Lateral sellar angiolipomas: a therapeutic challenge. Our experience on two cases and review of the literature.

Angiolipomas are rare benign mesenchymal tumours, most commonly found in the subcutaneous tissue of the extremities. These neoplasms are rarely located in the central nervous system (CNS), with spinal localization being the most common in this group. Intracranial location is extremely infrequent, and only ten cases have been described in the sellar region. We report on two more patients with skull-base (intracranial) angiolipomas, the former presented with a long history of headache and the latter complained diplopia. Both patients were postoperatively verified as angiolipoma. Neuroimaging studies and peroperative features are presented and the role of microsurgery is discussed. On the basis of these tumours' characteristics, the management strategy of choice usually does not consist on surgical total removal, often a partial excision could be satisfying to improve the patient symptomatology. Nowadays, Gamma Knife surgery is standing out as an effective, additional and/or alternative, treatment modality.

A model for rural trauma care.

BACKGROUND: In the United States and many other countries, there has been limited attempt to develop a trauma system that addresses the unique trauma situations that occur in rural areas. Rather the planners have attempted to simply extend the urban based trauma system into rural communities. This extension does not address the needs of the majority of patients who are injured in rural communities. METHODS: A review of the types of patients seen in the rural communities, the volume of these patients and the destination protocols used in the rural communities as taught by the ACS/ATLS and the implications of the CDC Guidelines for Field Triage of Injured Patients Recommendations of the National Expert Panel on Field Triage were reviewed, assessed and compared to the needs in the rural areas for a rural trauma system. In addition, a quality assessment tool was used from a major trauma centre whereby the frequency of patients transported to the centre that were inappropriate for the trauma centre was indicated by the volume that were discharged in 6 h. RESULTS: Most of the patients injured in the rural communities can be treated in the critical access and rural hospital (> 90 per cent) and can be provided with good care without the need for emergency medical service (EMS) transportation long distances to the trauma centre, inappropriate use of air EMS vehicles thus circumventing families having to travel long distances to see patients, incurring expense and inconvenience, and avoiding loss of revenue to the local hospitals and the overload of urban trauma centres. Rather triage criteria can be taught as per the EMS systems, training given to rural hospital personnel, hospital administrators instructed as to the benefit of such a system, citizens educated as to the advantage of keeping their loved ones closer to home and trauma system registries used to enhance the correct use of the trauma system. CONCLUSION: Only 5-10 per cent of trauma injuries require the resources of a trauma centre. Proper triage and medical provider education can be used for the benefit of the patient, the EMS system, the rural and urban hospital, and proper quality assurance to assure that the 'right patient is treated at the right hospital at the right time', for the benefit of the patient.

Giant dilatations of virchow-robin spaces in the midbrain. MRI aspects and review of the literature.

Virchow-Robin spaces are lesions often seen in the brain parenchyma but their etiopathogenesis remains unsettled. Giant Virchow-Robin spaces placed in the midbrain are extremely rare. We describe three patients with a diagnosis of giant Virchow-Robin spaces in the midbrain, and their clinical and radiologic findings. We reviewed the literature in terms of the etiopathology, anatomic and radiologic appearance and differential diagnosis of the giant Virchow-Robin spaces. The diagno-stic role of the high Tesla magnetic resonance devices and new sequences techniques such as three dimensional isotropic acquisition and diffusion tensor imaging were also evaluated in this case series.

Intrathecal baclofen therapy for severe spasticity: analysis on a series of 112 consecutive patients and future prospectives.

OBJECTIVE: Intrathecal baclofen therapy (ITB) is a well-known treatment for spasticity. Despite this fact, several topics have to be still discussed: new indications and screening tools, appropriate surgical timing and complicance avoidance. METHODS: A total of 112 consecutive patients all with a severe, progressive and refractory to medical therapy spasticity from different causes were treated using ITB, after a bolus test. Every patient was assessed by means of Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Penn spasm frequency scale (SFS) and Visual Analog Scale for pain. Since available, a Gait analysis was also performed. RESULTS: There were 63 males (56%) and 49 females (44%). Seventy-four (66%) had a quadriparesis, 34 (30.4%) had a paraparesis and 4 (3.6%) were hemiplegic. Among these patients 77 (68.7%) were non ambulatory, while 35 (31.3%) were ambulatory. These patients suffered from spasticity due to many different diseases. Mean follow-up was 55 months. The mean Modified Ashworth score decreased from 4.5±0.5 preoperatively to 1.2±0.4 on chronic intrathecal baclofen. Daily baclofen dose varied between 23 and 500 mcg. Drug-induced complications and catheter related problems occurred, respectively in 7 (6.3%) and 10 patients (8.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Although ITB is a well known and good treatment option in the management of severe spasticity, because of the different goals and subgroups of patients treated, a variety of techniques are needed to evaluate the benefits of this therapy. New indications, effects of ITB on central nervous system and cognitive functions needs yet to be fully clarified.

