[Drug interactions in neurosurgical patients]. / Mezhlekarstvennye vzaimodeistviya u patsientov neirokhirurgicheskogo profilya.

We analyzed literature data on the most common drug interactions in neurosurgical patients. Drug interactions are a potential cause of adverse and dangerous clinical events and outcomes. Awareness of nature of drug interactions is valuable to avoid negative consequences when using combination of several drugs. Polypharmacy in neurosurgical patients is caused by treatment of intracranial lesions (hormonal therapy, antiepileptic drugs, etc.) and concomitant somatic diseases that increases the risk of drug interactions.

[Status epilepticus after brain tumor surgery]. / Epilepticheskii status posle udaleniya opukholei golovnogo mozga.

BACKGROUND: Status epilepticus (SE) is characterized by continuous course of clinical and/or electrographic epileptic seizures. There are little data on the course and outcomes of SE after resection of brain tumors. OBJECTIVE: To analyze clinical and electrographic manifestations of SE, its course and outcomes in short-term period after resection of brain tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed medical records of 18 patients over 18 years old between 2012 and 2019. All patients underwent resection of brain tumor and developed SE after surgery. Clinical criteria were repeated epileptic seizures without interictal recovery of consciousness, stereotypical motor phenomena, impaired consciousness with continued epileptic activity according to video-EEG data. We analyzed EEG data, neurological status, CT and laboratory data. RESULTS: Metastases (33%) and meningiomas (16%) prevailed. Supratentorial tumors were observed in 61% of patients. Two patients had preoperative seizures. Non-convulsive SE was diagnosed in 62% of patients. SE was successfully treated in 77% of cases. Mortality rate in patients with SE was 44%. CONCLUSION: Early postoperative SE is rare after brain tumor surgery (about 0.09%). Nevertheless, this complication is associated with high mortality. Non-convulsive SE is common (62%) that should be considered in postoperative management.

[Pulmonary embolism in neurosurgical patients]. / Tromboemboliya legochnoi arterii u patsientov neirokhirurgicheskogo profilya.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a serious problem for neurosurgical patients because of high risk of mortality and the need to choose effective and safe anticoagulation. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the patients with PE after neurosurgical interventions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study was performed at the Burdenko Neurosurgical Center between January 2021 and December 2022. Inclusion criteria were neurosurgical disease and PE. RESULTS: In accordance with inclusion criteria, we analyzed 14 patients. Mean age was 63 [45.8; 70.0] years. Four patients died. PE was a direct cause of death in 1 case. PE occurred in 5.14±3.68 days after surgery. Anticoagulation was safely implemented in 3 patients with PE on the first day after craniotomy. In a patient with massive PE several hours after craniotomy, anticoagulation resulted hematoma with brain dislocation and death. Thromboextraction and thrombodestruction were used in 2 patients with massive PE and high risk of mortality. CONCLUSION: Despite low incidence (0.1%), PE is a serious problem in neurosurgical patients due to the risk of intracranial hematoma under effective anticoagulant therapy. In our opinion, endovascular interventions with thromboextraction, thrombodestruction or local fibrinolysis are the safest in the treatment of PE after neurosurgery. Individual approach considering clinical, laboratory data, advantages and disadvantages of a particular anticoagulant drug is required when choosing the tactics of anticoagulation. Further analysis of a larger number of clinical cases is needed to develop the guidelines for the management of neurosurgical patients with PE.

[Awake percutaneous tracheostomy in neurosurgical patients: clinical cases and literature review]. / Punktsionno-dilatatsionnaya trakheostomiya u patsientov s neirokhirurgicheskoi patologiei, vypolnennaya na fone samostoyatel'nogo dykhaniya cherez estestvennye dykhatel'nye puti: klinicheskie nablyudeniya i obzor literatury.

Transoral or combined transnasal-transoral approach is sometimes used for tumor resection in patients with skull base and vertebral neoplasms. In such cases, percutaneous tracheostomy before surgical intervention is advisable. Tracheostomy facilitates surgical access, eliminates intraoperative risk of endotracheal tube kinking and provides airway protection from aspiration in early postoperative period in case of bulbar disorders, hypopharynx and tongue edema. The authors present two patients with massive proliferation of pathological tissue in nasopharynx and oropharynx that excluded tracheal intubation before tracheostomy. These patients underwent awake percutaneous tracheostomy.

