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PubMed2004

Frontal sinus complications after frontal craniotomy.

OBJECTIVES: To review frontal sinus complications following frontal craniotomy and to describe management strategies. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. METHODS: Retrospective review was made of six patients who had undergone frontal craniotomy and subsequently developed frontal sinus complications. Demographic data, indication for craniotomy, type of reconstruction, average time to development of complications, presenting symptoms, diagnosis, surgical management, follow-up, and outcomes were reported. RESULTS: Complications included unilateral frontal sinus mucoceles in four patients, bilateral frontal sinus mucoceles in one patient, and bilateral frontal sinus mucopyoceles with upper-eyelid abscess in one patient. The average time to presentation of symptoms and development of complications following frontal craniotomy was 14.8 years (range, 1-39 y). Headaches were the most common presenting complaint. All patients underwent endoscopic mucocele marsupialization as part of their management. After an average follow-up period of 9 months, no recurrences were found and no complications occurred. CONCLUSION: A small number of patients develop otolaryngological complications, most commonly, frontal mucoceles, following frontal craniotomy. A high level of suspicion and long-term surveillance are needed to monitor for their occurrence. Endoscopic marsupialization may provide an effective, safe means for management.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Safety of perioperative subcutaneous heparin for prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing craniotomy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether perioperative subcutaneous heparin is safe to use for patients undergoing craniotomy and to determine the incidence of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing craniotomy. METHODS: Perioperative prophylaxis with subcutaneous heparin, 5000 U every 12 hours, was begun at induction of anesthesia for craniotomy and continued for 7 days postoperatively or until the patient was ambulating. Entry criteria to the study included patient age over 18 years and no evidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) preoperatively as judged by lower limb duplex ultrasound. Patients were excluded if they had duplex evidence of DVT or clinical evidence of pulmonary embolus (PE) preoperatively, had hypersensitivity to heparin or related products, had sustained a penetrating head injury, or refused informed consent. Any patient undergoing craniotomy was eligible, including patients with a ruptured aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation and those with spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage. Patients underwent duplex study 1 week after surgery and 1 month of clinical follow-up. Records were also kept on 68 nonstudy patients who refused consent. All patients were treated with lower limb pneumatic compression devices. RESULTS: One hundred six patients were treated. No differences were noted between study and nonstudy patients in some individual risk factors for DVT or PE, such as obesity, smoking, paralysis, infection, pregnancy or postpartum state, varicose veins, heart failure, or previous DVT or PE. Significantly more (43 of 106) patients in the study group had a history of risk factors for DVT or PE, particularly malignancy, however, compared with nonstudy patients (20 of 68 patients; chi2, P < 0.01). There were no differences between groups in intraoperative blood loss, transfusion requirements, or postoperative platelet counts. Four clinically significant hemorrhages occurred during surgery in patients receiving heparin. Three resulted from intraoperative aneurysm rupture and one from intraventricular bleeding during resection of an arteriovenous malformation. These events were believed to be related to known complications of these operations, not to heparin. Of the study patients, two developed symptomatic DVT and one developed a nonfatal PE during the 1-month postoperative period. One additional study patient developed DVT below the popliteal veins, which was not treated. Four study patients developed DVT 1 to 2 months after surgery. In nonstudy patients, three developed DVT and two developed PE (one fatal, one nonfatal). CONCLUSION: Perioperative heparin may be safe to administer to patients undergoing craniotomy, but a larger study is needed to demonstrate efficacy.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Image-guided transorbital roof craniotomy via a suprabrow approach: a surgical series of 72 patients.

