Main description:

There are two important reasons for commencing this new series of publi cations entitled "Advances and Technical Standards in Neurosurgery": 1. the lack of any organized common European postgraduate training system for young neurosurgeons and 2. the language barriers, which impede the exchange of neuro surgical findings in Europe more than in other parts of the world. 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 the Editors 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 publi cation of any volume. Our series is not intended to compete with the publications 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 will be written by specialists in the given fields and will constitute the first part of each volume.

Contents:

A. Advances.- Non-operative Management of Intracranial Hypertension.- I. Pathophysiology of Intracranial Hypertension.- 1. Cerebrospinal Fluid Dynamics and Intracranial Pressure.- 2. Interrelations between Intracranial Pressure and Intracranial Hemodynamics.- 3. Brain Edema.- 4. Transmission of Pressures in the Cranio-Spinal Cavity.- 5. Pressure/Volume Relationships.- 6. Rapid Variations of the Intracranial Pressure in Intracranial Hypertension (Plateau Waves).- 7. Extracranial Correlates of Intracranial Hypertension.- II. Monitoring of the Intracranial Pressure.- 1. Techniques.- 2. Measures against Infection.- 3. Complications.- 4. Interpretation of the Ventricular Fluid Pressure Curve.- a) Statistical Analysis.- 5. Clinical Application.- III. General Principles for the Care of Patients with Intracranial Hypertension.- IV. Special Treatments.- 1. Controlled Drainage of Cerebrospinal Fluid.- 2. Hypertonic Solutions and Diuretics.- a) Mode of Action of Hypertonic Solutions.- b) Clinical Experience with Intravenous Urea and Mannitol.- c) Side Effects.- d) Oral Treatment.- e) Diuretics.- f) Recommended Treatment.- 3. Hyperventilation.- a) Mode of Action and Effect on Intracranial Pressure.- b) Side Effects.- c) Recommended Treatment.- 4. Corticosteroids.- a) Corticosteroids and Intracranial Pressure.- b) Side Effects.- c) Recommended Treatment.- 5. Hypothermia.- 6. Hyperbaric Oxygen.- V. Concluding Remarks.- References.- Chronic Adult Hydrocephalus.- Clinical Signs.- Etiology.- 1. Idiopathic.- 2. Extraventricular Obstruction, Subarachnoid Haemorrhage, Post-Traumatic Hydrocephalus, Post- Meningitic Hydrocephalus.- 3. Focal Brain Lesions.- Pressure Studies.- 1. Intracranial Pressure Measurement.- 2. Resorption Studies.- Radiological Findings.- Isotopic Studies.- A. CSF Normal Scan.- B. CSF Scanning in Chronic Adult Hydrocephalus.- 1. Findings to Date.- 2. Quantitative Studies.- 3. Personal Series.- C. Result of CSF Scan Applied to Physiopathology of CSF Flow.- Treatment.- Pathophysiology.- References.- Surgery of Craniostenosis in Advanced Cases. A Method of Extensive Subperiosteal Resection of the Vault and Base of the Skull Followed Bone Regeneration by Bone Regeneration.- Anatomo-Clinical Considerations.- Operative Procedure.- Clinical Material.- Results and Evaluation.- 1. Surgical Risk.- 2. Decompression Effect, Protection of the Head, and Cosmetic Result.- 3. Regeneration of the Skull.- 4. Neurological Results.- Conclusion.- Illustrative Cases.- Addendum.- References.- Extra-Durai Hematoma.- History.- General Considerations.- Frequency.- Localization.- Sex and Age.- Clinical Signs.- Fractures of the Skull.- Free Interval.- Motor Disorders.- Eye Signs.- Pulse and Blood Pressure.- Other Signs.- a) Vomiting.- b) Anemia.- c) Cerebrospinal Fluid.- Angiography.- Echo-Encephalography.- Treatment.- Results and Conclusions.- References.- B. Technical Standards.- Supratentorial Craniotomy.- General Processes.- Preparation of the Patient's Head.- Location of Skin Incisions.- Control of Scalp Haemorrhage.- Surgical Instruments.- Burr Holes.- Trephine Burr Holes.- Twist Drills.- Doyen Craniotomy.- Closure.- Traps.- The Bone.- The Dura.- Skull Flaps.- The Three Types of Skull Flaps.- Osteoplastic Skull Flap.- Free Skull Flap.- Pedicled Skull Flap.- General Procedure.- Skin Incision.- Procedure for Craniotomy.- Closure.- Modifications to the General Procedure.- Frontal Flaps.- Unilateral Frontal Flap.- Bilateral Frontal Flaps.- Traps.- Temporal Flaps.- Pure Temporal Flap.- Temporo-Frontal Flap.- Traps.- Parietal Flap.- Occipital Flap.- Special Craniotomies.- Occipito-Cerebellar Skull Flap.- Hemispheric Skull Flap.- Cushing Craniotomy (Subtemporal Decompression).- Skull Flap in Young Children.- Flap Reopening.- Conclusion.- References.- Removal of Extramedullar Benign Spinal Cord Tumours.- Laminectomy.- Benign Extradural Tumours.- Benign Intradural Tumours.- Meningiomas.- Neurinomas.- Subdural Lipomas.- Dermoids, Epidermoids, and Teratomas.- Tumours of the Cauda Equina.- Benign Tumours of Foramen Magnum.- Postoperative Treatment.- Results.- References.- Author Index.