[Invasive intracranial pressure monitoring in posterior cranial fossa after neurosurgery: an exclusive option or a necessity?] / Invazivnyi monitoring vnutricherepnogo davleniya v zadnei cherepnoi yamke posle neirokhirurgicheskogo vmeshatel'stva: eksklyuzivnaya optsiya ili neobkhodimost'?

Posterior cranial fossa (PCF) surgery is associated with the risk of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) under tentorium. The last one can lead to severe brainstem syndromes and postoperative complications. The currently recommended method for ICP control with a supratentorial parenchymal sensor or CSF pressure measurement through an external ventricular drainage is ineffective. Indeed, these methods do not show the true situation in the PCF. OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of ICP sensor insertion into cerebellar parenchyma for PCF edema after neurosurgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed literature data (15 references) and 3 patients after ICP sensor insertion into cerebellar parenchyma for ICP control in PCF. CONCLUSION: ICP sensor insertion into cerebellar parenchyma is indicated for infratentorial postoperative edema.

[Risk factors of nosocomial meningitis in neurological intensive care unit. Results of a five-year prospective study]. / Faktory riska razvitiya nozokomial'nykh meningitov u patsientov neirokhirurgicheskogo profilya v otdelenii reanimatsii i intensivnoi terapii. Rezul'taty pyatiletnego prospektivnogo issledovaniya.

Nosocomial meningitis (NM) is a serious complication in neurosurgery. Understanding the risk factors of nosocomial meningitis is important for their prevention. OBJECTIVE: To determine the main risk factors of NM in neurological intensive care unit. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study included all patients (n=2140) treated at the neurological intensive care unit for more than 48 hours between October 1, 2010 and October 31, 2015. Cases of nosocomial meningitis were registered. We analyzed risk factors in 2 groups of patients (with and without NM). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The incidence of NM in neurological intensive care unit was 8.4% (95% CI 6.8-10.0) (n=180). Relative risk of NM under external ventricular drainage was 3.98 (99 cases of NM, p<0.05). Relative risk of NM in patients with CSF leakage (including nasal CSF leakage after transsphenoidal surgery) was 5.2 (49 cases of NM, p<0.05). The incidence of nosocomial meningitis was significantly higher among patients with surgery time ≥8 hours (17.68%, p<0.01). Nosocomial meningitis was also significantly more common after redo surgery (13.07%, p<0.05). Insertion of intracranial pressure sensor was not a significant risk factor of NM. The risk of meningitis was 2.67% if the above-mentioned factors were absent. Extracranial factors are not specific for NM. No significant relationship between certain neurosurgical disease and NM was found. CONCLUSION: We found higher risk of NM in ICU patients with the following factors: external ventricular drainage, CSF leakage, redo surgery and surgery time.

[Tumor-Suppressing, Immunostimulating, and Hepatotoxic Effects of Immunostimulatory RNA in Combination with Dacarbazine in a Murine Melanoma Model].

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive tumors and is accompanied by the induction of local and systemic inflammatory responses. Combinations of chemotherapeutic agents with immunotherapy are therefore commonly used for melanoma treatment. A B16 melanoma model was used to study the tumor suppressive, immunostimulating, and hepatotoxic effects of a combination of a small double-stranded immunostimulatory RNA (isRNA) with 3'-trinucleotide overhangs and the cytotoxic drug dacarbazine compared with respective monotherapies. The drugs efficiently suppressed the tumor growth and acted synergistically. Histological and immunohistochemical examinations of tumor nodes showed that the combination of isRNA and dacarbazine significantly decreased mitotic activity and more efficiently increased apoptosis in tumor tissue as compared with either monotherapy. Regardless of the treatment regimen, signs of immune activation were observed in the spleen, including an increase in the number and diameter of lymphoid follicles and the volume density of the white pulp. Destructive changes were detected in the livers of nontreated animals with B16 melanoma. Administration of isRNA in combination with dacarbazine did not cause any additional damage to liver parenchyma, while stimulating regenerative processes in hepatic tissue of tumor-bearing animals.