OBJECTIVE: Many subfrontal and orbitofrontal craniotomy techniques have been developed. We present our results with the transorbital roof craniotomy, a frontal craniotomy that incorporates the orbital roof and is performed via a suprabrow incision. This technique was used in 72 patients, primarily for tumor resection. METHODS: Charts were retrospectively reviewed for all patients undergoing transorbital procedures. A total of 72 patients underwent 82 transorbital craniotomies from September 1995 to July 1999. The primary indication for the transorbital approach was mass lesion of the orbit, anterior fossa, or parasellar region. RESULTS: A total of 47 women and 25 men with a mean age of 53 years underwent 82 procedures. The primary pathological finding was meningioma, which occurred in 40 patients (55.6%), followed by craniopharyngioma (6.9%), pituitary macroadenoma (6.9%), schwannoma (5.5%), and hemangioma (5.5%). Simpson Grade I or II resection was achieved in 54% of patients, with Simpson Grade III to V resection achieved in the remaining 46%. Forty-one patients presented with visual loss in 43 cases, with 44.2% experiencing postoperative visual improvement, 46.5% remaining unchanged, and 9.3% worsening. Overall morbidity was 18.4%, with cerebrospinal fluid leak being the most common complication (6.6%). No patients died. CONCLUSION: The transorbital roof craniotomy is an evolutionary approach that provides excellent exposure to the orbit, anterior fossa, and parasellar region with little significant morbidity and, in our series, no mortality. Although we have used this approach primarily for resection of mass lesions, future directions for this procedure will likely lie in treating vascular lesions and lesions of the interpeduncular fossa.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A review of the efficacy and safety of opioid analgesics post-craniotomy.

--Codeine phosphate is the most commonly used analgesic post-craniotomy. --It is argued, in this paper, that codeine phosphate is an unpredictable pro-drug that does not equate to a safe and effective method of providing analgesia post-craniotomy. --Lack of evidence supporting tramadol's usage and concerns over its interactions and side effects mean its use cannot be advocated. --The traditional justification for withholding morphine in post-craniotomy pain appears to be largely based on anecdotal evidence. --Raising awareness among critical care nurses of the pharmacological properties of the analgesics used is imperative, if post-craniotomy pain is to be adequately treated. --There is an explicit challenge to the neurosurgical community to re-evaluate their pain-management strategies in the post-craniotomy patient.

Analgesics, Opioid↗

PubMed2006

Anesthetic complications of awake craniotomies for epilepsy surgery.

Awake craniotomies are often performed for resection of epileptogenic foci close to vital areas of the brain. For awake craniotomies at our institution, propofol is infused during local anesthetic injection and craniotomy, spontaneous ventilation is preserved, and no endotracheal tube or laryngeal mask airway is used. Propofol is discontinued for language, motor, and/or sensory mapping and for electrocorticography. Patients are re-sedated with propofol for resection and closure. We performed a retrospective chart review of 332 propofol-based "asleep-awake-asleep" (AAA) techniques with unsecured airways and 129 general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation craniotomies for epilepsy surgery. We compared the incidence of intraoperative respiratory and hemodynamic complications and incidence of seizures, nausea, brain swelling, patient movement, bleeding, aspiration, air embolism, and death. Airway compromise was uncommon in AAA cases and although incidences of hypertension, hypotension, and tachycardia were statistically increased in AAA versus general anesthesia craniotomy, these were treated appropriately. In only one patient the use of our AAA technique may have contributed to a poor clinical outcome.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Chronic subdural hematoma: the role for craniotomy reevaluated.

The management of chronic subdural hematoma in the adult patient is approached with a variety of different surgical techniques. The trend in recent years has been toward treatment with burr holes or twist-drill holes rather than craniotomy. The rationale for this has been based on the assumption that burr holes and twist-drill holes offer equivalent efficacy and lower morbidity and mortality. This viewpoint is not, however, universally accepted, and many surgeons feel that craniotomy is superior to a burr hole for the management of this condition. In a review of 92 patients presenting over a 3-year period with 112 chronic subdural hematomas, 49 underwent craniotomy and 43 underwent burr-hole treatment. The recurrence of hematomas, requiring another operation, occurred in 8.6%; operative mortality was 2.2% at hospital discharge and 4.4% at follow-up. No patient died as a consequence of the operative procedure. There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications, hematoma recurrence, or operative mortality among the different surgical groups. Previous reports concerning the superiority of burr holes over craniotomy are not substantiated by this review. Although the issue concerning optimal therapy has not been resolved by this review, at this time, craniotomy remains a valid and safe technique for the management of patients with chronic subdural hematoma.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Concomitant use of computer image guidance, linear or sigmoid incisions after minimal shave, and liquid wound dressing with 2-octyl cyanoacrylate for tumor craniotomy or craniectomy: analysis of 225 consecutive surgical cases with antecedent historical control at one institution.

