Objective: Considering the importance of dural replacement in neurosurgery, mainly in times of advanced endoscopic skull base approaches, the authors report the late results after implanting of pure biocellulose membrane in 20 patients harboring different types of lesion, from 1996 to 1999, with objective of demonstrate its use in neurosurgery. Method: The casuistic was followed clinically and image studies were indicated when necessary. Dural substitution was achieved by continuous 4:0 prolene suture without additional glue. Results: The casuistic is constituted by four convexity or parasagittal meningiomas, three single cortical metastasis (melanoma, lung and renal carcinomas), two cerebellar gliomas (one multicentric GBM, one pilocytic cerebellar astrocytoma), one decompressive craniectomy for brain edema due to vasosespasm after aneurysm clipping one decompressive craniotomy for cerebral edema after hemorrhage of a giant fronto-parietal AVM, two mirror MCA aneurysms, one pineal and mesencephalic astrocitoma, one quadrigeminal cistern cyst, one accoustic schwanoma, one spontaneous cerebellar hematoma, one decompressive neurovascular operation for trigeminal neuralgia; 1 cauda equina ependimoma, one lombar myelomeningocele. Currently nine patients are alive, none had direct complication of implant. Recent NMR images of survivors do not show the membrane. Three wound infections could not be definitively attributed to patch. Conclusion: The material was considered safe for dural replacement. Due to inadequate elasticity of pure cellulose, the research was interrupted, waiting for a better product, which is currently being tested.

Objective Clarify the safety and efficacy of the endovascular treatment of distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA) aneurysms, reporting outcomes of the aneurysms coiled in our service were compared with series of microsurgical treatment. The impact of embolization on ruptured or unruptured aneurysms remains controversial according to the current data, considering aneurysm from this topography should be aggressively treated due to their high incidence of rupture, currently there is a tend to prefer endovascular treatment. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study with 1092 patients admitted with cerebral aneurysm from October 2005 to March 2015 in our service. There were 31 cases of DACA aneurysms treated with the endovascular technique. These were compared with same topography aneurysms underwent to clipping. Results A total of 21 (67%) of 31 cases presented with ruptured aneurysms, 13 (59%) suffered clinical or radiological vasospasms, with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores of 3-5 in 7 patients (31%), and 4 deaths (mRS 6), reaching 92% of occlusion at one year. Conclusion Endovascular approach is associated with high angiographic occlusion rates and security. ResumoObjetivo Para esclarecer a segurança e eficácia do tratamento endovascular dos aneurismas distais da artéria cerebral anterior distal (DACA), foram relatados os resultados de aneurismas embolizados em nosso serviço e comparados com séries de tratamento microcirúrgico. O impacto da embolização em aneurisma roto ou não roto permanece controverso com base nos dados atuais, considerando que o aneurisma dessa topografia deve ser tratado agressivamente devido à elevada incidência de ruptura, há uma tendência em preferir tratamento endovascular. Métodos Realizamos um estudo retrospectivo de 1092 pacientes admitidos com aneurisma cerebral entre Outubro de 2005 a Março de 2015 em nosso serviço. Haviam

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The incidence of infection in neurological surgery is analysed by the author due to an almost epidemic occurrence of wound contamination by staphylococcus aureus in the year 1977. A brief review of the literature data is presented concerning the factors related to the patient's own immunity, the operative wound and the hospital environment, that may cause infection. Based on 733 operations done in a period of 50 months the author exposes the modifications installed for avoiding the infective sources. Antiseptic technic and surgical tactic were modified during the three steps of this study. In the first two periods, each of one lasting 17 months, the infection rates for clean surgical procedures were 10,3 and 6,7% respectively. By the last 15 months, when topical oxacyllin powder was added, the infection rate dropped to 0,6%. The general infection rates for clean, clean with implants, clean-contaminated and contaminated operations, during the three periods were 7,08, 6,8 and 3,4%. A critical review of the data concerning to systemic and topical prophylactic antibiotic therapy is followed by comments on the basis of the technical changes made in this clinical study. Shaving close to the operation, dry preparation of the scalp flap and muscle, use of only bipolar coagulation, restrict use of serum irrigation during the epidural stages of the operation an topical use of oxacillin powder before wound closure were the main technical modification introduced.