[Complications after endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal removal of pituitary adenomas]. / Oslozhneniia posle éndoskopicheskogo éndonazal'nogo transsfenoidal'nogo udaleniia adenom gipofiza.

The use of endoscopic technique has significantly extended the indications for surgery using the transsphenoidal approach. Currently, more than 90% of pituitary adenomas are operated on transsphenoidally. Transnasal removal of giant pituitary adenomas has become possible. Transition to the endoscopic endonasal approach in removal of pituitary adenomas changed the rate and structure of postoperative complications. We analyzed potential complications after endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal removal of pituitary adenomas. These include complications of the approach itself (nasal bleeding, perforation of the nasal septum, impaired olfactory function, atrophic rhinitis, synechiae, mucoperiosteal flap necrosis, and external nasal deformities), infectious complications (meningitis, intracranial abscesses), cerebral circulation disorder (subarachnoid hemorrhage, cerebral vasospasm, injury to large vessels, intracranial hematomas), neuro-ophthalmological complications (visual and oculomotor disorders), endocrine (hypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus, hyponatremia) and somatic complications, and nasal liquorrhea. In conclusion, it should be noted that despite continuous improvement of the technique for endoscopic endonasal removal of pituitary adenomas, there is a risk of serious complications, which necessitates the development of techniques for prevention of these complications.

[The management of patients with new epileptic seizures in the early period after resection of hemispheric tumors: two case reports and a literature review]. / Taktika vedeniia patsientov s vpervye épilepticheskimi pristupami v rannem periode posle udaleniia opukholei bol'shikh polusharii: dva nabliudeniia i obzor literatury.

Epileptic seizures developing for the first time after a neurosurgical intervention (de novo seizures) are a challenge for choosing an optimal treatment. The pathogenesis of these seizures is often associated with factors that become inactive in the early postoperative period. These seizures can not serve the basis for diagnosing symptomatic epilepsy and should be regarded as a brain response to surgery, and patients do not need anticonvulsant therapy that reduces the quality of life. But in some situations, new early postoperative seizures serve the onset of symptomatic epilepsy and require prolonged anticonvulsant therapy. To date, one of the main techniques to identify the nature of newly developed seizure and to plan further treatment (whether or not to use anticonvulsant therapy) is video EEG monitoring. We present two clinical cases of patients who developed de novo convulsive seizures in the early postoperative period in similar situations after resection of intracerebral tumors. The use of video EEG monitoring allowed avoiding unreasonable use of anticonvulsant therapy in one of the patients.

[Hemispherectomy in the treatment of pediatric symptomatic epilepsy of children]. / Gemisferektomiya v lechenii simptomaticheskoi epilepsii u detei.

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE: Hemispherectomy is a recognized option in the treatment of symptomatic forms of intractable focal epilepsy in patients with developmental brain malformations and some acquired lesions of one the hemispheres. The prognosis for an outcome of the technique is important in terms of the indications for surgical treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We described the hemispherectomy technique and its variants and analyzed our own experience of surgery in 40 children. The most common (27 cases) brain pathology was extended unilateral cortical dysplasia with polymicro- or pachygyria and consequences of perinatal stroke. Six children had Rasmussen encephalitis; 6 patients had hemimegalencephaly; 1 child with Sturge-Weber syndrome had angiomatosis of the soft meninges. The patients' mean age was 3 years. Functional hemispherectomy (hemispherotomy) was used in most cases (37); 3 patients underwent anatomical hemispherectomy. RESULTS: At the time of discharge, seizures resolved in all patients; later, no seizure recurrence was observed in 25 out of 29 cases with known follow-up (the follow-up median was 2.5 years), which corresponded to class 1 outcomes on the ILAE scale (86%). Serious complications developed in 2 cases; 1 patient died; hydrocephalus and the need for bypass surgery occurred in other 2 children. These results are discussed along with the literature data, and the indications for hemispherectomy are provided. CONCLUSION: Hemispherectomy is a reliable and effective technique for treatment of symptomatic hemispheric forms of epilepsy in children. More than in 80% of patients with congenital or acquired pathology of one of the cerebral hemispheres, its deafferentation or resection leads to persistent elimination of seizures. Children with severe forms of intractable epilepsy should be promptly referred to dedicated centers to address the issue of advisability of surgical treatment.

