Hypothermia and cardiac arrest in the treatment of giant aneurysms of the cerebral circulation and hemangioblastoma of the medulla

Abstract

✓ Hypothermia and elective cardiac arrest may be of benefit during surgery of some technically difficult lesions of the brain. Eight giant aneurysms and one hemangioblastoma of the medulla were operated on with no mortality, using hypothermia and cardiac arrest. All but one aneurysm were excluded from the cerebral circulation, and the hemangioblastoma appeared to be completely excised. Careful attention to clotting factors, depth of hypothermia, and time of bypass were important factors in the success of this series.