Decompressive craniectomy in massive cerebral infarction.

Twenty one patients were submitted to decompressive craniectomy for massive cerebral infarct. Ten patients (47.6%) presented a good outcome at the 6 months evaluation, eight had a poor outcome (38%) and three died (14.2%). There was no outcome statistical difference between surgery before and after 24 hours of ictus, dominant and non-dominant stroke groups. Patients older than 60 years and those who had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)<8 in the pre-surgical exam presented worst outcome at six months (p<0.05). Decompressive craniectomy for space-occupying large hemispheric infarction increases the probability of survival. Age lower than 60 years, GCS >8 at pre-surgical exam and decompressive craniectomy before signs of brain herniation represent the main factors related to a better outcome. Dominant hemispheric infarction does not represent exclusion criteria.

Decompressive craniectomy in massive cerebral infarction / Craniectomia descompressiva no infarto cerebral extenso

Twenty one patients were submitted to decompressive craniectomy for massive cerebral infarct. Ten patients (47.6 percent) presented a good outcome at the 6 months evaluation, eight had a poor outcome (38 percent) and three died (14.2 percent). There was no outcome statistical difference between surgery before and after 24 hours of ictus, dominant and non-dominant stroke groups. Patients older than 60 years and those who had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)<8 in the pre-surgical exam presented worst outcome at six months (p<0.05). Decompressive craniectomy for space-occupying large hemispheric infarction increases the probability of survival. Age lower than 60 years, GCS >8 at pre-surgical exam and decompressive craniectomy before signs of brain herniation represent the main factors related to a better outcome. Dominant hemispheric infarction does not represent exclusion criteria.

Vinte e um pacientes foram submetidos a craniectomia descompressiva para o tratamento de infarto cerebral extenso. Dez pacientes (47,6 por cento) apresentaram boa evolução em avaliação após 6 meses, 8 apresentaram evolução desfavorável (38 por cento) e 3 faleceram (14,2 por cento). Durante o seguimento, não se evidenciou diferença estatística na evolução entre pacientes operados antes e após 24 horas do ictus, nem entre lesões envolvendo o hemisfério dominante versus não dominante. Pacientes com mais de 60 anos e aqueles com Escala de Coma de Glasgow (ECG)<8 na avaliação pré-operatória apresentaram pior evolução após 6 meses (p<0,05). A craniectomia descompressiva para infartos hemisféricos extensos aumentam a probabilidade de sobrevivência. Idade abaixo de 60 anos e ECG >8 no exame pré-operatório e craniectomia descompressiva antes de sinais de herniação cerebral representam os principais fatores relacionados a uma melhor evolução clínica. Infarto hemisférico envolvendo o hemisfério dominante não representa um critério de exclusão.

Surgical management of intracranial aneurysms in the "coiling age"

Background: Intracranial aneurysm rupture is associated with substantial rates of morbidity and mortality. The classic neurosurgical treatment for such lesions is the craniotomy for clipping. However, over the last 10 years, surgery has been increasingly replaced by the endovascular technique. Objective: Analyze the results of surgery technique in a Public Health Hospital in the "coiling age". Method:We reviewed a series of 149 patients treated for 191 aneurysms by the traditional craniotomy and clipping technique. Results:We observed an overall mortality of 12.1 por cento, poor outcome of 8 por cento and good outcome of 79.8 por cento. Hunt Hess scores >_3 in the pre-surgical evaluation were associated to a higher length of hospital stay (p=0.047).Better outcome was observed in patients with Hunt Hess score <3 comparing with patients with Hunt Hess score >_ 3 before surgery (p<0.000). Patients who presented with Fisher Scale grade 4 presented a poor prognosis when compared to the other groups (p=0.016). Conclusion:Excellent results may be achieved by craniotomy to treat aneurysms, which still represents a useful technique for lesions that can not be safely treated by endovascular techniques nowadays.

Manejo atual dos macroprolactinomas: revisão de literatura / Current management of macroprolactinomas: literature review

Tumores hipofisários secretores de prolactina representam ate 64 por cento do total de adenomas secretores. A proporção superior de macroprolactinomas em homens ainda não tem sua causa estabelecida, apesar de estudos moleculares iniciais apontarem para um provável crescimento tumoral acelerado no sexo masculino; uma outra causa seria a apresentação clínica diferente entre os sexos. O tratamento farmacológico apresenta-se como escolha inicial na maioria dos casos, com altas taxas de controle tumoral mediante o uso de agonistas dopaminérgicos. A cirurgia é indicada principalmente a pacientes que não toleram ou não obtém bons resultados com as medicações, em tumores de grande conteúdo cístico e em casos de apoplexia hipofisária. A indicação da radioterapia ainda não está bem definida, porém os melhores resultados obtidos atualmente com o uso de radiocirurgia indicam o possível papel dessa modalidade no tratamento de adenomas que não responderam adequadamente à cirurgia nem ao tratamento clínico...

