[Predictive capability of Cys112Arg single nucleotide polymorphisms of the apolipoprotein E gene in assessing the risk of immediate and early post-traumatic seizures].

This study is aimed at investigating epileptic seizures, one of the consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Immediate and early post-traumatic seizures, as well as late post-traumatic epileptic seizures or post-traumatic epilepsy, can have different pathogenetic bases. The following key risk factors associated with post-traumatic epilepsy are known: duration of unconsciousness, gunshot wounds, intracranial hemorrhage, diffuse axonal injury, prolonged (more than 3 days) post-traumatic amnesia, acute subdural hematoma with surgical evacuation, immediate and early post-traumatic epileptic seizures, fracture of the skull bones. The role of genetic factors in post-traumatic seizures is poorly understood due to the complexity and multiple causal mechanisms. This paper addresses the role of genetic factors in the occurrence and severity of epileptic events in patients with TBI. In particular, we investigated the role of the Cys112Arg single nucleotide polymorphism of the apolipoprotein E gene. Apolipoprotein E is known for its role in the transport and metabolism of lipids and, therefore, the development of cardiovascular diseases; it is also associated with Alzheimer's disease and has recently been studied in the context of association with epilepsy. The study shows an association between this polymorphism and the risk of immediate and early epileptic seizures in patients with severe TBI.

[Early predictive biomarkers of posttraumatic epilepsy]. / Rannie prediktivnye biomarkery posttravmaticheskoi epilepsii.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects about 50 million people in the world every year. Posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) is a significant complication of TBI of any severity. PTE occurs in 20% of patients with TBI. Treatment of patients with PTE is particularly difficult due to obvious tendency towards drug resistance. Currently, there are no validated predictive biomarkers for PTE. Development of a system of validated predictive markers would improve PTE prediction quality and therapeutic approach for these patients. This review is devoted to the current data on the most perspective predictive biomarkers of PTE for clinical practice.

[Use of the IntelliVent-ASV mode for maintaining the target EtCO2 range in patients with severe TBI]. / Ispol'zovanie rezhima IntelliVent-ASV dlia podderzhaniia tselevogo diapazona EtCO2 u patsientov s tiazheloi ChMT.

PURPOSE: the study purpose was to evaluate the efficacy of the IntelliVent-ASV mode in maintaining the target range of PaCO2 in patients with severe TBI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 12 severe TBI patients with the wakefulness level scored 4-9 (GCS). This was a crossover design study. Two ventilation modes were consecutively used: IntelliVent-ASV and P-CMV, for 12 h each. When using the P-CMV mode, the ventilation parameters were set to maintain PaCO2 in a range of 35-38 mm Hg. The IntelliVent-ASV mode involved the Brain Injury ventilation algorithm. The target range of EtCO2 was set in accordance with the delta PaCO2-EtCO2 to maintain PaCO2 in a range of 35-38. At the beginning of each ventilation period and every 3 hours, the arterial blood gas composition was analyzed. When PaCO2 occurred out of the 35-38 range, appropriate adjustments were made to the ventilation parameters. In the P-CMV mode, the Pinsp and RR parameters were adjusted to achieve the target PaCO2 range. In IntelliVent mode, a shift of the target EtCO2 range was adjusted in accordance with a changed PaCO2-EtCO2 difference. In all patients, ICP, blood pressure, and EtCO2 were monitored; the arterial blood gas composition was analyzed every 3 h; the frequency of manual settings of ventilation parameters was recorded. RESULTS: The EtCO2 and PaCO2 parameters were found not to be significantly different in the P-CMV and IntelliVent modes, but the spread in these parameters was significantly lower in the IntelliVent ventilation mode. The PaCO2 parameter occurred out of the target range significantly less often in the IntelliVent mode than in the P-CMV mode. The mean frequency of manual respirator settings needed to maintain the target EtCO2 range was significantly lower in the IntelliVent-ASV mode than in the P-CMV mode. CONCLUSION: The IntelliVent-ASV mode provides more efficient maintenance of PaCO2 in the target range compared to traditional artificial ventilation using fewer manual settings of the ventilation parameters.

