Morte, diagnóstico e evento / Death, diagnosis and event / Muerte, diagnóstico y evento

Resumo Vida e morte são compreendidas de maneiras distintas em diferentes culturas, religiões e sociedades, portanto padronizar o entendimento dos significados desses termos em sociedades multiculturais torna-se desafiador e complexo. Diante dessa realidade, esta pesquisa busca descobrir como a morte foi compreendida na história e quais valores eram associados a ela. Para isso, realizou-se revisão da literatura analítico-narrativa, com seleção de 69 publicações para leitura na íntegra. A sociedade e a medicina adquiriram uma visão dualista que considera a morte da função cerebral como irreversibilidade de existência de um eu psicológico. Diante da possibilidade de coletar órgãos e tecidos a partir de um corpo mantido vivo e operado, o suporte de vida deve sempre visar o benefício, mas sem causar danos a terceiros. Para que esses avanços sejam possíveis, a legislação deve ser clara e atualizada.

Abstract Life and death are viewed differently in different cultures, religions, and societies; therefore standardizing their meanings in multicultural societies is challenging and complex. Given this reality, this research investigated how death has been understood throughout history and its associated values. An analytic-narrative literature review was conducted, selecting 69 publications to be read in full. Society and medicine have assumed a dualistic perspective in which death of the brain function is viewed as irreversibility of the existence of a psychological self. Faced with the possibility of procuring organs and tissues from a body kept alive and operated on, life support should always aim to benefit, but without causing harm to others. For these advances to be possible, legislation must be clear and up-to-date.

Resumen La vida y la muerte se entienden de distintos modos en diferentes culturas, religiones y sociedades, por lo que estandarizar la comprensión del significado de estos términos en las sociedades multiculturales se vuelve desafiante y complejo. Ante esta realidad, esta investigación pretende conocer cómo se abordó la muerte en la historia y qué valores se asociaron a ella. Para ello, se realizó una revisión de la literatura analítico-narrativa, con una selección de 69 publicaciones para su lectura completa. La sociedad y la medicina tienen una visión dualista que considera la muerte de la función cerebral como una irreversibilidad de la existencia de un yo psicológico. Frente a la posibilidad de recolectar órganos y tejidos de un cuerpo mantenido vivo y operado, el soporte vital siempre debe estar dirigido al beneficio, sin causar daños a terceros. Para que estos avances sean posibles, la legislación debe ser clara y estar actualizada.

Morte encefálica como problema bioético na formação médica / Brain death as a bioethical issue in medical training / Muerte encefálica como problema bioético en la formación médica

Resumo A definição moderna da morte encefálica aponta que esta determina a morte de um indivíduo, o qual deixa para trás um corpo que, apesar de funcional, não é mais parte dele, podendo, então, ser submetido a cessação de suporte ou coleta de órgãos e tecidos. Este artigo busca verificar se estudantes de medicina recebem formação técnica e ética adequada para lidar com o diagnóstico de morte encefálica. Para isso, realizou-se estudo transversal, por meio de aplicação de questionário, via internet, a estudantes de medicina. Dos 82 estudantes que completaram a pesquisa, 87% identificaram corretamente o diagnóstico de morte encefálica, contudo até 46% não souberam definir a conduta correta diante do diagnóstico. A discussão bioética acerca da morte, focando temas como terminalidade, finitude e cuidados, seria uma alternativa viável para a resolução dessa aparente falha da formação médica.

Abstract The modern definition of brain death points this as what determines the death of the individual, who leaves behind a body that, although functional, is no longer a part of him, and can, thus, be subjected to termination of life support and organ and tissue harvesting. This article seeks to verify if medicine students receive adequate technical and ethical training to deal with the brain death diagnosis. To this end, a cross-sectional study was carried out, by applying a questionary, via internet, to medicine students. Of the 82 students that filled the research, 87% correctly identified the brain death diagnosis, but up to 46% could not define the right conduct in the face of the diagnosis. The bioethical discussion about death, focusing themes such as terminality, ending, and care, would be a viable alternative to solve this apparent flaw of medical training.

