[The influence of shunt surgery on the improvement of cognitive disorders in hydrocephalic patients]. / Wplyw zalozenia zastawki na poprawe zaburzen poznawczych u chorych z wodoglowiem.

We present 43 cases with cognitive disorders due to communicating hydrocephalus assessed by means of neuropshychological tests before and 4-8 months after shunt treatment. The patients were the part of the 95 hydrocephalic cases (45.3%) operated on in the period of 1993-98 at the Department of Neurosurgery in Kraków. Cognitive functions improvement was detected in 81.4% cases, no changes in 7%, and deterioration in 11.6%. Most often the improvement of lingual function, short memory and attention was noted. The worst prognosis for the prediction of improvement of the cognitive functions had the patients with significant cerebral atrophy, and those with symptoms lasting over 1 years.

[Neuropsychological disorders after subarachnoid hemorrhage and surgery in anterior communicating artery brain aneurysms]. / Zaburzenia neuropsychologiczne po krwotoku podpajeczynówkowym i operacjach tetniaków tetnicy laczacej przedniej mózgu.

In the years 1982-1985 in the Dept. of Neurosurgery of the Jagiellonian University, 197 patients with anterior communicating artery aneurysms were operated on. Excluding multiple aneurysms (9), and taking into account early surgical losses (16), 172 patients were supposed to undergo late medical examinations. The patients were examined by means of questionnaires at least five years after surgery. 43 patients out of the 123 (71.5%) who handed in filled-in questionnaires, underwent psychological examination. Preliminary analysis of the late results of surgery indicates maintenance of the neurological disorders and symptoms. Within the group of examined patients (a neuropsychological examination, Wechsler Scale) it was found that 33 patients had considerable morbid decline in their mental condition and 4 patients moderate. 6 patients were not examined with Wechsler Scale because of aphasia (5 patients) and considerable deterioration of visual acquity (1 patient). The results of the neuropsychological examination showed that the symptoms that predominated were: short memory disorder, a slowdown in psychical and motor functions, conscious concentration disorder, elements of dynamic apraxia and increased tiredness as far as psychical process was concerned. 14 patients (32.6%) resumed work on their former posts, among them the 4 patients who had moderate morbid decline in their mental condition.

The Kluver-Bucy syndrome.

Evolution of psychological disorders following head injury including memory and other cognitive disorders are common. The best known are psychiatric disturbances of various kinds after lesions of the frontal lobes. Cognitive, behavioural and emotional disorders are not usually seen in patients with bilateral temporal lesions. In our Department of Neurotraumatology we have observed 4 patients with posttraumatic lesions localized bitemporally. They developed Kluver-Bucy syndrome-rarity in human pathology-combined with three or more of the following symptoms and signs: increased oral activity, hypersexuality, hypermetamorphosis, memory disorders, placidity, loss of people recognition, bulimia. Several symptoms responded dramatically to carbamazepine. We conclude that it may be a useful agent in the treatment of this unusual syndrome.

The Kluver-Bucy syndrome.

Evolution of psychological disorders following head injury including memory disorders and other cognitive ones are common. The best known are psychiatric disturbances of various kind after lesions of frontal lobes. Cognitive, behavioural and emotional disorders are not usually seen in patients with bilateral temporal lesions. In our Department of Neurotraumatology we observed 4 patients with post-traumatic lesions localized bitemporally. They developed Kluver-Bucy syndrome--rarity in human pathology--with combination of three or more the following syndromes: increased oral activity, hypersexuality, hypermetamorphosis, memory disorders, placidity, loss of people recognition, bulimia. Several symptoms responded dramatically to carbamazepine. We conclude that it may be a useful agent in treatment of this unusual syndrome.