The Surgery of the Skull and BrainRawling, Louis Bathe
Science
The Surgery of the Skull and Brain
Rawling, Louis Bathe
Brain -- Surgery; Skull -- Surgery
In exploratory operations conducted in cases of this nature, I have been
particularly struck by the fact that in a large proportion of cases one
finds what appears to be a condition of local œdema--some fluid beneath
the dura mater, and a greater excess of the same in the pia-arachnoid
meshwork. This œdema is a manifest condition readily demonstrated to
onlookers. I am not an advocate of ventricular puncture in these cases,
mainly on the ground that it complicates the operation and brings no
added benefit in its train, but in such cases as it has been carried out
the jet of cerebro-spinal fluid proves the added existence of an
increased intraventricular pressure. From Leonard Hill’s experiments it
would appear that this œdema is dependent on chronic vascular
changes--arterial anæmia, venous congestion, and cerebro-spinal and
serous accumulation.
At a later date the meninges may become thickened and adherent to one
another and to the surface of the brain, whilst false membranes and
arachnoid cysts may develop.
=Treatment.= For these more general and indefinite remote results of
head-injury the treatment comprises REST, bodily and mental, light diet,
fresh air, cheerful but quiet surroundings, and encouragement. Potassium
iodide and mercury (preferably by inunction) often do good, whilst
phenacetin and antipyrin are perhaps the best drugs for relief of
headache. For sleeplessness potassium bromide is perhaps the best
remedy.
I have found in some cases that Turkish baths and massage have brought
about considerable improvement. In advising such energetic treatment the
surgeon must be guided by the case before him, these measures being more
or less restricted to the less serious and more chronic cases.
In the more serious cases, especially when slowing of the pulse during
the height of the attacks and some blurring of the disks point to a
probable increase of intracranial pressure, operative measures must be
considered. The greatest circumspection is required in determining the
class of cases in which operation may be proposed, and the surgeon must
be most guarded in his prognosis. So far as my personal experience goes,
the operation has invariably brought about some amelioration in the
condition of the patient, whilst now and again a complete cure may be
anticipated. Those cases which on exploration evidence an œdema of the
brain are the least favourable; those in which the surgeon finds a
subdural cyst or hæmatoma offer the best prognosis.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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