Spontaneous intraparenchymal tension pneumocephalus triggered by compulsive forceful nose blowing.

The case is described of a 50-year-old man, treated for 10 years in an outpatient psychiatric clinic for an obsessive compulsive disorder, who presented with acute loss of consciousness after forceful nose blowing. A CT scan revealed an intraparenchymal air collection with tension signs in the left frontal lobe and a bone defect in the roof of the ethmoid sinus. After emergency left frontal craniotomy and dura opening, the gaseous collection was evacuated by a ventricular catheter inserted into the brain and the bone defect was repaired with pericranium flap and muscle. The postoperative course was uneventful with neurocognitive improvement and regained motility. Spontaneous tension pneumocephalus is a rare life-threatening condition which is often caused by a bone defect near the tegmen tympani. This case illustrates both an unusual cause and a unique surgical treatment for spontaneous tension intraparenchymal pneumocephalus. It can be a dangerous entity with potential for early mortality and long-term morbidity if not promptly decompressed. The pathogenesis, diagnosis and surgical strategies for spontaneous tension pneumocephalus are briefly discussed.

Peripheral median nerve stimulation for the treatment of iatrogenic complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type II after carpal tunnel surgery.

We report on the use and follow-up of direct peripheral nerve stimulation of the median nerve for the treatment of iatrogenic complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). A 56-year-old woman presented with CRPS type II in the right forearm and hand, which had started after multiple carpal tunnel surgeries and had lasted for 2 years. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score was 8-10 out of 10. After a successful 15-day trial of median nerve peripheral nerve stimulation via a quadripolar lead in the right carpal tunnel space, an implantable pulse generator was inserted in the right infraclavicular space. The VAS score decreased to 1-2 out of 10 and the patient regained the ability to sleep. After 36 months of follow-up, the patient was still experiencing good pain relief without other treatment. We conclude that peripheral nerve stimulation is easy to use in pain management and could offer a valid treatment option for iatrogenic CRPS type II.

Excimer Laser Assisted Non-occlusive Anastomosis (ELANA). Our experience with a training model in vivo.

AIM: In this study the ELANA Technique has been reproduced in our experimental laboratory in order to verify its feasibility and reproducibility, the percentage of patent anastomosis in acute at different steps along the learning curve of the surgical team, specific problems related to the surgical technique. METHODS: In 20 rabbits New Zealand 4kg body weight the training model in vivo proposed by Tulleken and coworkers has been reproduced, realizing 40 ELANA anastomosis. The model consists in the realization of two different end-to-side anastomosis on the abdominal aorta of each experimental animal, assisted by a special designed suction/excimer laser catheter, then connected by an end-to-end suture. After a few hours the animals are sacrificed and the by-pass site withdrawn and examined in order to verify the percentage of patency in acute. RESULTS: In the first 5 animals (group A), the anastomosis were realized using a jugular vein graft and the procedure results successful in only 3 cases out of ten (30%). For the following experiments - groups B, C and D where an aorta artery graft was used, the percentage of arterial flap retrieval was respectively 50%, 60% and 80%. CONCLUSIONS: ELANA is a feasible fascinating microsurgical technique for the realization of high flow, non-occlusive anastomosis. The rate of success results progressively higher along the learning curve of the surgical team. In our opinion, before the application of the ELANA technique on humans, a period of propaedeutic training in vivo on laboratory animals is essential for the dedicated team.

A rare symptomatic presentation of ecchordosis physaliphora: neuroradiological and surgical management.