Cisto aracnóide intracraniano: revisão de literatura / Arachnoid cysts: a review of the literature

Objetivo: Revisão da literatura sobre os cistos aracnóides intracranianos – formação e evolução, dados epidemiológicos e clínicos, aspectos de neuroimagem e tratamento. Método: Realizamos pesquisa bibliográfica utilizando como base de dados o MEDLINE (National Library of Medicine), abrangendo operíodo de 1980 a 2006. As palavras-chave utilizadas foram arachnoid cysts e intracranial cysts. Também realizamos pesquisa manual em jornais e revistas médicas. Artigos com dados clínicos incompletos não foram incluídos no trabalho. Conclusões: Embora haja um consenso sobre a intervenção cirúrgica para os casos sintomáticos, a abordagem ideal ainda é controversa.

Objective: To review the current literature on intracranial arachnoid cysts related to its formation,evolution, the epidemiological, clinical and neuro imaging aspects and also its treatment. Method:Bibliographic review was done using Medline data base from 1980 to 2006. The key words used were arachnoid cysts and intracranial cysts. Manual research on pertinent medical publications was also done.Articles with incomplete clinical data were not included. Conclusions: Although there is a consensus that surgery should be performed only in the symptomatic cases, there is no general agreement whichis the best surgical approach to deal with arachnoid cysts.

Endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms: a retrospective study of 163 embolized aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: To present the results of cerebral aneurysms treated by endovascular technique. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of patient files of Hospital Geral de Fortaleza, Brazil. RESULTS: We report the results of 163 cerebral aneurysms treated by endovascular techniques from January 2002 to October 2005. Patients with ruptured aneurysms (87.2%), according to Hunt-Hess scale were: 33.7% HH I, 28.4% HH II, 24.1% HH III, 13.8% HH IV. The Fisher scale grade IV was the most common (39.7%). Remodeling, coil embolization, arterial occlusion and histoacryl embolization were the techniques employed. Effective occlusion was achieved in 87.7%, partial occlusion in 5.3% and non-effective occlusion in 7.0% of the patients. Glasgow outcome scale results were: 76.3% GOS 5, 5.0% GOS 4, 5.8% GOS 3, 1.4% GOS 2 and 11.5% GOS 1. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment seems to be feasible within Brazilian public health system, with results as good as those obtained in larger international centers.

Endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms: a retrospective study of 163 embolized aneurysms

OBJECTIVE: To present the results of cerebral aneurysms treated by endovascular technique. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of patient files of Hospital Geral de Fortaleza, Brazil. RESULTS: We report the results of 163 cerebral aneurysms treated by endovascular techniques from January 2002 to October 2005. Patients with ruptured aneurysms (87.2 percent), according to Hunt-Hess scale were: 33.7 percent HH I, 28.4 percent HH II, 24.1 percent HH III, 13.8 percent HH IV. The Fisher scale grade IV was the most common (39.7 percent). Remodeling, coil embolization, arterial occlusion and histoacryl embolization were the techniques employed. Effective occlusion was achieved in 87.7 percent, partial occlusion in 5.3 percent and non-effective occlusion in 7.0 percent of the patients. Glasgow outcome scale results were: 76.3 percent GOS 5, 5.0 percent GOS 4, 5.8 percent GOS 3, 1.4 percent GOS 2 and 11.5 percent GOS 1. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment seems to be feasible within Brazilian public health system, with results as good as those obtained in larger international centers.

OBJETIVO: Apresentar os resultados de aneurismas tratados pela técnica endovascular. MÉTODO: Análise retrospectiva de prontuários do Hospital Geral de Fortaleza, Brasil. RESULTADOS: Apresentamos os resultados de 163 aneurismas cerebrais tratados por técnicas endovasculares de Janeiro de 2002 a Outubro de 2005. Os pacientes com aneurismas rotos (87,2 por cento) eram, segundo a escala de Hunt-Hess: 33,7 por cento HH1; 28.4 por cento HH II, 24.1 por cento HH III, 13.8 por cento HH IV. O Grau IV da escala de Fisher foi o mais comum (39,7 por cento). Empregaram-se as técnicas de remodeling, espiras metálicas, oclusão arterial e embolização com histoacryl. Foi obtida oclusão efetiva em 87,7 por cento, oclusão parcial em 5,3 por cento e oclusão não-efetiva em 7,0 por cento dos casos. De acordo com a Glasgow outcome scale, os resultados foram: 76,3 por cento GOS 5, 5,0 por cento GOS 4, 5,8 por cento GOS 3, 1,4 por cento GOS 2 e 11,5 por cento GOS 1. CONCLUSÃO: A aplicação de técnica endovasculares mostra-se viável na rede pública brasileira, com resultados comparáveis aos de grandes centros mundiais.