This volume contains the papers presented at the 24th Annual Meeting of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Neurochirurgie, held in Mainz, Western Germany, on April 30 - May 3, 1973. Deliberate choice was made of two crucial still hotly debated subjects which, for ages, have meant a source of constant worry, and nights without sleep to every neurosurgeon. Just as long as our special field exists, there have been the problems of how to control brain edema and ·of how to reduce lethality and the secondary lesions in surgery of cerebello-pontine angle tumors. Concerning the first subject, new pathological, pathophysiological and chemical aspects, the mechanisms of brain edema formation and resolution are presented in the hope for better understanding. Furthermore, the relationship between brain edema, intracranial pressure, cerebral blood flow and metabolism are discussed. Finally, the therapeutical consequences as well as the results of experimental and clinical work are presented, and a comparison of effects between different methods (hypertonic solutions, diuretics, steroids, controlled hyperventilation, hyperbaric oxygen) is given. Concerning the second main subject, any important contributions to the early diagnosis of cerebello-pontine angle tumors have been included. Nevertheless, it is of utmost interest for the neurosurgeon to know which approach he is to prefer for the different stages of tumor size and to be familiar with the trans labyrinthine approach or the posterior craniotomy, as well as with the importance of the use of the microscope in neurosurgery, the preservation of the facial nerve and, in certain cases, its repair.

Brain edema is a simple phenomenon – an abnormal increase of brain tissue volume by the increase of brain tissue water content. However the etiology is not simple and relating to a wide variety of neurological disorders including ischemia, trauma, tumor, hemorrhage and hydrocephalus. It is still a major cause of death in the neurological/neurosurgical ward. This volume is an up-to-date report on progress in brain edema research, diagnosis and treatment, including papers presented at the 12th International Symposium on Brain Edema and Brain Tissue Injury in 2002. Major topics include molecular biology and blood-brain barrier disorders, ischemic and traumatic brain edema, imaging and diagnosis of brain edema, treatment and radiation effect. Various papers in the rapidly growing fields of neuroimaging and molecular medicine are also included.

Brain edema is found in a wide variety of clinical disorders including stroke, intracerebral haemorrhage, subarachnoid haemorrhage, head injury, brain tumors and hydrocephalus. This volume brings together clinical and basic scientists from all over the world. Their expertise in the understanding of brain edema and shifts in brain water compartments has led to a further significant step in our understanding of those diseases characterized by brain edema. This book has also drawn on the expertise of the International Advisory Board of the Brain Edema Society, who have carefully summarized each section, thus providing an easy-to-read summary of the latest advances in each subject. The book is therefore much more than a collection of papers: it represents a critical appraisal and puts each paper into modern scientific context. The greatest advances have come from the rapid development of modern imaging techniques, especially with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Imaging can now produce "water maps” and "metabolic profiles” that bring brain metabolism and water content right into every clinic with access to MRI. This book provides the background knowledge to understand these pathophysiological changes.

Neurocritical Care Pharmacotherapy: A Clinican's Guide is a practical, succinct but comprehensive pharmacy handbook provides up-to-date clinical guidance on the effective selection, prescription, and usage of neurocritical care drugs for patients with acute neurologic illnesses. The treatment of the critically ill neurologic patient is often difficult, specialized, and includes drugs infrequently used in other intensive care units such as antiepileptic drugs, osmotic agents or acute immunotherapy such as intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange. This text discusses choosing the right combination of drugs; how to correctly prescribe and administer the drugs; how to monitor drug efficacy and side effects; how neurocritical care drugs interact with other medications; and comprehensive coverage of current treatment options. Key Feature of this Manual Include - A brief discussion of the basic pharmacology of each neurocritical drug, with an emphasis on how to select and use these drugs in multiple clinical contexts. - 150 drugs accompanied by a diagram for quick comprehension and drug administration guides. - Unique blending of expertise of neurointensivist with a critical care pharmacist to provide a vital resource for both specialities - References for further reading that are oriented toward utility in clinical practice.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a significant source of death and permanent disability, contributing to nearly one-third of all injury related deaths in the United States and exacting a profound personal and economic toll. Despite the increased resources that have recently been brought to bear to improve our understanding of TBI, the developme

Brain Edema: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Practice brings together the most widely recognized experts in experimental and clinical brain edema research to review the current knowledge gathered on the molecular and cellular pathophysiology and clinical management of brain edema. This timely book also discusses future directions of research and treatment. Brain edema is an integral and acutely life-threatening part of the pathophysiology of multiple cerebral and non-cerebral disorders, including traumatic brain injury, cerebral ischemia, brain tumors, cardiac arrest, altitude sickness and liver failure. Affecting millions worldwide, research over the past few years has shown that a plethora of complex molecular and cellular mechanisms contribute to this pathological accumulation of water in the brain parenchyma. In parallel, the development of new neuroimaging tools has provided a new way to examine how edema develops longitudinally and in real time, both in pre-clinical models and in patients. Despite intense research over the past few decades, therapeutic options are still limited and sometimes not effective. - Presents a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in edema formation and resolution - Discusses the specific role of edema development in several pathologies, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, brain tumors, cardiac arrest, and liver failure - Proposes a new classification of edema based on molecular processes - Discusses clinical management of new clinical trials coming from pre-clinical studies - Addresses the possible link between edema formation, other molecular and cellular processes, including inflammation and neuroinflammation