Stereotactic neurosurgery in children and adolescents.

Between March 1992 and January 1998, 100 stereotactic procedures were carried out in our Stereotactic Department. Of these, 24 were performed on patients under 18 years of age, 22 of them under a local anaesthetic and sedation. The ages of these patients ranged between 4 months and 18 years. The stereotactic procedures carried out were: 15 cerebral biopsies, 5 iodine-125 implants, 4 implantations of Rickham reservoirs with ventricular catheter, with additional holes to establish a connection between the cyst content and the ventricular system (internal drainage): 2 of these patients had arachnoidal cysts in the pineal region, 1 a thalamic neuroepithelial cyst and 1 a cystic craniopharyngioma, with excellent control of hydrocephalus. All cerebral biopsies were positive, including 3 in which brain stem tumours were detected. Of the 5 patients treated by brachytherapy, 4 had pilocytic astrocytomas and 1 an anaplastic astrocytoma. The sites of the tumours for which implants were used were the thalamus in 4 cases, and the basal ganglia (corpus striatum) in 1. In only 2 cases was there some transistory morbidity, and mortality was nil. The stereotactic procedures in this varied group were well tolerated, with low morbidity and mortality rates, which proves that this method is effective and safe for patients. It can also be used for the diagnosis of brain stem tumours. Midline cysts can also be treated by means of internal drainage with catheters (a minimally invasive form of surgery).

Three treatment schemes with colloidal bismuth subcitrate (Q-ULCER) in peptic ulcer with Helicobacter pylori.

BACKGROUND: Since the discovery, several decades ago, of the infection of the gastric mucosa with Helicobacter pylori and its association with chronic antral gastritis and peptic ulcer, the treatment of ulcer illness has recently been revolutionized. METHODS: In this study, the clinical effectiveness of three schemes of treatment with colloidal bismuth subcitrate (CBS) were compared. Fifty-three patients suffering from gastroduodenal peptic ulcer with Helicobacter pylori were distributed randomly into three groups. Group I (n = 17) received 240 mg CBS every 12 h for 6 weeks. Group II (n = 17) received 240 mg CBS every 12 h for 6 weeks, pus metronidazole 500 mg every 8 h plus tetracycline 500 mg every 8 h for 10 days. Group III (n = 19) received 240 mg CBS every 12 h for 6 weeks, plus metronidazole 500 mg every 8 h plus amoxicillin 750 mg every 12 h for 10 days. A duodenoscopy investigation with antrum biopsy for a morphologic study and detection of the germ was carried out by means of urease test and histological study (Warthin-Sarry and hematoxylin-eosin). RESULTS: The three schemes of treatment were effective for ulcerous healing with 70.5%, 82.3%, and 78.2%, respectively, without significant differences. The highest clearing index (52.6%) was obtained in group III. CONCLUSIONS: With these treatments, the Helicobacter pylori eradication was only observed in 47.3% of the patients studied.