this study intracellular recording techniques were used to study the synaptic events related to phase-locking of cochlear nucleus cells to low frequency stimuli. A variable degree of phase-locking was noted even with units of the same low characteristic frequency. With low frequency phase-locking units an excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) occurred in response to each period of the frequency stimulus, but the probability of an action potential occurring decreased as the frequency of the stimulus was raised. Complex units were described which phase-locked at lower frequencies of stimulation but did not at higher frequencies where the temporal pattern of firing to tone burst stimulation changed as well. Results are discussed as they relate to the frequency following response recorded with gross electrodes in the lower auditory pathway and the relationship to frequency coding in the auditory pathway.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Large decompressive craniotomy in the treatment of acute subdural hematoma.

A series of 42 patients who had large decompressive craniotomies for acute subdural hematoma has been reviewed with regard to long term results. Postoperative mortality (within 30 days of surgery) was 36%. Delayed but related deaths accounted for an additional 19% mortality, for a total mortality of 55%. Fourteen patients (33%) were able to return home, but there was a significant morbidity in terms of intellectual impairment, hemiparesis, and dysphasia. Recommended management includes establishment of an adequate airway, intravenous administration of mannitol, and performance of an emergency computerized tomographic (CT) scan before operation. A large decompressive craniotomy is performed, with removal of the blood clot, establishment of hemostasis, patch-grafting of the dura, and removal of the bone flap to allow the edematous, swollen brain to expand away from the brain stem. The mortality and morbidity will probably always remain high because in the majority of the cases significant structural damage to the cortical and brain stem structures occurs at the time of the injury.

Adolescent↗