[Paradoxical air embolism resulted in acute myocardial infarction and massive ischemic brain injury in a patient operated on in a sitting position].

Paradoxical air embolism (PAE) is a rare life-threatening complication when air emboli enter arteries of the systemic circulation and cause their occlusion. Here, we describe a clinical case of PAE developed during neurosurgery in a patient in the sitting position. PAE led to injuries to the cerebral blood vessels, coronary arteries, and lungs, which caused death of the patient. An effective measure for preventing PAE is abandoning surgery in the sitting position in favor of surgery in the prone position.

[Spinal stroke in a pregnant female with an endodermal cyst of the cervical spinal cord (a case report and literature review)]. / Ostroe narushenie spinal'nogo krovoobrashcheniya u beremennoi s endodermal'noi kistoi sheinogo otdela spinnogo mozga (sluchai iz praktiki i obzor literatury).

AIM: The study purpose was to present a clinical case of spinal stroke in a pregnant female, which was caused by an endodermal cyst of the cervical spinal cord, and to analyze treatment tactics. RESULTS: A 20 week pregnant female presented with acute transverse spinal cord injury at the of C3-C5 spinal segment level. CT revealed an extramedullary space-occupying lesion in the ventrolateral position, with compression of the spinal cord at this level. The patient in the state of progressive deterioration with respiratory failure was transferred to the Neurosurgical Institute on the 5th day after disease onset. The patient underwent surgery on the 7th day after disease onset. Doctors of various specialties participated in preparation for surgery. During surgery, total resection of the space-occupying lesion and spinal cord decompression were performed. An obstetrician-gynecologist conducted intraoperative fetal monitoring by ultrasound. The histological diagnosis was an endodermal cyst. There was no improvement of neurological symptoms in the early postoperative period. After stabilization of the condition, the patient was discharged for follow-up care at the place of residence. According to the follow-up report, the patient underwent the cesarean section because of exacerbation of lung infection and a significant delay in the fetal development. After a few days, the patient died due to multiple organ failure. The child was alive, in serious condition, under mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSION: In the case of spinal stroke, the decision on treatment tactics should be made no later than 12 hours after its onset; otherwise, the outcome is usually unfavorable, and a neurological deficit is irreversible. The decision about continuing pregnancy should be made individually in each case, and an approach to the choice of appropriate treatment tactics should be multi-disciplinary.

[Features of the course of nosocomial meningitis in patients of neurosurgical intensive care unit].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence rate and risk factors of nosocomial meningitis in patients with complicated postoperative period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We report the results of prospective observation of the course of bacterial meningitis in patients with complicated postoperative period at neurosurgical intensive care unit in 2010-2014. RESULTS: Nosocomial meningitis (NM) developed in 146 patients, which accounted for 12.6±1.0% (CI, 10.74-14.66). Patients with meningitis were characterized by longer stay at ICU, prolonged mechanical ventilation, need for central venous access and invasive hemodynamic monitoring, as well as longer course of antibacterial therapy. Frequency of invasive monitoring of intracranial pressure was similar in these two groups of patients. Bloodstream infections (14.8% vs. 4.9%; p<0.000), respiratory tract infections (55% vs. 35.6%; p<0.000), and urinary tract infections (56.4% vs. 30.9%; p<0.000) were more frequently observed in patients with NM. The following significant differences were observed between the group of NM patients and the control group: more frequent use of external ventricular drain (72.5% vs. 26.1%; p<0.000), number of reoperations (64.7% vs. 36.3%; p<0.000), and the total operating room time (417.3 min vs. 337.5 min; p<0.000). Etiology was ascertained in 61.0±4.0% of cases of nosocomial meningitis. CoNS (33.0%) and Acinetobacter baumannii (21.3%) were the main pathogens isolated from cerebrospinal fluid. The mortality in patients with meningitis was 31.5±3.8%. CONCLUSION: External ventricular drain, repeated surgery, long-term stay in the operating room, as well as other types of infections may be considered as risk factors for developing nosocomial meningitis in neurosurgical patients at ICU.

[Risk factors of postoperative meningitis in patients with chiasm-sellar tumors].