Resumen La definición moderna de muerte encefálica es la que determina la muerte de un individuo, que deja un cuerpo, todavía funcional, que ya no es suyo, pudiendo ser sometido a cese de soporte o recolección de órganos y tejidos. Este artículo pretende conocer si los estudiantes de medicina reciben una adecuada formación técnica y ética para afrontar el diagnóstico de muerte encefálica. Para ello, se realizó un estudio transversal, mediante la aplicación de un cuestionario en línea a estudiantes de medicina. De los 82 estudiantes que completaron la encuesta, el 87% identificó correctamente el diagnóstico de muerte encefálica, sin embargo hasta un 46% no supo definir la conducta correcta frente al diagnóstico. La discusión bioética sobre la muerte, con foco en temas como el final de la vida, la finitud y el cuidado, sería una alternativa viable para solucionar este posible fracaso de la formación médica.

Immune-inflammatory, coagulation, adhesion, and imaging biomarkers combined in machine learning models improve the prediction of death 1 year after ischemic stroke.

Some clinical, imaging, and laboratory biomarkers have been identified as predictors of prognosis of acute ischemic stroke (IS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic validity of a combination of clinical, imaging, and laboratory biomarkers in predicting 1-year mortality of IS. We evaluated 103 patients with IS within 24 h of their hospital admission and assessed demographic data, IS severity using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), and degree of stenosis, as well as laboratory variables including immune-inflammatory, coagulation, and endothelial dysfunction biomarkers. The IS patients were categorized as survivors and non-survivors 1 year after admission. Non-survivors showed higher NIHSS and cIMT values, lower antithrombin, Protein C, platelet counts, and albumin, and higher Factor VIII, von Willebrand Factor (vWF), white blood cells, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-10, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and vascular cellular adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) than survivors. Neural network models separated non-survivors from survivors using NIHSS, cIMT, age, IL-6, TNF-α, hsCRP, Protein C, Protein S, vWF, and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1) with an area under the receiving operating characteristics curve (AUC/ROC) of 0.975, cross-validated accuracy of 93.3%, sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 85.7%. In conclusion, imaging, immune-inflammatory, and coagulation biomarkers add predictive information to the NIHSS clinical score and these biomarkers in combination may act as predictors of 1-year mortality after IS. An early prediction of IS outcome is important for personalized therapeutic strategies that may improve the outcome of IS.

Carotid intima media thickness measurements coupled with stroke severity strongly predict short-term outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a machine learning study.

Acute ischemic stroke (IS) is one of the leading causes of morbidity, functional disability and mortality worldwide. The objective was to evaluate IS risk factors and imaging variables as predictors of short-term disability and mortality in IS. Consecutive 106 IS patients were enrolled. We examined the accuracy of IS severity using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid stenosis (both assessed using ultrasonography with doppler) predicting IS outcome assessed with the modified Rankin scale (mRS) three months after hospital admission. Poor prognosis (mRS ≥ 3) at three months was predicted by carotid stenosis (≥ 50%), type 2 diabetes mellitus and NIHSS with an accuracy of 85.2% (sensitivity: 90.2%; specificity: 81.8%). The mRS score at three months was strongly predicted by NIHSS (ß = 0.709, p < 0.001). Short-term mortality was strongly predicted using a neural network model with cIMT (≥ 1.0 mm versus < 1.0 mm), NIHSS and age, yielding an area under the receiving operator characteristic curve of 0.977 and an accuracy of 94.7% (sensitivity: 100.0%; specificity: 90.9%). High NIHSS (≥ 15) and cIMT (≥ 1.0 mm) increased the probability of dying with hazard ratios of 7.62 and 3.23, respectively. Baseline NIHSS was significantly predicted by the combined effects of age, large artery atherosclerosis stroke, sex, cIMT, body mass index, and smoking. In conclusion, high values of cIMT and NIHSS at admission strongly predict short-term functional impairment as well as mortality three months after IS, underscoring the importance of those measurements to predict clinical IS outcome.

Immune-Inflammatory, Metabolic, Oxidative, and Nitrosative Stress Biomarkers Predict Acute Ischemic Stroke and Short-Term Outcome.