OBJECTIVE: Recent neurosurgical literature reflects rapidly evolving, technically enhanced methods that promise to improve neurosurgical outcomes. We review our experience with computer image guidance, linear or sigmoid incisions after minimal shaving, and liquid wound dressing with 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (Dermabond; Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ) for tumor craniotomy or craniectomy in our attempt to optimize craniotomy or craniectomy for tumor. METHODS: After institutional review board approval, we retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent craniotomy or craniectomy for tumor with or without the combination of techniques specified above. A prior cohort of patients who underwent craniotomy or craniectomy with traditional techniques served as a retrospective basis of comparison. Analysis included in- and outpatient chart reviews, which included the operative notes, pathology reports, discharge summaries, outpatient office records, and intraoperative nursing records. Data were entered into a statistical spreadsheet for analysis and comparison. RESULTS: A total of 225 consecutive patients underwent a combination of less invasive techniques from July 2000 through October 2001. These patients were matched with 225 patients in a standard neurosurgical cohort that included patients who underwent operations from July 1994 through July 2000. Age, tumor type, radiation, reoperation rate, tumor location, and extent of resection were comparable for both groups. The overall wound complication rate was significantly lower in the minimally invasive group when compared with the control cohort of patients (0.9% versus 6.2%; P = 0.0298), even for early follow-up (0.9% versus 3.5%; P = 0.0427). Pedicle flap design was a variable that was significantly associated with wound complication. CONCLUSION: Modern neurosurgical techniques are beneficial for patients undergoing craniotomy or craniectomy for tumor and seem to be superior to standard techniques. Although the study is multifactorial and retrospective, this conclusion is further supported by the enhanced self-image patients have during the postoperative period.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Emergency craniotomy for intraparenchymal massive hematoma after embolization of supratentorial arteriovenous malformations.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the efficacy of emergency craniotomy for patients with massive hematoma secondary to endovascular embolization of supratentorial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and to investigate relevant factors affecting outcome. METHODS: Within the past 15 years, 605 patients with intracranial AVMs have undergone 1066 endovascular embolizations at our institution. Of these, 24 patients experienced intracranial hemorrhage during or after the procedure. Fourteen patients were demonstrated to have massive intraparenchymal hematomas and deteriorated to a comatose state (Glasgow Come Scale score < or =6). Twelve patients underwent craniotomy within 170 minutes of being diagnosed with intraparenchymal hemorrhage. The surgical procedures performed were hematoma evacuation with total (6 patients) or partial (2 patients) resection of the AVM or hematoma evacuation only (4 patients). The clinical records of these 12 patients were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Nine patients recovered to a favorable condition (good recovery, four patients; moderately disabled, five patients), one patient remained in a persistent vegetative state, and two patients died. The interval between hemorrhage and emergency craniotomy was significantly shorter in patients with favorable outcomes than in those with poor clinical outcomes. Advanced age and a larger volume of intraoperative blood loss were the factors relevant to poor outcome. Temporal lobe location of the AVM and incomplete embolization tended to correlate to poor clinical outcome, but this correlation was not statistically significant. The sizes of the AVM and the hematoma did not correlate to patient outcome. There was no difference in outcomes with regard to the surgical procedure performed. CONCLUSION: In patients with massive postembolization hematomas, emergency craniotomy should be performed as soon as possible to achieve a favorable outcome. Cooperation among interventional neuroradiologists, intensive care physicians, and neurosurgeons is essential to manage AVM patients with critical postembolization hemorrhage. There is no need to persist in performing simultaneous total resection of the AVM at the emergency craniotomy.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Awake craniotomy for microsurgical obliteration of mycotic aneurysms: technical report of three cases.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Infectious (mycotic) aneurysms that do not resolve with medical treatment require surgical obliteration, usually requiring sacrifice of the parent artery. In addition, patients with mycotic aneurysms frequently need subsequent cardiac valve repair, which often necessitates anticoagulation. Three cases of awake craniotomy for microsurgical clipping of mycotic aneurysms are presented. Awake minimally invasive craniotomy using frameless stereotactic guidance on the basis of computed tomographic angiography enables temporary occlusion of the parent artery with neurological assessment before obliteration of the aneurysm. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 56-year-old woman presented with progressively worsening mitral valve disease and a history of subacute bacterial endocarditis and subarachnoid hemorrhage 30 years previously. A cerebral angiogram revealed a 4-mm left middle cerebral artery (MCA) angular branch aneurysm, which required obliteration before mitral valve replacement. The second patient, a 64-year-old woman with a history of rheumatic fever, had an 8-mm right distal MCA aneurysm diagnosed in the setting of pulmonary abscess and worsening cardiac function as a result of mitral valve disease. The third patient, a 57-year-old man with a history of fevers, night sweats, and progressive mitral valve disease, had an enlarging left MCA angular branch aneurysm despite the administration of antibiotics. Because of their location on distal MCA branches, none of the aneurysms were amenable to preoperative test balloon occlusion. INTERVENTION: After undergoing stereotactic computed tomographic angiography with fiducial markers, the patients underwent a minimally invasive awake craniotomy with frameless stereotactic navigation. In all cases, the results of the neurological examination were unchanged during temporary parent artery occlusion and the aneurysms were successfully obliterated. CONCLUSION: Awake minimally invasive craniotomy for an infectious aneurysm located in eloquent brain enables awake testing before permanent clipping or vessel sacrifice. Combining frameless stereotactic navigation with computed tomographic angiography allowed us to perform the operation quickly through a small craniotomy with minimal exploration.