UNLABELLED: Postoperative intracranial infectious complications are one of the most topical problems of neurosurgical intensive care due to theirs significant capability to impair outcomes of the main disease. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To define the risk factors of postoperative meningitis in patients with chiasm-sellar tumors. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES: 1. to define the effect of somatic and intracranial risk factors on occurrence of postoperative meningitis in patients after transsphenoidal and transcranial approaches to the tumor. 2. To define the effect of postoperative meningitis on outcomes of treatment in patients after transsphenoidal and transcranial approaches to the tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Somatic and intracranial risk factors of occurrence of postoperative meningitis (pneumonia, urinary tract infection, sepsis, intra-abdominal hypertension, the presence of external ventricular and lumbar drainage, monitoring of intracranial pressure, cerebrospinal fluid, and reoperation) were fixed every day. The study was conducted in the ICU of the Burdenko from October, 2010 to July, 2012. The 34 patients (19 males, 15 females) were included in the study (average age 47.5 years). The patients were divided into two groups; 17 patients each group. The group-1 included patients after transcranial approach to the tumor and the group-2 included patients after transsphenoidal approach. RESULTS: In the group-1 a meningitis occurred in 3 patients (17.6% +/- 9.2%, DI [-0.4 - 35.6]). In the group-2 a meningitis occurred in 7 patients (41.2% +/- 11.9) DI 95% [17.8 - 64.4]. Accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid under the skin flap authentically increased a risk of a meningitis occurrence in patients after transcranial approach to the tumor (p = 0.031). There was no defined statistical significance of other risk factors. But there was defined a trend of the increasing of meningitis occurrence in patients after transsphenoidal approach in case of lumbar drainage or reoperation. Duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay in patients with meningitis was authentically longer than in patients without meningitis in both groups. In the group-2 the duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay was significantly shorter than in the group-1. CONCLUSIONS: Meningitis is not a typical complication of postoperative period in patients with transcranial approach to the tumor. After transsphenoidal approach a meningitis occurrence is likely in case of postoperative liquorrhea, lumbar drainage or reoperation. Subcutaneous accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid is a single defined statistically significant risk factor of meningitis. Postoperative meningitis impairs a condition of patients with chiasm-sellar tumors, increases the duration of mechanical ventilation and impairs treatment outcomes.

[Application of shot-latency cortical somato-sensory evoked potentials for evaluation of swallowing disorders in early period after posterior fossa surgery].

UNLABELLED: Main tasks of early postoperative period in patients after posterior fossa surgery are the timely and safe weaning from mechanical ventilation and extubation. For clinical assessment of the hypopharynx function we use an algorithm developed in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Burdenko Scientific Research Institute of Neurosurgery. Disadvantages of the clinical test for assessment of patient's readiness for extubation are subjectivity and impossibility to use it in conditions of even superficial sedation. Shot-latency somato-sensory evoked potentials (SSEP) can be applied in conditions of sedation and objectify the brain stem deficit. The goal of the study was to define the changes of cortical SSEP in patients with disorders of swallowing after posterior fossa surgery. To assess the swallowing disorders we used a scale of swallowing disorders in intubated patients with brain stem damage. We compared results of cortical SSEP, test of swallowing disorders in intubated patients and clinical results of extubation. 17 patients with tumors of posterior fossa were included in the study. All patients were divided into two groups depending on duration of mechanical ventilation. Patients of the group-1 were successfully extubated in 4.5 hours. Patients of the group-2 were mechanically ventilated more than 15 hours because of impossibility to pass the test of readiness for extubation. RESULTS: Central conduction time symmetry index after the surgery was lower in the group-1 than in group-2. There was inverse correlation between amplitude of cortical response N20 and time from the patient's admission to the ICU until the moment of extubation. CONCLUSIONS: Asymmetry of central conduction time and decreasing of N20 amplitude can be used as additional predictor of swallowing disorder.

[Citicoline as component of the therapy of postoperative delirium in neurosurgical patients].