[The management of patients with new epileptic seizures in the early period after resection of hemispheric tumors: two case reports and a literature review]. / Taktika vedeniia patsientov s vpervye épilepticheskimi pristupami v rannem periode posle udaleniia opukholei bol'shikh polusharii: dva nabliudeniia i obzor literatury.

Epileptic seizures developing for the first time after a neurosurgical intervention (de novo seizures) are a challenge for choosing an optimal treatment. The pathogenesis of these seizures is often associated with factors that become inactive in the early postoperative period. These seizures can not serve the basis for diagnosing symptomatic epilepsy and should be regarded as a brain response to surgery, and patients do not need anticonvulsant therapy that reduces the quality of life. But in some situations, new early postoperative seizures serve the onset of symptomatic epilepsy and require prolonged anticonvulsant therapy. To date, one of the main techniques to identify the nature of newly developed seizure and to plan further treatment (whether or not to use anticonvulsant therapy) is video EEG monitoring. We present two clinical cases of patients who developed de novo convulsive seizures in the early postoperative period in similar situations after resection of intracerebral tumors. The use of video EEG monitoring allowed avoiding unreasonable use of anticonvulsant therapy in one of the patients.

[Paradoxical air embolism resulted in acute myocardial infarction and massive ischemic brain injury in a patient operated on in a sitting position].

Paradoxical air embolism (PAE) is a rare life-threatening complication when air emboli enter arteries of the systemic circulation and cause their occlusion. Here, we describe a clinical case of PAE developed during neurosurgery in a patient in the sitting position. PAE led to injuries to the cerebral blood vessels, coronary arteries, and lungs, which caused death of the patient. An effective measure for preventing PAE is abandoning surgery in the sitting position in favor of surgery in the prone position.

[Application of shot-latency cortical somato-sensory evoked potentials for evaluation of swallowing disorders in early period after posterior fossa surgery].

UNLABELLED: Main tasks of early postoperative period in patients after posterior fossa surgery are the timely and safe weaning from mechanical ventilation and extubation. For clinical assessment of the hypopharynx function we use an algorithm developed in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Burdenko Scientific Research Institute of Neurosurgery. Disadvantages of the clinical test for assessment of patient's readiness for extubation are subjectivity and impossibility to use it in conditions of even superficial sedation. Shot-latency somato-sensory evoked potentials (SSEP) can be applied in conditions of sedation and objectify the brain stem deficit. The goal of the study was to define the changes of cortical SSEP in patients with disorders of swallowing after posterior fossa surgery. To assess the swallowing disorders we used a scale of swallowing disorders in intubated patients with brain stem damage. We compared results of cortical SSEP, test of swallowing disorders in intubated patients and clinical results of extubation. 17 patients with tumors of posterior fossa were included in the study. All patients were divided into two groups depending on duration of mechanical ventilation. Patients of the group-1 were successfully extubated in 4.5 hours. Patients of the group-2 were mechanically ventilated more than 15 hours because of impossibility to pass the test of readiness for extubation. RESULTS: Central conduction time symmetry index after the surgery was lower in the group-1 than in group-2. There was inverse correlation between amplitude of cortical response N20 and time from the patient's admission to the ICU until the moment of extubation. CONCLUSIONS: Asymmetry of central conduction time and decreasing of N20 amplitude can be used as additional predictor of swallowing disorder.

[Using ASV mode for respiratory support withdrawal in patients after posterior fossa surgery].

The study gives data on how to improve the way from mechanical to spontaneous breathing in patients with weakened respiratory drive after posterior fossa tumor removal. We compared the effectiveness of two methods of weaning from mechanical ventilation in these patients. The main group consisted of 6 patients weaned from ventilator with ASV mode. The control group was made up of 10 patients weaned from ventilator with SIMV or PS modes. The duration of weaning from ventilator using ASV mode was significantly shorter than with SIMV or PS modes. During ASV ventilation spontaneous breath rate gradually increased. In all patients the level of P0,1 index representing respiratory center activity was initially lower than normal. While spontaneous breath activity increased the level of P0,1 index also gradually normalized. Plmax index (respiratory effort index) measured once a day increased as well. Weakened respiratory drive is accompanied by P0,1 and Plmax indexes' decrease in patients after posterior fossa tumor removal. ASV mode in these patients allows quicker weaning from mechanical ventilation.