Aneurysm, Infected↗

PubMed2006

Risk factors for adult nosocomial meningitis after craniotomy: role of antibiotic prophylaxis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate incidence and risk factors of postoperative meningitis, with special emphasis on antibiotic prophylaxis, in a series of 6243 consecutive craniotomies. METHODS: Meningitis was individualized from a prospective surveillance database of surgical site infections after craniotomy. Ventriculitis related to external ventricular drainage or cerebrospinal fluid shunt were excluded. From May 1997 until March 1999, no antibiotic prophylaxis was prescribed for scheduled, clean, lasting less than 4 hours craniotomies, whereas emergency, clean-contaminated, or long-lasting craniotomies received cloxacillin or amoxicillin-clavulanate. From April 1999 until December 2003, prophylaxis was given to every craniotomy. Independent risk factors for meningitis were studied by a multivariate analysis. Efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing meningitis was studied as well as consequences on bacterial flora. RESULTS: The overall meningitis rate was 1.52%. Independent risk factors were cerebrospinal fluid leakage, concomitant incision infection, male sex, and surgical duration. Antibiotic prophylaxis reduced incision infections from 8.8% down to 4.6% (P < 0.0001) but did not prevent meningitis: 1.63% in patients without antibiotic prophylaxis and 1.50% in those who received prophylaxis. Bacteria responsible for meningitis were mainly noncutaneous in patients receiving antibiotics and cutaneous in patients without prophylaxis. In the former, microorganisms tended to be less susceptible to the prophylactic antibiotics administered. Mortality rate was higher in meningitis caused by noncutaneous bacteria as compared with those caused by cutaneous microorganisms. CONCLUSION: Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis, although clearly effective for the prevention of incision infections, does not prevent meningitis and tends to select prophylaxis resistant microorganisms.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Incidence of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing craniotomy and motor mapping for glioma without intraoperative mechanical prophylaxis to the contralateral leg.

