When all patients are pooled, S-100 appears to be suitable in the assessment of incidence, course and outcome of cognitive deficits. We suspect that in some surgical procedures, such as urological surgery, S-100 appears to be of limited value in detecting POCD. Neuron specific enolase did not reflect neuropsychological dysfunction after noncardiac surgery.

INTERNPurpose: To determine the magnitude of the potentiation of rocuronium by desflurane, isotlurane and sevotturane 1.5 MAC anaesthesia. Methods: In a prospective, randomised, study in 80 patients, the cumulative dose-effect curves for rocuronium were determined during anaesthesia with desflurane, sevoflurane and isoflurane (with N20 700/6, I 5 min steady state) or total intravenous anaesthesia (-i-lVA) using propofol/fentanyl. Neuromuscular block was assessed by acceleromyography CTOF-Guarcl| after t~in-of-four (-I-OF) stimulation of the ulnar nerve (2Hz every 12sec, 200 /.tsec duration), Rocuronium was administered in increments of 100/.tg'kg -~ until first twitch (TI) depression > 95%, Results: Rocuronium led to more pronounced T I depression with destturane or sevoflurane anaesthesia than with TIVA. The EDs0 and EDg.were lower during desflurane (95 _ 25 and 190 + 80 h,g'kg -t) and sevoflurane (120 _+ 30 and 210 _+ 40 pg-kg z~) than with TIVA (I 50 _+ 40 and 310 -+ 90 pg-kg -I) (P < .01), while the difference was not significant for isoflurane (I 30 + 40 and 250 + 90pg'kg-I), Following equi-effective dosing (T~ > 95%) the duration to 25% T recovery, recovery index (25/75), and TOF070 was: 13.2 ___ 1.8, 12.7 _+ 3.4, and 26.9 + 5.7 min during anaesthesia with desflurane; 5.5 +_ 5.0, I 1.4 _ 3.8, ai~d 31.0 _+ 6.0 min with sevoflurane; 13.9 + 4.7, 10.7 _ 3,3, and 26.3 +_ 8.9 min with isoflurane; and 13.9 -+ ,3.9, I 1,3 _+ 5.7, and 27.5 +-8.2 min with TIVA anaesthesia (P: NS). Conclusion: Interaction of rocuronium and volatile anaesthetics resulted in augmentation of the intensity of neuromuscular block but did not result in significant effects on duration of or recovery from the block. ', 13,9 +__ 4,7', I0,7 +--3,3 et 26,3 +_ 8,9 min avec l'isoflurane; enfin, 13,9 ---3,9; 11,3 __. 5,7 et 27,5 ---8,2 rain avec I'AEI (P: NS). Conclusion : l'interaction du rocuronium et des anesth~siques volatils a provoquE l'augmentation de l'intensitE . du bloc neuromusculaire mais n'a pas eu d'effet significatif sur la dur& du bloc ou sur la rEcupEration qui a suivi.

Primary treatment of carotid aneurysms with Dacron-covered stent-grafts is effective. However, the short-term patency rate is poor, which probably can be attributed to the limited biocompatibility of the Dacron cover. An acute inflammatory reaction against Dacron seems responsible for the poor patency rate.

These findings indicate that vibrography is a feasible imaging method for brain tumor surgery and may have numerous potential applications in neurosurgery if further improvements are made.