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Thirty-eight patients with brain injury and mesencephalic coma, or a Glasgow score of less than 5, were treated routinely with Thiopental administered by electric syringe for a mean duration of 4 days. Follow up review criteria were based on clinical computed tomography and electroencephalographic data, as well as results of monitoring of intracranial pressure and assay of blood barbiturate levels. Global results indicated a mortality of 55.3% and reintegration of 34.2% of the patients. Results as a function of the different parameters of surveillance are discussed.

The therapeutic efficacy of intravenous nimodipine to treat the syndrome of delayed ischemic deterioration or vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by a ruptured aneurysm was investigated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study. A total of 188 patients (nimodipine (N) = 102, placebo (P) = 86) were enrolled in the study, both pre- and postoperatively, within 24 hours of clinical deterioration connected with vasospasm or within 24 hours of arteriography that identified vasospasm. After 61 patients were excluded for not meeting study criteria or for protocol violation, the results were supported by 127 validated case reports: 73 patients received intravenous treatment with nimodipine, and 54 were given placebo. Analysis of the main criterion of efficacy, the number of deaths and of patients with severe deficit related to vasospasm alone, showed a significant statistical difference (N = 8 (19%), P = 17 (49%), P = 0.01). The risk of death or disability was reduced by 66% in the treated group. Analysis of this criterion by type of inclusion (clinical or angiographic) also showed a significant reduction in the clinical group (P = 0.05), but there was no difference in the angiographic group. The risk of mortality connected with vasospasm was reduced by 82%, but analysis by group showed that there was no significant difference for those patients included on clinical criteria, whereas mortality was reduced to a much greater extent in the angiographic group. These results demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of nimodipine in reducing secondary ischemic brain damage in patients already suffering from angiographic vasospasm or delayed ischemic deterioration.

Over the past few years considerable amount of clinical syndromes describing brain stem levels of lesion were reported. This work was undertaken to establish, if possible, a simplification of criterions of axial lesions in head injuries. 125 patients with severe head injuries were strictly selected. Statistical analysis of careful examination of clinical pattern was performed and correlated, when possible, with anatomical lesions. Only four homogeneous groups were isolated:--group I represents the cortico-sub-cortical level,--group II représents the diencéphalie level,--group III represents the upper brain stem level with two subdivisions dependent upon the mechanism of herniation : central or uncus,--group IV represents the lower brain stem level.

One hundred and eleven measurements of cerebral blood flow (C.B.F.) were performed using the Xenon 133 inhalation method in 80 cases of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage of which 59 were due to ruptured aneurysms. This method is non-traumatic, reproducible and dependable. A correlation was found between clinical condition and C.B.F. values, but in a number of cases which cannot be dismissed, very low mean C.B.F. values or ischemic foci were revealed where clinical state gave no indication. A poor correlation appeared between vasospasm seen by angiography and ischemic foci detected by isotopic technique. Patients' age influenced C.B.F. values but not clinical evolution. No correlation was found between C.B.F. values and cisternal blood seen on CT scan. C.B.F. values, measured in the first two weeks of illness, were significantly higher in those patients having favorable outcome, whatever their clinical state at the time of C.B.F. measurement (comas excluded). The figure of 60 ml/100 g/min for mean cortical flow seemed to be a critical level below which the risk of complication was greater. Below this level or in cases or ischemic foci, surgery was delayed. Thus, C.B.F. measurement promises to be a valuable prognostic tool, playing an important role in the therapeutic strategy for this type of patients.