Immune-inflammatory, metabolic, oxidative, and nitrosative stress (IMO&NS) pathways and, consequently, neurotoxicity are involved in acute ischemic stroke (IS). The simultaneous assessment of multiple IMO&NS biomarkers may be useful to predict IS and its prognosis. The aim of this study was to identify the IMO&NS biomarkers, which predict short-term IS outcome. The study included 176 IS patients and 176 healthy controls. Modified Rankin scale (mRS) was applied within 8 h after IS (baseline) and 3 months later (endpoint). Blood samples were obtained within 24 h after hospital admission. IS was associated with increased white blood cell (WBC) counts, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin (IL-6), lipid hydroperoxides (LOOHs), nitric oxide metabolites (NOx), homocysteine, ferritin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), glucose, insulin, and lowered iron, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. We found that 89.4% of the IS patients may be correctly classified using the cumulative effects of male sex, systolic blood pressure (SBP), glucose, NOx, LOOH, 25(OH)D, IL-6, and WBC with sensitivity of 86.2% and specificity of 93.0%. Moreover, increased baseline disability (mRS ≥ 3) was associated with increased ferritin, IL-6, hsCRP, WBC, ESR, and glucose. We found that 25.0% of the variance in the 3-month endpoint (mRS) was explained by the regression on glucose, ESR, age (all positively), and HDL-cholesterol, and 25(OH)D (both negatively). These results show that the cumulative effects of IMO&NS biomarkers are associated with IS and predict a poor outcome at 3-month follow-up.

Immune-inflammatory, oxidative stress and biochemical biomarkers predict short-term acute ischemic stroke death.

The aim of the study was to define new immune-inflammatory, oxidative stress and biochemical biomarkers, which predict mortality within a period of 3 months after acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We recruited 176 healthy volunteers and 145 AIS patients, categorized as AIS survivors and non-survivors, and measured interleukin (IL)-6, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), ferritin, iron, total serum protein (TSP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cells (WBC), 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], lipid hydroperoxides (CL-LOOH), insulin, glucose and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. In patients, these biomarkers were measured within 24 h after AIS onset. We also computed two composite scores reflecting inflammatory indices, namely INFLAM index1 (sum of z scores of hsCRP+IL-6 + ferritin+ESR + WBC) and INFLAM index2 (z INFLAM index1 - z 25(OH)D - z iron + z TSP). Three months after AIS, non-survivors (n = 54) showed higher baseline levels of IL-6, hsCRP, ferritin and glucose and lower levels of HDL-cholesterol and 25(OH)D than survivors (n = 91). Non-survivors showed higher baseline ESR and lowered TSP than controls, while survivors occupied an intermediate position. Death after AIS was best predicted by increased IL-6, glucose, ferritin and CL-LOOH and lowered 25(OH)D levels. The area under the receiver operating curves computed on the INFLAM index1 and 2 scores were 0.851 and 0.870, respectively. In conclusion, activation of peripheral immune-inflammatory, oxidative and biochemical pathways is critically associated with mortality after AIS. Our results may contribute to identify new biomarker sets, which may predict post-stroke death, as well as suggest that IL-6 trans-signaling coupled with redox imbalances may be possible new targets in the prevention of short-term outcome AIS death.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with acute ischemic stroke, C-reactive protein, and short-term outcome.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is associated with acute ischemic stroke, inflammatory markers, and short-term outcome. 168 acute ischemic stroke patients and 118 controls were included. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was applied up to 8 h of admission (baseline) and after three-months follow-up, and blood samples were obtained up to 24 h of admission to evaluate serum levels of 25-hydroxivitamin D [25(OH)D] and inflammatory markers. Vitamin D levels classified the individuals in sufficient (VDS ≥ 30.0 ng/mL), insufficient (VDI 20.0-29.9 ng/mL), and deficient (VDD < 20.0 ng/mL) status. Patients had lower levels of 25(OH)D, higher frequency of VDD (43.45% vs. 5.08%, OR: 16.64, 95% CI: 5.66-42.92, p < 0.001), and higher inflammatory markers than controls (p < 0.05). Patients with VDD showed increased high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels than those with VDS status (p = 0.043); those with poor outcome presented with lower 25(OH)D levels than those with good outcome (p = 0.008); moreover, 25(OH)D levels were negatively correlated with mRS after three-months follow-up (r = -0.239, p = 0.005). The associations between VDD and higher hsCRP levels and between 25(OH)D levels and poor outcome at short-term in acute ischemic stroke patients suggest the important role of vitamin D in the inflammatory response and pathophysiology of this ischemic event.

