[Anterior interhemispheric approach for giant sellar region tumors in a series of 110 consecutive patients].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the techniques and efficacies of surgical resection of giant sellar region tumors via anterior interhemispheric approach. METHODS: A series of 110 consecutive cases of giant sellar region tumors undergoing microsurgery through an anterior interhemispheric approach at our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Their mean age was 35.6 (3-72) years. There were craniopharyngioma (n = 57), pituitary adenoma (n = 33), hypothalamic glioma (n = 5), meningioma (n = 4) and other lesions (n = 11). The maximal tumor diameter varied from 4.0 to 8.2 cm with a mean diameter of 4.8 cm. Active measurements were taken for managing blood sodium disorder and diabetes insipidus. During the follow-ups, the patients were monitored for residual or recurrent tumor by hormonal assessment (in cases of functioning adenomas) and postoperative contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed 1-3 months after surgery. RESULTS: Total lesion removal was achieved in 76 cases (69.1%). Twenty patients (18.2%) underwent subtotal resection and 14 (12.7%) had partial removal. No surgery-related mortality occurred. Visual acuity was preserved or improved in 97 patients (88.2%) within 1 week after surgery. The major postoperative complications included diabetes insipidus (n = 76, 69.1%), permanent diabetes insipidus (n = 23, 20.9%), electrolyte disorder (n = 62, 56.4%), seizures (n = 7, 6.4%), brain damage (3 cerebral contusions and 5 hematomas) (n = 8, 7.3%) and infarction(n = 2, 1.8%). During a median post-surgical follow-up period of 26 (3-96) months, 11 patients had recurrence. And 35 cases (31.8%) of endocrinological deficit received hormonal replacement after surgery. CONCLUSION: The interhemispheric approach is feasible for removing giant sellar region tumors without significant sequels. Active postoperative managements of diabetes insipidus and electrolyte disorder may accelerate early patient recovery.

Effect of fasudil hydrochloride, a protein kinase inhibitor, on cerebral vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemic symptoms after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The efficacy and safety of fasudil hydrochloride, a novel protein kinase inhibitor, were evaluated for the treatment of cerebral vasospasm and associated cerebral ischemic symptoms in patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysm. This randomized open trial with nimodipine as the control included 72 patients who underwent subarachnoid hemorrhage surgery for ruptured cerebral aneurysm of Hunt and Hess grades I to IV. For 14 days following surgery, patients were administered either 30 mg of fasudil hydrochloride by intravenous injection over a period of 30 minutes three times a day or 1 mg/hr of nimodipine by continuous intravenous infusion. Fasudil hydrochloride and nimodipine both showed inhibitory effects on cerebral vasospasm. The incidence of symptomatic vasospasm was five of 33 patients in the fasudil group and nine of 32 patients in the nimodipine group. Good recovery evaluated by the Glasgow Outcome Scale was achieved by 23 of 33 patients in the fasudil group and 19 of 34 patients in the nimodipine group. Both drugs significantly improved consciousness levels and neurological deficits such as aphasia. However, fasudil hydrochloride improved motor disturbance more than nimodipine. Adverse reactions occurred in 13 of 37 patients receiving fasudil hydrochloride and 15 of 35 patients receiving nimodipine. There were no serious adverse events in the fasudil group. The results of this clinical trial indicate that fasudil hydrochloride is a safe and efficient agent for suppressing cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage surgery for ruptured cerebral aneurysm.