Bücher der Reihe Acta Neurochirurgica Supplement

The Second World War gave rise to a previously inconceivable number of peripheral nerve injuries. Besides in most cases the defect of substance is not as great as in war injuries, in which the so-called "critical resection length" (Seddon) was the cause of the greatest difficulties and consti tuted the crucial obstacle to good success.

I am convinced that a very important task of experimental medical research is to find applications to the relevant clinical problem as soon as possible, and to avoid distraction by an increasingly over whelming accumulation of new information from all fields of scientific work.

Microdialysis is a minimally invasive method which enables continuous monitoring of parameters in the extracellular space of various tissues. In 1994 we thought that research on clinical microdialysis had reached the stage which would enable scientists and clinicians to have many fruitful discussions.

In 1992 the Editors published the first volume of Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery (MIN I) which described the current state of the art in this rapidly developing field of neurosurgery and reported first clinical experiences with these new technologies.

Severe, protracted pain defying control is being seen with in creasing frequency as a symptom of chronic disease. It can surprise nobody that patients tormented and plagued by severe pain do not wish to live under conditions primarily caused by incurable disease, and are looking forward longingly to their release by deat.

Bilateral lesions of effective size are difficult to achieve without side effects, particularly in respect of speech (notably dysarthria) and yet are essential if intractable epilepsy is to be con trolled in severity and frequency.

Distinguished experts from the fields of neurosurgery, neurology, neurophysiology, anatomy, pathology, oncology, and pharmacology discussed the following topics: - Molecular and cellular basis of plasticity - Regeneration and growth in the CNS - Self-organization of neuronal network - Brain oedema - a reparatory process?

The human personality is inextricably bound up with, among other things, the function of the central nervous system. Given the scope and complexity of this topic, it is not possible to cover every aspect of it here: hence, discussion is limited to the impact on personality of injuries, language, epilepsy and psychosurgery.

The last ten years has witnessed a resurgence of interest in stereotactic surgery although this has been mainly in the field of the comparatively simple stereotactic biopsy of intracranial tumours.

The Third Advanced Seminar in Neurosurgical Research was held in the Palazzo Pisani Moretta, Venice, Italy from 30th April to 1st May, 1987 and was devoted to "Neuroendocrinological Aspects of Neurosurgery".

During the last decade a multitude of studies concerning the dynamic changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2), and intracranial pressure (ICP) in the acute phase after head injury have been published.

The 4th Advanced Seminar in Neurosurgical Research was held on May 17th-18th, 1989 in the Abbey of Praglia, a XIIth century Benedictine Monastery, near Padua, Italy, and was devoted to "Neurosurgical Aspects of Epilepsy".

25 years have passed since a small group met for the First International Symposia on Brain Edema in Vienna. This volume is a compilation of papers presented at the Eighth International Symposium on Brain Edema held on June 17-20, 1990 in Bern, Switzerland. During this Symposium 158 papers were presented as oral or poster presentations.

The book gives the most up-to-date information for the expanding field of stereotactic and functional neurosurgery from European and international experts.

Until recently, monitoring of cerebral blood flow and metabolism was an unattained goal. Meanwhile there are techniques available, however, to monitor cerebral blood flow and cerebral oxygenation, both globally and regionally.

During the last few years stereotactic radiosurgery has become a partner of equal rank within the discipline of neurosurgery.

Organized by the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies, Paris, July 15-20, 1979

During the microsurgical era surgical results have continued to improve due to diagnostical, neuroanaesthesi ological, and microsurgical refinements, and improved neurointensive care.

These proceedings from the Xth Congress of the European Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery in Stockholm reflect the growing interest in these fields of neurosurgery.

All over the world research is going on to improve the outcome of the treatment of peripheral nerve lesions. Yet, there exist many questions, such as: Is the autologeous nerve grafting still the golden standard in bridging defects? Have alternative techniques to overcome defects reached a level to replace autografting?