Metabolic syndrome increases oxidative stress but does not influence disability and short-time outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease and MetS and it may be one of molecular mechanisms involved in stroke. The aims of the present study were to verify differences in oxidative stress markers in acute ischemic stroke patients with and without MetS and to verify whether MetS influences disability and short time outcome of the patients. 148 patients with acute ischemic stroke were divided in two groups: with MetS (n = 92) and without MetS (n = 56). The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used for measuring the functional disability after 3-month follow-up. The study assessed the metabolic profile and oxidative stress markers. Stroke patients with MetS had higher levels of lipid hydroperoxides (p < 0.0001) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP, p = 0.0302) than those without MetS. Hydroperoxides were directly and independently associated with MetS (OR: 1.000, 95 % IC = 1.000-1.000, p = 0.005). Linear regression demonstrated that AOPP levels (R(2) = 0.281, p < 0.0001) and oxidative stress index (OSI, R(2) = 0.223, p < 0.0001) were directly associated with triglycerides levels and hydroperoxides levels was also directly associated with glucose levels (R(2) = 0.080, p = 0.013. The mRS and short-come outcome did not differ after 3 months in both groups. In conclusion, an increase in oxidative stress markers was shown in acute ischemic stroke patients with MetS and this elevation seems to be involved mainly with changes in lipid profile, but the presence of MetS did not influence short-time disability and survival of the acute ischemic stroke patients.

Inflammatory and metabolic markers and short-time outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke in relation to TOAST subtypes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between inflammatory and metabolic markers and short-time outcome with acute ischemic stroke subtypes. A total of 121 patients was classified according to TOAST criteria, such as large artery atherosclerosis (LAAS), lacunar infarct (LAC), cardioembolic infarct (CEI), other determined etiology (ODE), and undetermined etiology (UDE). The functional impairment was evaluated within the first eight hours of stroke and the outcome after three-month follow-up using the modified Rankin Scale. Blood samples were obtained up to 24 h of stroke. Compared with 96 controls, patients with LAAS, CEI, and LAC subtypes showed higher levels of white blood cells, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), glucose, and iron (p < 0.05); and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (p < 0.0001); platelets, insulin, insulin resistance, and homocysteine were higher in LAC (p < 0.0001); ferritin was higher in LAAS (p < 0.0001); and total cholesterol (TC) was lower in LAAS and CEI (p < 0.01). When stroke subtypes were compared, insulin was higher in LAAS vs. LAC and in LAC vs. CEI (p < 0.05); and TC was lower in LAAS vs. LAC (p < 0.05). Outcome and rate of mortality after three-month were higher in LAAS vs. LAC (p < 0.001 and p = 0.0391 respectively). The results underscored the important role of the inflammatory response and metabolic changes in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke subtypes that might be considered on the initial evaluation of stroke patients to identify those that could benefit with individualized therapeutic strategies that taken into account these markers after acute ischemic event.

Tumor necrosis factor beta NcoI polymorphism (rs909253) is associated with inflammatory and metabolic markers in acute ischemic stroke.

Polymorphisms in genes coding for pro-inflammatory molecules represent important factors for the pathogenesis and outcome of stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-ß) NcoI (rs909253) polymorphism with inflammatory and metabolic markers in acute ischemic stroke. Ninety-three patients and 134 controls were included. The TNF-ß polymorphism was determined using PCR-RFLP with NcoI restriction enzyme. Stroke subtypes and neurological deficit score were evaluated. White blood cell counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), plasma levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, serum high sensitivity C-reactive Protein (hsCRP), serum lipid profile, plasma levels of glucose and insulin, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were determined. Stroke patients presented higher white blood cell counts, hsCRP, ESR, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR, and lower HDL cholesterol than controls (p < 0.01). There was no difference in genotypic and allelic frequency of TNF-ß NcoI polymorphism among patients and controls (p > 0.05). However, stroke patients carrying the TNFB2/B2 genotype presented higher levels of TNF-α, white blood cell counts, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR than those with other genotypes (p < 0.05). White blood cells, IL-6, hsCRP, and ESR were positively correlated with the neurological deficit of the patients (p < 0.05). Taken together, TNF-ß NcoI polymorphism, by itself, was not associated with increased susceptibility for stroke development. However, the homozygous genotype for the allele TNFB2 was associated with higher expression of classical inflammatory and metabolic markers of development and outcome of stroke than other genotypes. The identification of variant alleles might allow both better prediction of susceptibility for stroke as well the identification of novel stroke mechanisms that could be target to new therapeutic approaches. Stroke patients carrying the TNFB2 variant allele could have a beneficial effect with the anti-inflammatory therapies in the early inflammatory phase of stroke.

