[Intra-arterial injection of verapamil in treatment of cerebral vasospasm in a patient with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage from an aneurysm: case report].

Cerebral vasospasm is a major cause of cerebral ischemia and neurological deficits in patients after SAH from the aneurysm. According to angiorraphy cerebral vasospasm in acute rupture of an aneurysm is detected in 50-70% of cases, and the risk of ischemia on it's background is 19-46%. One of the new trends of treatment of cerebral vasospasm is the intra-arterial injection of calcium channel blockers. The article presents a case of selective intra-arterial injection of verapamil for the treatment of cerebral vasospasm in patient after severe subarachnoid and parenchymal hemorrhage of the internal carotid artery bifurcation aneurysm with a good clinical outcome.

[Protein malnutrition in patient in the early postoperative period after uncomplicated removal of the brain tumors].

Malnutrition leads to adverse effects and may worsen clinical outcome. Surgery as a stress factor activates pathological reactions changing metabolism structure. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes of protein metabolism in patients after elective neurosurgical operation. 24 patients were prepared for elective surgery and were enrolled in this study. Evaluation of each patient included: measurement of anthropometric indices--height, weight, arm circumference and the triceps skinfold thickness, the definition of protein loss by determining the loss of nitrogen in the urine, assessment of protein catabolism, determining the violations of nutritional status upon the base of laboratory parameters. During the course of the conducted investigation significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the indices of total protein, albumin, transferrin and the absolute numbers of lymphocytes in the postoperative period was revealed. All the patients developed severe protein catabolism. It became clear that uncomplicated elective surgical intervention, together with the adopted scheme of the nutritional therapy leads to severe protein catabolism in all patients.

[First experience of using adaptive support ventilation (ASV) mode in patients with severe traumatic brain injury].

Capabilities and limitations of ASV mode in TBI patients are studied. 12 patients with severe TBI were enrolled in the study. ICP, MAP, CPP were monitored in all the patients. Cerebral regional blood flow was monitored by thermal diffusion in four patients. Hamilton G5 ventilator was used for mechanical ventilation and respiratory monitoring in all cases. Starting mode of mechanical ventilation was ASV with 100% mechanical substitution. The patient was regarded as ASV-nonresponder and switched to another mode when normoventilation was not possible with any percent of respiratory substitution. ASV mode provided normoventilation during all period of mechanical ventilation in 88 ou of 12 patients. In 4 out of 12 patients ASV mode led to hyperventilation with EtC02 decrease, cerebral regional blood flow slowing and P0,1 index increase. In three patients hyperventilation was induced by high rate of spontaneous breaths caused by brainstem irritation. Switching these patients to SIMV-VC led to normoventilation, normalization of etC02 and cerebral regional blood flow, and P0,1 index decrease. In one patient hyperventilation was caused by lung mechanics disorder when ventilator tried to achieve target minute volume by low tidal volume and high respiratory rate. ASV mode provides adequate lung ventilation during respiratory support period in most patients with severe TBI. It can prove ineffective for some patients with brainstem irritation or lung mechanics disorders.

[Using ASV mode for respiratory support withdrawal in patients after posterior fossa surgery].

The study gives data on how to improve the way from mechanical to spontaneous breathing in patients with weakened respiratory drive after posterior fossa tumor removal. We compared the effectiveness of two methods of weaning from mechanical ventilation in these patients. The main group consisted of 6 patients weaned from ventilator with ASV mode. The control group was made up of 10 patients weaned from ventilator with SIMV or PS modes. The duration of weaning from ventilator using ASV mode was significantly shorter than with SIMV or PS modes. During ASV ventilation spontaneous breath rate gradually increased. In all patients the level of P0,1 index representing respiratory center activity was initially lower than normal. While spontaneous breath activity increased the level of P0,1 index also gradually normalized. Plmax index (respiratory effort index) measured once a day increased as well. Weakened respiratory drive is accompanied by P0,1 and Plmax indexes' decrease in patients after posterior fossa tumor removal. ASV mode in these patients allows quicker weaning from mechanical ventilation.

[Post-monitoring changes in zero drift of "Codman" intracranial pressure sensors].

The purpose of the study was to estimate the drift of the zero value of "Codman" intracranial pressure sensors, compared with the duration of monitoring, location of intracranial pressure sensors, and also to assess the relationship of drift to the gauge number. 60 "Codman" intracranial pressure sensors were investigated. The analysis of zero drift were made depending on the length of monitoring and location of the intracranial pressure sensor, as well as on description of the gauge number. Data are presented as median, quartiles, minimum and maximum values. The gauge numbers of 499, 491 and 501, (475 and 513). The drift was 0 mm Hg. -1 And 0 (-2 to 3). In 43% of the ICP measurements of the drift of the zero value was absent. In 40% o the drift was within +/ - 1 mm Hg. The analysis showed no dependence of the drift of the zero value of the duration of monitoring, location of the sensor and gauge numbers. On two patients simultaneous recording of intracranial pressure in the ventricles and brain parenchyma was carried out. The high correlation between the measured values r = 0.94, p < 0.01. In one "in vivo" case the zero drift was detected, which amounted to 2 mm Hg and grew by 5th day of monitoring. The maximum value of the drift of the zero value was 3 mm Hg. The dependence of drift on the duration of monitoring, reference values of the calibration and sensor implant site was absent. This shows the accuracy and reliability of parenchymal ICP measurement.

[A respiratory failure rating scale in neurosurgical patients].

A respiratory failure (RF) rating scale has been developed to objectify indications for artificial ventilation (AV). The scale consists of three blocks gauging the level of consciousness, the degree of swallowing problems, cough, airway patency, and lung parenchymatous injury. The scale was tested in the period December 2009 to March 2010. Selection of patients in accordance with the chosen study inclusion and exclusion criteria allowed 15 patients to be enrolled in the study. Of them there were 8 (53%) women and 7 (47%) men. The patients' age was 25 to 68 years; median age was 42 years. There were cerebrovascular aneurysms and brain tumors of various locations and histology in 7 and 8 cases, respectively. Three groups of patients were identified. The first two groups included patients with successful extubation, but Group 2 patients were further reintubated because of neurological deterioration. In Group 3 patients, extubation was unsuccessful, i.e. these required reintubation within 48 hours after extubation. Groups 2 and 3 patients developed inflammatory complications, such as nosocomial pneumonia and sepsis; there were worse outcomes. If the tactics of AV initiation were determined from scale scores, it should not differ in Groups 1 and 2. Based on the scale scores, AV should be regained much more early than was practised. The developed scale allows one to optimize the time of AV initiation. Single patient assessment can ascertain a direct cause of respiratory failure (RF) while dynamic assessment can determine the sequence of changes in the magnitude of individual determinants of RF. In patients with unsuccessful tracheal intubation, the scale will optimize the time of reintubation, thereby reducing the incidence of nosocomial and aspiration pneumonia.

[Continuous mechanical ventilation in a neurosurgical intensive care unit (one-year analysis of results)].

This was a retrospective study. Its inclusion criterion was mechanical ventilation (MV) for more than 48 hours. One hundred and eighty-four case records of 184 neurosurgical intensive care unit patients were analyzed. Ventilation modes, upper airway cares and prosthetic replacement were chosen by the protocol accepted at the Institute. Great differences were found in the structure of indications for MV and in the duration of respiratory support in relation to the neurosurgical nosological entity and the site of a major process. The upper airway care protocols accepted at the Institute were shown to reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Some risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia were identified.