• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.184-198
• /
• 2012

The purpose of intra-operative neurological monitoring (INM) is to minimize surgically induced nerve damage, sensory nerves and motor neurons without affecting the operations to proceed during surgery such as evoked potentials (EP), electromyography (EMG), electroencephalography (EEG), transcranial doppler (TCD), etc. During the course of checking a patient's condition, surveillance of ambulatory patients is a very different thing to check if the test is done under general anesthesia. INM can be possible or impossible depending on the type of drugs used and their concentrations because the monitoring is performed under anesthesia. Therefore, it is emphasized on the necessity of reviewing anesthesia which influences on INM.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.117-121
• /
• 2015

Chordoid glioma is a rare, low-grade brain neoplasm typically located in the third ventricle. Herein, we report an unusual case of histologically confirmed chordoid glioma located in the pituitary fossa and suprasellar region, not attached to the third ventricle. A 57-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of headache and visual disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an ovoid mass in the pituitary fossa and suprasellar region, compressing the optic chiasm without involvement of the third ventricle. The tumor showed low signal intensity on T1-weighted images and iso- to high signal intensity on T2-weighted images, with strong and homogenous contrast enhancement. Subtotal resection was performed via the transcranial approach, and the patient subsequently received adjuvant gamma knife radiosurgery. However, the residual mass showed disease progression 5 months after the initial surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.50-55
• /
• 2004

Background: Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) can detect microembolic signals (MES) in the patients with a potential embolic source. Clinical significance of MES has not been demonstrated in patients with prosthetic mechanical heart valves. We studied the correlation between cerebral thromboemoblic events after the mechanical heart valve surgery (MHVS) and residual MES during TCD monitoring with 100% oxygen inhalation in patients with mechanical heart valves. Material and Method: Twenty patients with previous cerebral thromboemoblic events after MHVS and a sex- and age-matched control group (n=30) were studied. TCD monitoring was performed from unilateral middle cerebral artery. After baseline monitoring for 20 minutes, 61 of oxygen was inspired for 40 minutes. Result: The site of valve and the duration after MHVS of the patients did not differ from those of controls. During baseline monitoring, there was no significant difference in MES prevalence or counts compared to controls. During oxygen inhalation, patients showed a higher MES prevalence (55%, 27.6%, p=0.045) and a more frequent MES counts (p=0.027) compared to controls. Conclusion: TCD monitoring with oxygen inhalation may be useful to differentiate clinically significant MES in patients with mechanical heart valve.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.33 no.12
• /
• pp.941-947
• /
• 2000

Background: Central nervous system complication after coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) is one of the major prognostic determinants and the use of the cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) may increase the incidence of this devastating complication. In this study, the outcomes after off-pump CABG were studied and compared with those following the conventional CABG using CPB. Material and Method: Among the consecutive isolated CABG's performed in SNUH during Feb. 1995 and Jun. 1999, 338 coronary artery bypass grafting were divided into two groups. 223 patients underwent CABG using the CPB(Group I), and 115 patients underwent CABG without CPB(OPCAB)(Group II). All patients enrolled in this study received extensive preoperative examinations including thorough neurologic examination before and after surgery, transcranial doppler study, carotid duplex ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance angiography if necessary. Central nervous system(CNS) complications were defined as stroke, seizure, metabolic or hypoxic encephalopathy and transient delirium after surgery. Result: There were 61 cases(27.3%) who developed postoperative CNS complication in Group I, whereas 8 cases(7.0%) of CNS complications developed postoperatively in group II(p<0.05). Statistically significant predictors of postoperative CNS complications in group I were age and the use of cardiac assist devices perioperatively. Conclusion: This study suggested that omitting the use of CPB in CABG resulted in significant decrease of the postoperative CNS complications. OPCAB should be more widely applied especially to the elderly who have preexisting cerebrovascular disease.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.275-281
• /
• 2005

Objective: The prolactinoma is the most common pituitary tumor and sometimes shows severe invasiveness to the adjacent cavernous sinus, especially in the male patient. The dopamine agonist can be used as an alternative treatment modality to surgery. But, the transsphenoidal or transcranial approach for tumor removal has been more preferred treatment option of neurosurgeons in invasive prolactinoma. Especially rapid decompression of mass effect and resolution of the neurologic deficit is demanded. The prospective study is done in order to identify the therapeutic efficacy of bromocriptine as an initial treatment option for the invasive prolactionomas. Methods: Twenty patients with invasive prolactinoma were studied. Preoperative neurological and endocrinological evaluations were done, and size and invasiveness of the tumor was estimated on MRI. Bromocriptine was administrated by increasing dose planning reaching maximum dose at 1 month of treatment, with close neurological and endocrinological monitoring. At 3months after treatment, MRI was taken and decision was made whether to continue bromocriptine or to have surgical intervention. Results: Thirteen patients showed excellent result with only bromocriptine treatment. These patients showed not only marked reduction of tumor volume and prolactin level, but also, improving clinical symptoms and other hormonal deficits. 13patients who had visual field defect and decreased visual acuity had all improved visual symptoms. But, the remaining 4patients required surgical treatment due to insufficient reduction of tumor size inspite of normalized prolactin level within 3months. Remaining 2patients had $20{\sim}30%$ of tumor size reduction, but prolactin level was not normalized. One patient required radiation therapy. Conclusion: Bromociptine can be used as initial treatment for the invasive prolactinomas with careful monitoring of the neurological and endocrinological status. It should be carefully followed up for tumor size reduction within 3 months after initiation of treatment.