Cervical cordotomy for the treatment of oncological pain / Cordotomia cervical para tratamento da dor oncológica: revisâo de literatura

Cordotomy consists in the discontinuation of the spinothalamic tract in the anterolateral quadrant of the spinal cord and aims to reduce the transference of nociceptive information in the dorsal horn of the grey matter of the spinal cord (CPME) for rostral units at the neural axis. Many modalities of cordotomy may be employed: anterior transdiscal between C4-C5; endoscopic infra mastoid tip between C1-C2; percutaneous guided by fluoroscopy infra mastoid tip between C1-C2; percutaneous guided by CT infra mastoid tip between C1-C2; open cordotomy by means of laminectomy. The main indication is for patients in advanced cancer disease with severe neuropathic pain bellow the neck in whom the period of survival due to cancer disease is inferior to 3-4 months. The results for immediate pain relieve ranges from 69% to 100% of the cases, while preoperative Karnofsky scores were 20 and 70, respectively versus post operative Karnofsky scores of 20 and 100 respectively; the difference was determined to be highly significant (p < 0.001).

A cordotomia consiste na discontinuação do trato espinotâmico no quadrante ântero-lateral da medula espinal e visa reduzir a transferência de informação nociceptiva no corno dorsal da substância cinzenta da medula espinal (CPME) para as unidades rostrais no neuroeixo. Muitas modalidades de cordotomia podem ser empregadas: transdiscal anterior entre C4-C5; endoscópica inframastoidea entre C1-C2; Percutânea inframastoidea entre C1-C2 guiada por fluoroscopia; percutânea inframastoidea entre C1-C2 guiada por TC; cordotomia aberta por laminectomia. A principal indicação é para pacientes com câncer avançado com dor neuropática severa abaixo do pescoço nos quais a sobrevida devido ao câncer é inferior a 3-4 meses. Os resultados para alívio imediato da dor varia de 69% a 100% dos casos, enquanto os escores de Karnofsky foram de 20 e 70 no período pré-operatório, para 20 e 100 no período pós-opertaório; a diferença foi estatisticamente significativa (p < 0.001).

Complicações de angiografia cerebral realizadas em um hospital universitário / Complications of cerebral angiography performed at a university hospital

Objetivos: O risco de complicação de angiografia cerebral tem sido constantemente foco de atenção. O objetivo deste estudofoi avaliar o resultado de angiografia cerebral realizada nos primeiros 30 meses de treinamento operacional em um serviço deneurocirurgia endovascular em um hospital universitário. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo para avaliação de129 resultados de angiografia cerebral digital realizada em 91 pacientes em um hospital universitário da região sul do Brasil.Resultados: A taxa de complicação foi de 2 /129 (1,55%); destas, um (0,77%) paciente apresentou complicação transitória(hematoma no local da punção), e outro (0,77%) apresentou uma complicação permanente com óbito devido à associação entrecoagulação na artéria média cerebral e complicações do trauma inicial. Conclusão: A taxa de complicação da angiografiacerebral observada neste estudo foi baixa (1,75%) e reafirma seu risco reduzido quando realizada em um serviço de neurocirurgiamesmo com profissionais médicos em treinamento.