Delirium is a clinical sign of acute cerebral dysfunction. It is characterized by consciousness alterations with attention impairment and mentally disorganization. Frequency of delirium is 40-80% in general intensive care and more in patients in neurointensive care unit. We tried to assess citicoline (Ceraxon, Nycomed) safety and efficacy in treatment of postoperative delirium in patients with tumors of chiasm-sellar area of brain. 12 patients were included in citicoline group and 8--in control group. In both group combined type of delirium was common: 83.3% and 75%, accordingly. Citicoline didn't influence on delirium duration. Median of duration of mechanical ventilation was 1.5 and 6 days; mean and standard deviation were 10.5 +/- 15.4 and 17.5 +/- 27.9 days. Median of length of stay in ICU was 7 and 9.5 days; mean and standard deviation were 25.4 +/- 33.1 and 14.9 +/- 15.1 days. These results show that citicoline didn't influence on duration of mechanical ventilation and length of stay in ICU. Outcomes were similar in both groups, but frequency of full functional state recovery in citicoline group was significantly higher: 5 (41.7%) to 2 (25%) in control group (p < 0.05). We consider that citicoline therapy is safe for patients with tumors of chiasm-sellar area and lead to increasing of frequency of full functional state recovery.

[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.

[Optimizing blood pressure in patients with sellar region tumors during complicated postoperative period].

Mechanism of arterial hypotension (AH) in patients with sellar region tumors (SRT) and complicated postoperative period consists in decrease of systemic vascular resistance and relative hypovolemia. Therapeutic directions for blood pressure (BP) stabilization are clear. However criteria of optimal BP in these patients are absent. Object of the study was defining such criteria. Prospective study was conducted from January, 2011 to January, 2012. Inclusion criteria were: adults; SRT; early postoperative period. Thirty patients were included into the study. Patients were divided into three groups. Group I (n=11) consisted of patients with uncomplicated postoperative period; group II (n=12) - patients with complicated postoperative and with stable hemodynamics; group III (n=7) - patients with complicated postoperative period and AH. Median of central venous saturation (ScvO2) was normal in all groups. ScvO2 was significantly higher than jugular vein saturation (SjvO2) in all measurement. In group I SjvO2 was normal, and it was higher, than in group II. In group SjvO2 did not achieve normal level during three days of the study. Mean BP did not change during these days. In group III SjvO2 was decreased if mean BP was between 70 and 90 mmHg. This level of SjvO2 did not differ from SjvO2 in group II. When mean BP increased up to 100-110 mmHg SjvO2 significantly increased too in the group III and achieved level of the group I (normal level). Outcomes were favorable in all patients of the group I (GOS=4, 5). Median of length of stay (LOS) in the ICU was 1 day. In group II outcomes were favorable in 10 (83.3%) patients, 2 (16.7%) patients died. Median LOS in ICU was 7 days. In group III outcomes were favorable in 6 (85.7%) patients, unfavorable outcome (GOS=3) was in 1 (24.3%) patient. Median LOS in ICU was 12 days. There were no significant differences in all groups in the lactate levels both in central vein and in jugular vein. ScvO2 can not be a criterion for BP optimization in patients with SRT. In patients with uncomplicated postoperative period SjvO2 is normal. In patients with complicated postoperative period and normal BP SjvO2 remains decreased. In patients with complicated postoperative period and arterial hypotension normal level of SjvO2 can be achieved if mean BP is increased up to 100-110 mmHg. SjvO2 normalization can improve outcomes in patients with SRT and complicated postoperative period.

[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.

[Secondary abdominal compartment syndrome in postoperative period in patients with tumors of sellar region].

The abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) can lead to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), sepsis and death. In neurosurgical patients ACS used to be interesting for specialists only in respect of its impact on ICP. However injury of diencephalic structures of the brain can theoretically cause ACS. The goal of the study is to assess the efficacy of conservative therapy and epidural anesthesia for ACS treatment in postoperative period in patients with tumors of the sellar region. 41 patients were enrolled in the study. The epidural anesthesia at T8-T9 level by bupivacaine was applied for three days in the case of ACS development and ineffective conservative therapy. Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) developed in 28 cases, ACS - in 9. IAN usually revealed itself on the second day after surgery, ACS - on the 3rd-6th day. Gastrointestinal tract paralysis developed earlier than IAH and continued longer than IAH. Conservative therapy was effective only in every third patient with ACS. Epidural anesthesia was used in 4 cases and appeared effective in all of them. All patients with ACS not provided by epidural anesthesia died. We conclude that conservative therapy is effective in IAH, but not in ACS cases. Epidural anesthesia is an effective method to treat ACS and should be used in all patients with ACS without sepsis.