We report a case of ecchordosis physaliphora, an uncommon benign lesion originating from embryonic notochordal remnants, intradurally located in the prepontine cistern, that unusually presented associated with symptoms. MRI detected and precisely located the small mass. At surgery, a cystic gelatinous nodule was found ventral to the pons, contiguous with the dorsal wall of the clivus via a small pedicle. Histological examination diagnosed the lesion as an ecchordosis physaliphora. Here we focus on the analysis of the neuroradiological aspects that play a crucial role from both a diagnostic and a therapeutic standpoint.

Ulcerative and mutilating variant of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Cutaneous involvement in severe carpal tunnel syndrome is secondary to damage to sensory and autonomic fibers of the median nerve. We report the case of a 63 year old man who presented skin and bone lesions, confined to the sensory zones of both median nerves. The lesions consisted of dystrophic modifications of the fingernails, progressive sclerosis, skin thickening and ulcerations on the fingers, acro-osteolysis, and purulent inflammation with subsequent auto-amputation of the distal phalanx of the right index finger. Clinical, neurophysiological and surgical findings are reported. The recovery of the ulcerative lesions suggests the reversibility of autonomic disturbances after surgery.

Post traumatic retropharyngeal pseudomeningocele.

The authors report a case of a 33-year-old man who presented, during recovery from coma due to severe head injury, dysphagia and respiratory failure. Magnetic resonance, retrograde radionuclide myelography and computerized tomographic myelography identified a pseudomeningocele in the retropharyngeal space due to a tear of the left C2 radicular sleeve. After failed medical management, the patient underwent lumbo peritoneal shunt. Magnetic resonance controls showed progressive collapse of the collection. After 3 months the patient was able to breathe spontaneously and to swallow. The authors describe pathogenesis, diagnostic strategy and principles of treatment of traumatic retropharyngeal pseudomeningoceles.

Unusual manifestation of vertebral osteoid osteoma: case report.

We report the case of a 64 year-old man with a clinical history suggesting a low thoracic-cord involvement, in which an unexpected vertebral osteoid osteoma was discovered. The patient underwent MRI of the thoraco-lumbar spine, which included sagittal and axial T1-weighted images, and sagittal double-echo T2-weighted images. Subsequently, CT scan was carried out with 2-mm-thick axial sections, aimed at T10 vertebra. Magnetic resonance imaging disclosed an extra-axial mass at T10 level. Computed tomography scan suggested an osteoid osteoma of the tenth thoracic vertebra, involving the lamina with marked sclerosis and prevalently endocanalar extension. Histology following surgical resection confirmed the diagnosis. In the reported case CT scan provided the correct pre-operative diagnosis of osteoid osteoma despite its unusual clinical--anamnestic presentation. Magnetic resonance imaging was useful in establishing the relationship of the neoplasm with the spinal cord.

Preoperative radiographic staging for ureteral injuries is not warranted in patients undergoing celiotomy for trauma.

Preoperative radiographic staging of the urinary tract has been shown to be inaccurate with regard to the ureter. The purpose of this study was to assess the need for radiographic staging of the injured patient for the diagnosis of ureteral injury before operative exploration. We conducted a retrospective review of all patients who sustained injury of the ureter as the result of external trauma over an 8 Y2-year period at an urban and suburban Level I trauma center. All patients were injured through penetrating mechanisms and underwent laparotomy. Only three patients had preoperative radiographic staging of the urinary tract. No ureteral injuries were missed. We conclude that surgical exploration of the ureter is sufficiently accurate to obviate the need for preoperative radiographic staging of the ureters in patients who have sustained penetrating injury and warrant laparotomy.

The role of nephrectomy in the acutely injured.