Histiocitose de células de Langerhans como causa de mielopatia: relato de caso e revisão da literatura / Langerhans-cells histiocytosis as a cause of myelopathy: case report and literature review

Histiocitose de células de Langerhans é uma doença uni ou multifocal que acomete osso, tecido mole ou ambos. Relativamente incomum, abrange entidades clínicas anteriormente conhecidas como doença de Hand-Schüller-Christian, Abt-Letterer-Siwe, Hashimoto-Pritzker, granuloma eosinofílico e histiocitose X. Responsável por menos de 1% dos tumores ósseos, muito raramente leva a acometimento neurológico. Sua etiologia é desconhecida e seu tratamento, controverso. A ocorrência de um caso com comprometimento neurológico nos motivou a este relato. Paciente do sexo feminino, 4 anos deidade, com processo expansivo de C7 a T3 e paraparesia crural; após a cirurgia apresentou melhora importante já no segundo pós-operatório. Encontra-se em terapia complementar com corticoide e quimioterapia estando no nono mês de tratamento. Na revisão da literatura foram encontrados poucos relatos de manejo cirúrgico desse tipo de lesão, em razão de sua característica de doença autolimitada. O tratamento adequado pode variar dependendo das características do paciente e de seu comprometimento neurológico.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a uni- or multifocal disease that affects bone, soft tissue, or both. Relatively uncommon, covers clinical entities previously known as Hand-Schüller-Christian disease,Abt-Letterer-Siwe, Hashimoto-Pritzker, eosinophilic granuloma and histiocytosis X. Responsible forless than 1% of bone tumors, rarely causes neurological impairment. Its etiology is unknown and the treatment controversial. We report a rare case with neurological impairment. A 4 year-old female children, presented with paraparesis due to expansive process at C7 to T3; soon after surgery showed significant improvement in the second postoperative day; she is in complementary therapy with corticosteroids and chemotherapy in the ninth month of treatment. In the review of the literature we found few reports ofsurgical management of this type of injury, due to its characteristic of self-limited disease. The appropriate treatment may vary depending on the characteristics of patients and their neurological impairment.

Benefício terapêutico do magnésio na fisiopatologia do vasoespasmo após hemorragia subaracnóide: [revisão] / Magnesium in subarachnoide hemorrhage: useful with benefits?: [review]

O vasoespasmo tem sido causador de grande numero de sequelas e óbitos após o evento da hemorragia subaracnóide.Várias hipóteses fisiopatológicas para seu desenvolvimento vêm sendo estudadas na literatura, todavia o envolvimento do magnésio na gênese e como substância terapêutica vem ganhando destaque cada vez maior. Os autores procuram identificar os pontos de relevância da cadeia de equilíbrio entre o cálcio e magnésio nas bombas de membrana endoteliais e o beneficio do mesmo na terapêutica, baseando-se na literatura revisada. A infusão de sulfato de magnésio endovenosa no período em que o vasoespasmo se instala parece ser um conduta extremamente útil e necessária no relaxamento da musculatura endotelial e faz parte hoje da maior parte dos protocolos de tratamento do vasoespasmo pós hemorragia subaracnóide.

Pulsatile tinnitus: a symptom of chronic subclavian artery occlusion.

We report the unusual case of pulsatile tinnitus caused by muscular branches of the occipital artery, which developed to supply the distal vertebral artery after subclavian artery occlusion. Anatomical findings and options of endovascular treatment are discussed. To our knowledge, subclavian artery occlusion causing an objective tinnitus has not been reported.

Prevenção de hematoma subgaleal pós-operatório. técnica de curativo / New technique for postoperative craniotomy dressing

Uma das complicações que ocorrem no pós-operatório das craniotomias é a formação de coleções subgaleais por extravasamento de sangue ao nível da incisão. Apesar da utilização de curativos compressivos, esses fatos ocorrem em grande número de casos e, em alguns serviços, são utilizados drenos externos para tentar minimizar esse problema. Como, além de onerar o procedimento cirúrgico, essa técnica ainda possibilita o aparecimento de infecção, o Serviço de Neurocirurgia do Hospital Universitário do Norte do Paraná passou a utilizar uma nova técnica de curativo, em que são utilizadas luva e dreno de Penrose parcialmente cheios de soro, respectivamente sobre a craniotomia e na região supra-orbitária, conseguindo evitar essa complicação.