OBJECT: Evidence-based reviews support the use of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in the form of compression devices and/or stockings for patients undergoing craniotomy. In patients undergoing craniotomy with motor mapping for glioma, the contralateral lower extremity should remain visible so that motor responses can be accurately identified. As a consequence, these patients could be placed at a higher risk to develop VTE. The authors have quantified the incidence of VTE in patients undergoing craniotomy with motor mapping and have shown that there is no increased risk of developing a VTE in the contralateral lower extremity when compression devices are not used. METHODS: One hundred eighty consecutive cases (1997-2000) of craniotomy with motor mapping for glioma were retrospectively reviewed to determine the incidence and location of VTEs during the early postoperative course. Intraoperative VTE prophylaxis in all patients consisted of ipsilateral (that is, ipsilateral to the hemisphere being mapped) lower-extremity mechanical prophylaxis (antiembolism stocking plus compression device). Postoperatively, all patients received bilateral mechanical prophylaxis. Patients were observed until discharge and received clinical follow up. Venous thromboembolism, classified as deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) occurring within 6 weeks postoperatively, was confirmed by Doppler ultrasonography, spiral computerized tomography scanning, or both. The average duration of postoperative hospitalization was 5 days (range 2-59 days). Six patients (3.3%) experienced VTE. Of those, in four (2.2%) the DVT was localized to the contralateral (three patients) or ipsilateral (one patient) lower extremity. Two other patients (1.1%) only had PE. There were no deaths from thromboembolic complications and no statistically significant predisposition to VTE in the contralateral lower extremity among patients not receiving intraoperative prophylaxis. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of VTE in patients undergoing craniotomy with motor mapping is comparable to that in patients receiving bilateral lower-extremity mechanical VTE prophylaxis. The practice of leaving the contralateral lower extremity free from intraoperative prophylaxis does not appear to place patients at a higher risk for developing VTE. There appears to be no preferential distribution of VTE in contralateral lower extremities that do not receive immediate preoperative and intraoperative mechanical prophylaxis.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Combination of bupivacaine scalp circuit infiltration with general anesthesia to control the hemodynamic response in craniotomy patients.

BACKGROUND: Sudden and overwhelming increases in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) during incision of the scalp may give rise to morbidity or mortality in patients with intracranial pathology undergoing neurosurgery. A modification of the method proposed by Labat to abate this circumstantiality was applied in a group of patients receiving craniotomy. The modified method was to combine scalp circuit infiltration of local anesthetic with general anesthesia to control the hemodynamic response to craniotomy. METHODS: Twenty-six patients scheduled to undergo craniotomy were randomly divided into two groups. Patients whose conditions or their current medication that might affect the stability of hemodynamics were excluded. In group A patients (N = 16) 25-30 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine was used for scalp circuit infiltration on the operation side, while in those of group B (N = 10) the same volume of 0.9% normal saline was used. After induction, anesthesia was maintained with 0.6% to 1.2% end-tidal isoflurane (ET-Iso) and 50% N2O in oxygen (N2O:O2 = 2 l/min:2 l/min). The end-tidal CO2 was kept within the range of 25-30 mmHg. BP and HR were recorded every five min before incision and then every two min after incision until one hour after induction. ET-Iso was also recorded every two min throughout a period of sixty min. If the BP and HR increased above 20% of the baseline (10 min before incision), thiopental 2.5 mg/kg and fentanyl 2 micrograms/kg were administered. If hypertension became sustained, the isoflurane concentration was adjusted until an acceptable level was obtained. RESULTS: The mean BP during the surgery was 92 +/- 1 mmHg in group A and 92 +/- 7 mmHg in group B. The difference in BP between incision to 6 min after incision was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The mean HR during surgery was 101 +/- 5 beats/min in group B and 91 +/- 2 beats/min in group A, the difference of which was not statistically significant. All of the patients in group B required a deepened anesthesia to keep the BP and HR within the normal range, but no patient in group A had such need. The average concentration of ET-Iso during the 60 min period was 0.95 +/- 0.12% in group B and 0.41 +/- 0.01% in group A, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that scalp circuit infiltration with 0.25% bupivacaine significantly improved the cardiovascular stability and reduced the requirement of isoflurane during craniotomy. The routine use of bupivacaine scalp circuit infiltration in patients undergoing craniotomy should be considered.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Surgical experience with frontolateral keyhole craniotomy through a superciliary skin incision.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of 173 frontolateral keyhole minicraniotomies performed on 155 patients with aneurysms of the anterior or posterior cerebral circulation and for supratentorial tumors. METHODS: The frontolateral keyhole craniotomy is a modification of the generally used pterional approach. Of the 155 patients studied, 102 harbored saccular arterial aneurysms in the vessels of the anterior or posterior cerebral circulation, and 53 had various tumors in the frontal base, suprasellar, or parasellar region. The operations were carried out through an approximately 2.5- x 3-cm frontolateral miniaturized craniotomy after a skin incision just above the eyebrow. RESULTS: Despite the small size of the craniotomy, the exploration allows enough room for intracranial manipulation with maximal protection of the brain and other intracranial structures. The presented series of patients did not have any craniotomy-related complications. CONCLUSION: In our experience, the frontolateral keyhole craniotomy, together with the advent of the modern neuroanesthesia, cerebrospinal fluid drainage, and microsurgical techniques, is a safe approach for an experienced neurosurgeon to use in the treatment of supratentorial aneurysms or tumors of the anterior fossa and sellar regions.

