Safety of perioperative minidose heparin in patients undergoing brain tumor surgery: a prospective, randomized, double-blind study.

OBJECT: Thromboembolic phenomena (TEPs) continue to be a significant source of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing neurosurgery. Although the efficacy of low-dose heparin in preventing TEPs in neurosurgical patients is well established, neurosurgeons are reluctant to use it perioperatively because of concern for increased bleeding complications. To clarify this issue, the authors used a prospective, randomized, double-blind design to evaluate the safety of minidose heparin treatment in patients undergoing surgery for supratentorial brain tumors. METHODS: One hundred three patients, all 40 years of age or older, were treated with either 5000 U of heparin (55 patients) or placebo (48 patients) starting 2 hours before surgery and continuing until full mobilization or for 7 days. Both groups were well matched for sex, weight, duration of surgery, and tumor diagnosis. Subjective and objective parameters were used to estimate and calculate the perioperative bleeding tendency in all patients. Red blood cell mass loss was calculated by assessing the preoperative and postoperative hematocrit and the patient's weight. Intraoperative blood loss was determined by measuring the quantity of blood in the suction containers and subtracting the amount of irrigation fluids. Postoperative bleeding was measured by determining the amount of fluid in the subgaleal drain, and blood cell replacement was monitored during and after the procedure. Intracranial bleeding was graded according to findings on the postoperative computerized tomography scan obtained 48 to 72 hours after surgery. In addition, the senior surgeon in each case was asked to assess each patient's bleeding tendency during the operation. The results showed that perioperative administration of heparin did not significantly alter bleeding tendency by any measured parameter. The surgeon was blinded to which group individual patients had been allocated. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative minidose heparin is safe for use in patients undergoing craniotomy for supratentorial tumors. This relatively simple and inexpensive measure is recommended as a routine regimen for the prevention of TEPs in patients undergoing neurosurgery.

Cardiopulmonary bypass with two oxygenators.

We describe a technique to bypass a defective part of an oxygenator unit (venous reservoir or oxygenator part) by connecting a second oxygenator instead of replacing the whole oxygenator unit. If only the oxygenator part has to be replaced, further hemodilution can be avoided. This technique can be performed in very short time and is probably associated with less air embolism.

Transcutaneous Teflon injection of the paralyzed vocal cord: an improvised technique.

We describe a new technique for the direct injection of Teflon into a paralyzed vocal cord for purposes of augmentation.

Surgical outcome in an elderly population with intracranial meningioma.

Thirty seven patients aged 70 and over (mean = 74 years) with an intracranial meningioma who had craniotomy between the years 1978-88 were reviewed. There were 20 women and 17 men. Resection was total in 28 (76%) and subtotal in 9 (24%) cases and each tumour was histologically verified. The location of the tumours were: base of skull 11, convexity 10, parasagittal 9, falx 6, and tentorial 1. The most frequent associated diseases were: hypertension (35%), chronic ischaemic heart disease (22%) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (19%), and diabetes (14%). The Karnofsky Scale (KS) score before surgery ranged from 30 to 90 (mean = 59). It was less than 40 in ten patients. The length of anaesthesia during the surgical procedure varied from 4 to 12 hours and was not related to the outcome. There were two perioperative deaths (mortality = 5.4%). There were major complications in 8 patients and minor complications in 7 patients. In a mean follow up period of 29 months (shortest 6 and longest 96 months) the results were: excellent (KS 90-100) 39%, good (KS 70-80) 49%, fair (KS 60) 6%, and poor (KS 40-50) 6%. The difference between the mean preoperative KS value (KS = 59) and the mean postoperative KS value (KS = 80) was statistically significant (P less than 0.001). The results support a more aggressive therapeutic approach to the elderly patient with an intracranial meningioma.

Local anesthesia in carotid endarterectomy: an alternative method.

Results of carotid endarterectomy (41 operations) carried out under local anesthesia are presented. There were no deaths within 30 days. Three patients had undergone surgery with a temporary internal shunt, following signs of neurological changes (unconsciousness, aphasia, motor changes) during 1-min test cross-clamping. No neurologic deficits were observed, and only two patients (4.8%) experienced postoperative hypertension. These data support the view that simple neurological monitoring of awake patients enables accurate assessment of the need for an internal carotid shunt. Carotid endarterectomy under local anesthesia seems to be a very safe procedure. Use of this technique is especially appropriate for elderly patients with hypertension and ischemic heart disease.

Comparison of effect of narcotic and epidural analgesia on postoperative respiratory function.

A prospective, randomized comparison was made of the value of meperidine versus epidural analgesia when used for the relief of pain after cholecystectomy in twenty patients without cardiopulmonary disease. Respiratory function was assessed the day before surgery and at 3 to 4 hours and 24 hours after operation by the bedside measurement of expiratory peak flow, vital capacity, and arterial blood gases. The two groups of patients were comparable as to age, height, weight, smoking habits, preoperative peak flow, vital capacity, and duration of operation. The arterial oxygen tension and oxygen saturation were significantly greater and carbon dioxide tension lower in the epidural analgesia group 24 hours after operation. At this time peak flow rates and vital capacity were not different. However, at 3 to 4 hours postoperatively, vital capacity was significantly greater in the epidural anesthesia group. This might account for the differences in arterial blood gases the following day. These findings suggest that epidural analgesia is valuable in the early postoperative period after upper abdominal surgery.