PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R W Oberbauer

Publications and source records attributed to R W Oberbauer.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Doppler color-flow imaging: screening of a patent foramen ovale in children scheduled for neurosurgery in the sitting position.

A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is the most common cause of paradoxical air embolism during neurosurgical procedures in the posterior fossa in the sitting position in both adults and children. To detect right-to-left shunting, we performed Doppler color-flow imaging preoperatively in 30 children scheduled for neurosurgical procedures in the sitting position. A PFO was diagnosed on the basis of color alterations indicating an immediate blood shunt through a PFO. Six of 30 children (20%) had a PFO; in 4 of these children the sitting position then was avoided, and 2 children were operated on in a special supine position with minimal elevation of the head. Venous air embolism occurred in 9 of 24 (37%) children operated on in the sitting position and in none of the 6 children operated on in a nonsitting position. We conclude that Doppler color-flow mapping could be a useful noninvasive technique to screen children scheduled for neurosurgery in the sitting position for the presence of a PFO.

Adolescent↗

Cervical cord compression in hereditary multiple exostoses.

A seven year old girl, known to have hereditary multiple exostoses, developed moderate gait disorders at the age of six years. Deterioration of myelopathy initiated the clinical investigation including spinal computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These examinations demonstrated a coneshaped exostosis originating from the posterior arch of C2. The spinal canal was markedly narrowed with significant compression of the spinal cord at the C2 level. The girl underwent laminectomy of C2 with total removal of the exostosis. Postoperative deterioration of neurological symptoms correlated with a hypointense lesion on T1 weighted imaging in the cord at the same level, but no further cord compression on follow-up MRI. The spastic tetraparesis has improved considerably within 12 months thereafter.

Child↗

Arachnoid cysts in children: a European co-operative study.

The data on arachnoid cysts in children (0-15 years) operated upon between 1980 and 1988 were analysed in a retrospective, co-operative study. The results from 285 patients indicate a predominance of these lesions in boys (64%) more than girls (36%) and a mean age of 6 years at onset of symptoms. Focal EEG patterns corresponding to the cyst's location were encountered in 32%. About 40% of all cysts were located along the midline, the sylvian fissure representing the predominant location. Open surgery, i.e. total excision or marsurpialization (together 43.3%), emerged as the first-choice surgical procedure. The type of surgery switched somewhat to shunting procedures in cases of lesions in deeper locations (22.8%). Morphological results on follow-up revealed a reduction of the size of the cyst in a significant majority (61%); in 18% the cyst had disappeared completely on CT scans. There was an obvious correlation between postoperative morphological findings and clinical outcome.

Adolescent↗

Extracranial-intracranial arterial bypass after cerebral foreign body embolization: effective treatment of transient ischemic attacks.

A case of traumatic foreign body embolism into the right intracranial carotid artery with stenosis of the right middle cerebral artery in a 9-year-old boy is presented. Initial hemiparesis and a consecutive asymptomatic interval of 12 months were followed by a period of frequent transient ischemic attacks. After an extracranial-intracranial arterial bypass had been performed 18 months later, symptoms ceased without relapse. A thorough review of the literature demonstrates the rare incidence of this entity.

Brain↗

Surgical treatment of cerebrovascular occlusive disease. A follow-up study.

This prospective open study of 124 patients [80% with completed stroke (CS), 16% with TIAS, 4% with PRIND] consecutively admitted between 1976 and 1981 investigates the rates of reinfarction after surgical treatment (extra-intracranial arterial bypass, EIAB and/or carotid thrombendarterectomy, TEA). 34% of patients had unilateral carotid stenosis, 26% unilateral internal carotid artery occlusion, 17% had occlusion of one and stenosis of the contralateral internal carotid artery, 14% bilateral carotid stenosis. Combined surgical morbidity and mortality was 5% after 158 operations in 124 patients; 7 of the 8 complications occurred in patients with CS. Of the 120 survivors in the immediate postoperative period, after a mean follow-up period of 5.7 years ranging from 3-8 years, an infarct occurred in 5.8%, i.e., 1% per year; 3 of them occurred ipsilaterally, 2 contralaterally to the first infarct, two remained unknown. Among all 99 patients with CS, the reinfarction rate was 5% (1% per year); in CS patients with a minimal follow-up of 5 years, the annual reinfarction rate was 2%. Of fifty-three patients with completed stroke after EIAB with a mean follow-up of 4.6 years, 3.8% suffered reinfarction (0.8% per year). Among 26 patients with CS and unilateral carotid occlusion after a mean follow-up of 4.7 years, the reinfarction rate was 3.9% (0.8% per year). Among 46 patients with carotid occlusion with or without further stenotic or occlusive lesions, the reinfarction rate was 2.2%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Direct surgical attack on pontine and rhombencephalic lesions.