Brain Neoplasms↗

PubMed2003

[Two cases of impending herniation due to multiple traumatic acute subdural hematomas: combination of burr hole evacuation and craniotomy].

A contralateral extra-axial hematoma sometimes occurs during an operation on an acute subdural hematoma and may become fatal. Using a combined procedure of burr hole evacuation and craniotomy, we treated 2 cases of multiple traumatic acute subdural hematomas. Our policy for such cases is first to perform a burr hole evacuation for the acute subdural hematoma in the emergency room, while simultaneously preparing the operation room for a possible further operation. Next, we perform computed tomography (CT) of the brain. If the evacuation does not provide enough decompression, we either carry out a craniotomy at the same site, or, we observe the patient without resorting to craniotomy. However, if the patient's condition deteriorates, burr hole evacuation is repeated and/or craniotomy is carried out as soon as possible on the lesion at the already prepared operation room. Both of our patients received craniotomy for another subdural hematoma after the burr hole evacuation. Though his intracranial pressure was well managed during the acute stage, one of the patients died 21 days after the trauma due to an extensive brain infarction caused by vasospasm. The other regained consciousness and was able to walk 5 months after the trauma in spite of cerebral infarction from vasospasm. The possible mechanism of vasospasm in severe head injury is also discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Retrospective analysis of postoperative nausea and vomiting after craniotomy].

BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting are important complications after craniotomy. METHODS: One hundred and seventy eight patients who had undergone brain tumor resection at Nara Medical University were retrospectively divided to one of two groups; with or without PONV within 24 hours postoperatively. Variables compared between the groups include gender, age, weight, height, site of surgery (supratentorial versus infratentorial craniotomy), size of brain tumor, type of anesthesia (inhalation versus intravenous anesthesia with nitrous oxide), intraoperative fentanyl dose, duration of surgery as well as anesthesia, and intraoperative posture. RESULTS: PONV occurred in 87 patients (49%). The incidence of PONV in patients undergoing infratentorial craniotomy was significantly higher than that in patients undergoing supratentorial craniotomy (75% vs 45%, P = 0.0011). There were no significant associations between PONV and other variables analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the incidence of PONV after brain tumor resection is high and infratentorial surgery is a risk factor for PONV. Strategies for the prevention of PONV after craniotomy are required.

Anesthesia, General↗

PubMed1976

[Method of superimposing the angiographically located supratentorial lesion on the scalp prior to craniotomy].