HYPOTHESIS: The high mortality in patients who undergo nephrectomy after trauma is not secondary to the nephrectomy itself but is the consequence of a more severe constellation of injuries associated with renal injuries that require operative intervention. DESIGN: A retrospective review of all patients identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes as having sustained renal injuries over a 62-month period. PATIENTS: Seventy-eight patients with renal injuries who underwent exploratory laparotomy were identified. METHODS: All medical records were reviewed for patient management, definitive care, and outcome. Based on outcome, patients were assigned to either the survivor or nonsurvivor group. For patients who underwent nephrectomy, intraoperative core temperature changes, estimated blood loss, and operative time were also reviewed. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients with renal injuries who underwent exploratory laparotomy were identified. Twenty-nine patients underwent laparotomy with conservative management of the renal injury, of whom 5 (17.2%) died. Twelve patients had renal injuries repaired and all survived. Thirty-seven patients underwent nephrectomy, of whom 16 (43.2%) died. Compared with nephrectomy survivors, nephrectomy nonsurvivors had a significantly lower initial systolic blood pressure, higher Injury Severity Score, higher incidence of extra-abdominal injuries, shorter operative duration, and higher estimated operative blood loss. The nephrectomy survivors' core temperature increased a mean of 0.5 degrees C in the operating room, while the nephrectomy nonsurvivors' core temperature cooled a mean of 0.8 degrees C. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who undergo trauma nephrectomy tend to be severely injured and hemodynamically unstable and warrant nephrectomy as part of the damage control paradigm. That a high percentage of patients die after nephrectomy for trauma demonstrates the severity of the overall constellation of injury and is not a consequence of the nephrectomy itself.

Evolution in damage control for exsanguinating penetrating abdominal injury.

OBJECTIVE: Damage control (DC) has proven valuable in exsanguinated patients. The purpose of this study was to quantify and qualify the impact of current damage control principles applied in a penetrating abdominal injury (PAI) population. METHODS: Over a 3-year period (June 1997-May 2000), of 271 laparotomies for PAI, 24 patients underwent DC (8.9%). Demographics, injury grade, resuscitative and operative parameters, acid-base status, coagulation profiles, fluid/transfusion requirements, definitive repairs, abdominal closure, complications, and outcomes were reviewed. Data were compared with our DC experience a decade earlier. Fisher's exact test was used for comparisons. RESULTS: Overall survival improved for equivalent Injury Severity Score, Revised Trauma Score, TRISS, admission systolic blood pressure, operating room systolic blood pressure, and Penetrating Abdominal Trauma Index score. Solids (1.2 vs. 1.3), hollow organ (1.5 vs. 1.7), and major vascular injuries (0.5 vs. 0.8) per patient remain unchanged. Currently, there was less hypothermia with equivalent operating room times. In intensive care unit survivors, acid-base status was similar but coagulopathy and hypothermia were less severe. Definitive colon management has shifted from ostomies to anastomoses. Eventual fascial closure occurred in 14 of 19 (74%) compared with 12 of 14 (86%) in the historical group. There were three gastrointestinal fistulae (one pancreatic), one anastomotic leak, and three intra-abdominal abscesses. CONCLUSION: Continued application of DC principles has led to improved survival with PAI. Better control of temperature, experience with the open abdomen, and intensive care unit care may be causative.

Strategies to improve compliance with evidence-based clinical management guidelines.

BACKGROUND: Clinical management guidelines (CMGs) have been developed to standardize physician practices and ensure safe and cost-effective patient care. In June 1996, evidence-based CMGs were initiated at our urban Level I trauma center. This study compares physician compliance with two such CMGs before (PRE) and after (POST) the institution of continuous surveillance by a clinical resource manager. STUDY DESIGN: For 2 months PRE resource manager surveillance hospital records were reviewed retrospectively for compliance with two CMGs. POST data were collected prospectively for 2 months by the resource manager, who alerted practitioners to deviance from CMGs to justify or document therapy alternatives. The CMGs studied addressed deep venous thrombosis and stress ulcer prophylaxis. "Under" or "over" therapy described that which fell short of or exceeded guidelines. Data were analyzed by chi-square; p < 0.05 defined statistical significance. RESULTS: Compliance with the CMGs was 48% PRE and 74% POST (p=0.001). All noncompliant instances POST (and none PRE) were altered or justified. Deep venous thrombosis and ulcer "over" therapy was significantly higher PRE (19% versus 2%, p=0.003; 49% versus 19%, p=0.001), resulting in $22,760.35 in costs. There was no difference in pulmonary embolism or gastrointestinal bleed rate (1%) PRE to POST. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a clinical resource manager empowered to monitor and coordinate physician behavior improves compliance with CMGs. Further study is warranted to validate resultant outcomes benefit, specifically cost-effectiveness and duration of the need for such a program.

Hypomagnesemia in trauma patients.

