metrizamide and Pain--Intractable

Demonstration of the anterior surface of the spinal cord is an important step in performing a percutaneous cordotomy. Metrizamide has been found to be a superior agent for this purpose, permitting visualization of the cord shadow in the anteroposterior as well as the lateral projection, and thereby also enabling the surgeon to visualize displacement of the spinal cord during the procedure. Tissue impedance and spinal cord stimulation techniques are used in conjunction with metrizamide. No adverse effects have resulted from the use of this technique.

Topics: Humans; Image Enhancement; Metrizamide; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; Pain, Intractable; Spinal Cord

The excellently low toxicity of a non-ionic watersoluble contrast medium Amipaque (Metrizamide), which is used for ventriculography, was confirmed by animal experiment and clinical application. In the animal experiment, 20 adult mongrel dogs were used and in each of them 1.5-5.0 ml of Amipaque was injected intraventriculary or intracisternally. As a result, we obtained a finding that the Amipaque is cleary safe compared with other watersoluble contrast media, espcially on epileptogenicity, while having an effect on the definition of picture and the nature of cerebrospinal fluid similar to other watersoluble contrast media. Thereafter, 14 ventriculographies were performed for 11 neurosurgical patients by using 4-10 ml of amipaque. Though one patient complained of a light headache after the examination, in no cases could convulsive complication be observed. The experience of this new medium gave us an impression that ventriculography with watersoluble contrast media will take the place of pneumoventriculography.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Animals; Brain Neoplasms; Cerebral Ventriculography; Child; Contrast Media; Dogs; Female; Humans; Iodobenzoates; Male; Metrizamide; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Pain, Intractable; Pinealoma