Intracranial hypertension (IH) develops in approximately 50% of all patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is more common in patients with intracranial hematoma (ICH) 1,2 . Therefore, it is very important to identify a suitable animal model to study and understand the pathophysiology of refractory IH to develop effective treatments.Many models of neurosurgical experiments in small animals, such as rats and cats, have been developed; however, compared to humans, they have smaller brain volumes and more distinct behaviors 3,4 . While there are existing porcine models, they simulate ICH by infusing autologous blood into the brain tissue and do not replicate intracranial lesions [3][4][5][6] . ABSTRACTObjective: Intracranial hypertension (IH) develops in approximately 50% of all patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Therefore, it is very important to identify a suitable animal model to study and understand the pathophysiology of refractory IH to develop effective treatments. Methods: We describe a new experimental porcine model designed to simulate expansive brain hematoma causing IH. Under anesthesia, IH was simulated with a balloon insufflation. The IH variables were measured with intracranial pressure (ICP) parenchymal monitoring, epidural, cerebral oximetry, and transcranial Doppler (TCD). Results: None of the animals died during the experiment. The ICP epidural showed a slower rise compared with parenchymal ICP. We found a correlation between ICP and cerebral oximetry. Conclusion: The model described here seems useful to understand some of the pathophysiological characteristics of acute IH. Keywords: experimental model, intracranial hypertension, transcranial doppler sonography. RESUMOObjetivo: A hipertensão intracraniana (HIC) ocorre em até 50% de todos os pacientes com traumatismo cranioencefálico (TCE). Por isso, é importante estabelecer um modelo animal adequado para estudar a fisiopatologia da HIC refratária, com a perspectiva de desenvolver tratamentos eficazes. Métodos: Os animais foram submetidos a um protocolo padrão de anestesia. A hipertensão intracraniana foi estabelecida através de insuflação de um balão. As variáveis HIC foram medidas com a pressão intracraniana (PIC) do parênquima, oximetria, epidural e doppler transcraniano. Resultados: A PIC epidural apresentou elevação mais lenta, comparada com a PIC parenquimal. Houve correlação entre a PIC e a oximetria cerebral. O registro da PIC, oximetria e índice de pulsatilidade foi realizado em todos os animais sem dificuldade. Conclusão: O modelo descrito parece ser útil para a compreensão de algumas características fisiopatológicas na HIC aguda.Palavras-chave: pressão intracraniana, ultrassonografia, doppler transcraniana, modelos experimentais.

It is important to keep a high degree of suspicion of CVST since early diagnosis may prevent potentially treatable catastrophic outcomes.

No abstract

Different degrees of immunologic and fibroelastotic airway remodeling processes occur in the major types of IIPs with impact on physiological tests and survival.

Although immune cell infiltration is limited in NSCLC it appears to have an impact on prognosis and this may be of relevance for new immunotherapeutic approaches.

Objective: To analyze the rate at which lungs available for transplantation in the state of São Paulo in 2006 were utilized and to determine the lung donor profile in the same period. Methods: A retrospective study of 497 clinical charts of lung tissue donors from January to December of 2006. Results: According to the clinical charts, lungs were not offered for transplant in 149 cases (30%), which were therefore excluded from the study. Among the 348 lung donors eligible for inclusion in the study, the mean age was 37.4 ± 16.1 years, and 56.9% were males. The main causes of brain death among the donors were stroke (in 40.5%), skull-brain trauma (in 34.2%) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (in 10.9%). The great majority of these lung donors (90.5%) received vasoactive agents, and 13.5% presented cardiopulmonary arrest. The mean donor leukocyte count was 15,008 ± 6,467 cells/mm 3 , 67.8% of the donors received anti-bacterial agents, and 26.1% presented lung infection. Nearly 40% of the lung donors presented chest X-ray abnormalities. Only 4.9% of the lung donors were accepted, representing 28 lungs (allograft utilization rate of 4%). The causes for donor exclusion were gas exchange alterations (in 30.1%), infection (in 23.7%) and distance (in 10.9%). Conclusions: The lung utilization rate in the state of São Paulo is low when compared to mean rates worldwide. In addition, more than half of the donor pool was excluded due to altered gas exchange or pulmonary infection. The combination of better care of the potential donor and more flexible selection criteria could increase allograft utilization. Keywords: Lung transplantation; Donor selection; Tissue donors. ResumoObjetivo: Analisar a taxa de aproveitamento de pulmões disponibilizados em São Paulo no ano de 2006, bem como caracterizar o perfil dos doadores de pulmão deste período. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo de 497 prontuários de doadores de pulmão, no período de janeiro a dezembro de 2006. Resultados: Não houve oferta de doação de pulmões para transplante em 149 (30%) dos prontuários analisados, sendo excluídos do estudo. A idade média dos 348 doadores eleitos para o estudo foi de 37,4 ± 16,1 anos, e 56,9% deles eram do sexo masculino. As principais causas da morte cerebral dos doadores foram: acidente vascular cerebral (40,5%); trauma cranioencefálico (34,2%); e hemorragia subaracnóidea (10,9%). A grande maioria dos doadores recebia drogas vasoativas (90,5%), sendo que 13,5% haviam apresentado parada cárdio-respiratória. Do ponto de vista infeccioso, o leucograma médio foi de 15.008 ± 6.467 células/mm 3 , 67,8% recebiam antibioticoterapia e 26,1% apresentavam infecção pulmonar. Quase 40% dos doadores apresentavam alterações radiográficas. Apenas 4,9% dos doadores foram aceitos, representando 28 pulmões (taxa de aproveitamento de órgãos de 4%). Os motivos de recusa foram: alteração gasométrica (30,1%); infecção (23,7%); e distância (10,9%). Conclusões: A taxa de aproveitamento de pulmões em nosso meio é baixa quando comparada às taxas médias de aproveitamento ...

It is important to keep a high degree of suspicion for CCF, especially in traumatic head injury associated with skull base fracture, since the early diagnosis and treatment may prevent potentially permanent neurological deficits.

No abstract