One of the important points in operation of the intracranial supratentorial lesion is appropriate site and size of bony window made by craniotomy and this matter is also important first step in procedure of craniotomy. On the other hand, the site and size of bony window made in craniotomy for supratentorial lesion has relationship with perfectibility of operation. The detail intracranial situation and extent of supratentorial lesion is decided from the datas of various examinations and the findings in cerebral angiogram give a most important and valuable information to the neurosurgeon at present. The neurosurgeons used to decide the area of craniotomy from the findings of cerebral angiogram but there are some difficulty in transfer of findings related with situation of supratentorial lesion in angiogram to the patient's scalp, because the film of cerebral angiography is a projected picture of spheric head by X-ray to the plane. The author devised the planning method of site and size of bony window in craniotomy by transfer the location and extent of supratentorial lesion in cerebral angiogram to the patient's scalp and the author have been recognized for the past five years that this method is simple one and has clinical accuracy. The principle of the author's method are as follows. The film of cerebral angiography in lateral projection and the patient's scalp are divided into nine parts by same manner and the relation of the site and extent of lesion in cerebral angiogram with divided parts transfer to the division of the patient's scalp under special care to make minimize errors due to use the cerebral angiogram which is picture made by projection in a plane from spheric intracranial supratentorial space. Five points and seven lines are used to divide the film of cerebral angiography and the patient's scalp. Five divide points are most upper part of margin of external acoustic meatus, most posterior edge of auricle, upper, lower and lateral edge of orbit. The following divide lines are drawn by use of these five divide points. Two horizontal lines are eye-ear horizontal line and superior eye horizontal line. Three vertical line are external acoustic meatus vertical line, auricular vertical line and temporal orbital margine vertical line. Two oblique lines are anterior and posterior oblique lines. The film of lateral cerebral angiography and patient's scalp are divided into nine parts by these seven divide lines. In the areas above the superior eye horizontal line, following procedure for correction of error due to transfer the point of X-ray film to the patient's scalp is needed because of strong curved brain surface. One end of celluloid or steel scale place closely with the scalp below the superior eye horizontal line and the other end of scale make freely from curved scalp surface. The point of lesion on the divide line of X-ray film marks at correspond point on the scale...

Brain Neoplasms↗

PubMed2003

Venous air embolism during awake craniotomy in a supine patient.

PURPOSE: To report a non-fatal case of intraoperative venous air embolism (VAE) during an awake craniotomy. VAE presented with unusual clinical features. CLINICAL FEATURES: VAE during an awake craniotomy has not been reported frequently. The patient we describe presented with persistent coughing followed by tachypnea, hypoxia and reduction in end-tidal CO(2) during dural opening while undergoing an awake craniotomy in the supine position. Cardiovascular variables were stable during the episode except for transient hypertension. Having ruled out airway obstruction and low cardiac output, we concluded that air embolism was the cause. The patient responded immediately to the standard treatment of air embolism and recovered without any complication. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates a VAE during an awake craniotomy and emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis in the management.

Brain Neoplasms↗

PubMed2002

Hemodynamic effects of decompressive craniotomy in MCA infarction: evaluation with perfusion CT.

Decompressive craniotomy in hemispheric infarction has been reported to reduce mortality and improve outcome. Identifying tissue at risk and monitoring the benefit of craniotomy is hardly practical and has not been reported thus far. Perfusion CT was applied before and immediately after decompressive craniotomy in a patient with space-occupying middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction. Before surgery, perfusion CT revealed malperfused but still vital tissue in the vicinity of the infarction core which returned to normal after decompressive surgery. The final infarct size did not exceed the area of the initial hypodensity on unenhanced CT scan. In critically ill patients, the practicability of perfusion CT allows for demonstration of tissue at risk around the infarct core in space-occupying MCA infarction. Moreover, it may be used to monitor the effect of decompressive craniotomy.

Cerebrovascular Circulation↗