Main description:

As an addition to the European postgraduate training system for young neurosurgeons we began to publish in 1974 this series devoted to Advances and Technical Standards in Neurosurgery which was later sponsored by the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies. The fact that the English language is well on the way to becoming the international medium at European scientific conferences is a great asset in terms of mutual understanding. Therefore we have decided to publish all contributions in English, regardless of the native language of the authors. All contributions are submitted to the entire editorial board before publication of any volume. Our series is not intended to compete with the puhlicationR of original scientific papers in other neurosurgical journals. Our intention is, rather, to present fields of neurosurgery and related areas in which important recent advances have been made. The contributions are written by specialists in the given fields and constitute the first part of each volume. In the second part of each volume, we publish detailed descriptions of standard operative procedures, furnished by experienced clinicians; in these articles the authors describe the techniques they employ and explain the advantages, difficulties and risks involved in the various procedures. This part is intended primarily to assist young neurosurgeons in their postgraduate training. However, we are convinced that it will also be useful to experienced, fully trained neurosurgeons.

Contents:

A. Advances.- Applications of Positron Emission Tomography to Neurosurgery.- I. Introduction.- II. Positron Emission Tomography.- III. Tracer Techniques.- IV. Clinical Applications.- 1. Cerebrovascular Disease.- 2. Cerebral Tumours.- 3. Epilepsy.- 4. Subarachnoid Haemorrhage.- V. Conclusion.- References.- Current Status of Functional Neurosurgery.- I. Introduction.- II. Involuntary Movements.- 1. Stereotactic Thalamotomies and Subthalamotomies.- 2. Intracerebral Stimulation.- 3. Spinal Cord Stimulation.- III. Neurosurgical Treatment of Spasticity.- 1. Stereotactic Cerebral and Cerebellar Lesions.- 2. Rhizotomies.- 3. Longitudinal Myelotomy.- 4. Spinal Cord Stimulation.- 5. Cerebral and Cerebellar Stimulation.- IV. Pain.- 1. Percutaneous Controlled Thermocoagulation of Gasserian Ganglion for Trigeminal Neuralgia.- 2. Other Neurosurgical Methods for Trigeminal Neuralgia.- 3. Percutaneous Controlled Thermocoagulation of Glossopharyngeal Nerve.- 4. Percutaneous Controlled Thermocoagulation of Spinal Nerves.- 5. Percutaneous Cervical Cordotomy.- 6. Dorsal Root Entry Zone Lesions.- 7. Stereotactic Thalamotomies and Mesencephalotomies.- 8. Hypophysectomy.- 9. Peripheral Nerve Stimulation.- 10. Spinal Cord Stimulation.- 11. Intracerebral Stimulation.- 12. Spinal Opiate Administration.- V. Epilepsy.- 1. Stereoelectroencephalography.- 2. Surgical Elimination of Epileptic Focus.- 3. Stereotactic Lesions.- VI. Neuroprosthesis, Brain Grafts, and the Future of Functional Neurosurgery.- References.- Radical Surgery in Cerebral AVM-Tactical Procedures Based upon Hemodynamic Factors.- A. Historical Notes.- B. Research on Hemodynamic Factors.- Pre Operative Hemodynamic Factors.- 1. The Flow Velocity in the Carotid Arteries in the Neck.- Technique.- Results.- 2. The Capacity for Autoregulation of Brain Arteries.- Technique.- Results.- 3. Effect of Profound Hypotension on the AVM Shunt.- 4. Mean Circulatory Time.- Post Operative Hemodynamics.- 1. The Flow Velocity in the Carotid Arteries in the Neck.- 2. The Capacity for Autoregulation of Brain Arteries.- C. Surgical Procedures.- Profound Arterial Hypotension.- Techniques of AVM Excision.- 1. Superficial AVM.- a) The Backward Technique.- b) The Classical Technique.- 2. Lenticulo-caudate AVM.- 3. Multiple Staged Operations.- a) Sectorization of AVM.- b) Technical Procedures.- Fronto-motor AVM.- Parietal AVM.- Occipito-temporal AVM.- Deep Seated AVM.- 4. Combined Intra Arterial and Classical Surgery.- D. The Choice of a Surgical Tactic.- E. Complications and Their Prevention.- Complications During Operation.- 1. Profuse Bleeding.- 2. Brain Swelling.- Post Operative Complications.- 1. Acute Intra Cavity Hematoma.- 2. Brain Swelling.- 3. Extensive Coagulation of Veins or Arteries.- 4. Infection.- 5. Deep Softening.- 6. Uncommon Complications.- Complications and Hemodynamics.- F. Results.- Mortality.- Clinical Evolution of Pre-Operative Symptoms.- Morbidity.- G. Conclusion.- References.- B. Technical Standards.- Surgical Posterior Rhizotomies for the Treatment of Pain.- I. Surgical Anatomy of Posterior Roots.- A. Macroscopic Anatomy.- 1. Segmental Organization.- a) Intradural Portion of Spinal Roots.- b) Extradural Portion of Spinal Roots.- 2. Cranio-Caudal Variations.- a) Configuration of Posterior Roots at Their Different Metameric Levels.- b) Posterior Root Anastomoses.- Anastomoses with the XIth Nerve.- Intersegmental Anastomoses Between Posterior Roots.- 3. Vascularization.- a) Radicular Arteries.- b) Radicular Veins.- c) Vascularization of the Posterior Spinal Cord-Rootlet Junction.- B. Microscopic Anatomy.- 1. The Posterior Rootlet Entity.- 2. Fiber Organization at the Posterior Rootlet-Spinal Cord Junction.- C. Functional Anatomy.- 1. Radicular Afferences.- a) Pain Fibres.- b) Radicular Innervation of the Somatic and Visceral Structures.- 2. Modulation of Nociceptive Afferences at the Posterior Root-Spinal Cord Junction.- 3. Patho-Physiological Consequences of Posterior Root Interruptions.- II. Surgical Methods.- A. Technical Procedures.- 1. Intradural Rhizotomies.- a) Intradural Spinal Posterior Rhizotomy.- b) Interruption of the Sensory Cranial Nerves in the Posterior Fossa.- 2. Extradural Procedures.- a) Extradural Spinal Posterior Rhizotomy.- b) Spinal Ganglionectomy.- 3. Selective Posterior Rhizotomy.- B. Identification of Roots.- C. Root Selection.- III. Main Indications.- A. Painful Cancerous Diseases.- 1. Cervical and Cervico-Facial Cancers.- 2. Cervico-Thoracic Cancers.- 3. Cancers of the Trunk.- 4. Pelvic Cancers.- 5. Root Invasions by Vertebro-Epidural Cancers.- B. Painful Non-Cancerous Diseases.- 1. Preferential Indications.- 2. Type of Procedure.- C. Painful Spastic Diseases.- Conclusion.- References.- The Infratemporal Fossa Approach for Lesions of the Skull Base.- Type A Approach.- I. Tumor Exposure.- II. Tumor Removal.- III. Wound Closure.- Type B Approach.- I. Tumor Exposure and Removal.- II. Wound Closure.- Type C Approach.- I. Tumor Exposure.- II. Tumor Removal.- III. Wound Closure.- Conclusions.- Acknowledgement.- References.- Author Index.