The introduction of lasers in neurosurgery in 1976 can be considered as a major contribution to gaining access to "untouchable" areas of the brain. This immaterial instrument provides for precise cutting at low penetration depth in surrounding tissues and may carbonize, and thus remove, layers not to be touched because of their highly sensitive vicinity. From a total of 794 patients experiencing the advantages of laser surgery (1976-1984), a series of 12 children with lower brainstem tumors is presented. Intraoperative instability of vital functions was absent throughout, leaving the patients without deterioration of their initial neurological condition. Given appropriate handling and adequate experience, the laser is a singularly helpful surgical tool for gaining access to areas hitherto barred to surgery.

Adolescent↗

The significance of morphological details for developmental outcome in infantile hydrocephalus.

Sixty-four infants were selected for evaluation of hydrocephalus and associated cerebral anomalies on CT scan; initial findings are compared with follow-up results after shunt therapy and correlated with psychomotor development. Analysis indicates that initial high-grade cortical thinning, the capability of the brain to recover after CSF diversion, and size and number of associated cerebral anomalies can all be considered decisive factors in estimating prognosis in infantile hydrocephalus.

Brain↗

[External ventricular drainage: a possible method of treating cerebrospinal shunt infections and ventriculitis (author's transl)].

Infectious complications of hydrocephalus shunts are serious problems. A possible method of treating such infections is by external ventricular drainage (EVD). 20 patients - 17 with infected shunts, 3 with neonatal meningitis, ventriculitis and subsequent hydrocephalus - were treated by EVD and the results are presented in this report. The advantages of the procedure are control of the intraventricular pressure to bring it within normal limits and the possibility of intraventricular antibiotic instillation to supplement systemic therapy. Furthermore, the optimal operation time for the definitive shunt can be assessed by EVD once the infection has been overcome.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts↗

Shunt metastases in posterior fossa tumors.

Permanent (CSF-drainages for treatment of hydrocephalus in posterior fossa tumors have been used in the last few years, increasingly. The rare incidence of extracranial metastases and it's higher frequency in the same period of time has been remarkable. An additional case of metastasis via ventriculoperitoneal shunt is presented. Such deleterious complications of malignant CNS-tumors should be avoided, as progressively improving results with combined radio-chemotherapy have established a more encouraging prognosis.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

[Computerized tomography in hydrocephalus of infancy (author's transl)].

Prior to invention of computerized tomography, the coincidence of hydrocephalus and brain tumors in early infancy resulted in diagnostic problems, frequently. Two cases with primarily insufficient diagnosis are reported. In spite of the necessity of deep sedation or general anesthesia at the present, computerized tomography has turned out to be highly perferable to other common methods.

Brain Neoplasms↗

[Extraneural metastasis of an oligodendroglioma in ventriculo-peritoneal shunt].

The clinical and pathological report presents a seven-week old girl suffering from signs of raised ICP. A ventriculo-atrial shunt was inserted and replaced by a ventriculo-abdominal shunt due to occlusion at 15 months of age. At 16 months, craniotomy and resection of an oligodendroglioma was performed and the shunt was preserved. The child died at 18 months due to extensive local recurrence. Autopsy revealed massive peritoneal metastases of the tumor. This is the eleventh published case of canalicular metastases of glioma.

Brain Neoplasms↗

Human pial vascular reactions to intravenous Nimodipine-infusion during EC-IC bypass surgery.

In previous experimental work, the Ca-antagonist Nimodipine had shown a predominantly cerebroarterial dilatory effect. In the present double-blind study of 16 patients, pial arterial and venous reaction was investigated during EC-IC bypass surgery, infusing 1 microgram kg-1min-1 of Nimodipine intravenously. In pial arteries with resting diameters between 25 and 70 micrometers, a significant 18% dilatation was observed. Results are considered promising for future trials in the treatment and prevention of cerebral ischemia caused by vasoconstriction or vasospasm, especially vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Adult↗