The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of hypomagnesemia in injured patients (versus a general hospital cohort) and to compare total and ionized values with each other and with the incidence of injury severity and ethanol level. It was a descriptive study of consecutive injured patients at a level II trauma center. For 3 months subjects underwent admission paired analysis of blood total magnesium (TMg) and ionized magnesium (IMg). IMg was determined by microanalysis of whole blood (Nova Biomedical, NovaSP9). During the same time period, all hospital samples for TMg (m = 1308) underwent simultaneous IMg testing. Pearson correlation coefficients were determined for IMg versus TMg, Injury Severity Score (ISS), Trauma Score (TS), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and blood units transfused. By convention, hypomagnesemia was defined as TMg < or =1.6 mg/dl and IMg < or = 0.5 mg/dl. Altogether 43% of 113 trauma patients had low magnesium levels compared to 30% of noninjured cohorts (p<0.05). The correlation coefficient (r(2)) for TMg and IMg was 0.74 for TMg values >1.6, but for TMg < or =1.6 the r(2) was 0.35. Coefficients for IMg and ISS, TS, GCS, units transfused, and ethanol level were 0.06, 0.08, 0.10, 0.04, and 0.01, respectively. Mean IMg was 0.57+/-0.09 mg/dl with ethanol ingestion and 0.56+/-0.06 mg/dl without ethanol ingestion (mean +/- SD, p>0.05). It was concluded that hypomagnesia is common in injured patients but does not correlate with indices of injury severity or ethanol level. TMg is not a good predictor of IMg at low levels. Trauma patients may benefit from determination of IMg for accurate diagnosis of a low Mg level to facilitate repletion.

Dose-dependent inhibition of platelet cyclooxygenase-1 and monocyte cyclooxygenase-2 by meloxicam in healthy subjects.

We evaluated whether therapeutic blood levels of meloxicam are associated with selective inhibition of monocyte cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in vitro and ex vivo. Concentration-response curves for the inhibition of monocyte COX-2 and platelet COX-1 were obtained in vitro after the incubation of meloxicam with whole blood samples. Moreover, 11 healthy volunteers received placebo or 7.5 or 15 mg/day meloxicam, each treatment for 7 consecutive days, according to a randomized, double-blind, crossover design. Before dosing and 24 h after the seventh dose of each regimen, heparinized whole blood samples were incubated with lipopolysaccharide (10 microgram/ml) for 24 h at 37 degrees C, and prostaglandin E2 was measured in plasma as an index of monocyte COX-2 activity. The production of thromboxane B2 in whole blood allowed to clot at 37 degrees C for 60 min was assessed as an index of platelet COX-1 activity. The administration of placebo did not significantly affect plasma prostaglandin E2 (21. 3 +/- 7.5 versus 19.1 +/- 4 ng/ml, mean +/- S.D., n = 11) or serum thromboxane B2 (426 +/- 167 versus 425 +/- 150 ng/ml) levels. In contrast, the administration of 7.5 and 15 mg of meloxicam caused dose-dependent reductions in monocyte COX-2 activity by 51% and 70%, respectively, and in platelet COX-1 activity by 25% and 35%, respectively. Although the IC50 value of meloxicam for inhibition of COX-1 was 10-fold higher than the IC50 value of COX-2 in vitro, this biochemical selectivity was inadequate to clearly separate the effects of meloxicam on the two isozymes after oral dosing as a function of the daily dose and interindividual variation in steady-state plasma levels.

Combined blunt cardiac and pericardial rupture: review of the literature and report of a new diagnostic algorithm.

The spectrum of blunt cardiac injury varies from the asymptomatic cardiac concussion to the immediately fatal cardiac rupture. Although the majority of victims sustaining blunt cardiac rupture die before receiving medical attention, some survive to evaluation. The diagnosis of cardiac rupture, if established, typically results from the signs and symptoms of pericardial tamponade. However, some patients may have remarkably few signs and symptoms suggestive of cardiac injury and represent a significant diagnostic challenge. We provide two cases of cardiac rupture in which the diagnosis was delayed by the presence of an associated pericardial tear with decompression into the mediastinum and pleural space. In neither of the cases did existing institutional algorithms for blunt cardiac injury assist in establishing the diagnosis before the acute demise of the patient. The presence of a coexisting pericardial injury in these patients with blunt cardiac rupture obscured the diagnosis, leading to the deaths of these patients. A discussion of these two cases and review of the literature is provided with recommendations for diagnostic algorithms in patients sustaining blunt thoracic trauma with possible cardiac and pericardial injury.