Anaesthetic management of 27 cases of boron neutron capture therapy for glioblastoma

✍ Scribed by T. Shinomura; H. Furutani; M. Osawa; K. Ono; K. Fukuda

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2001
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 89 KB
• Volume: 56
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0003-2409
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2044.2001.01912.x

✦ Synopsis

Twenty‐seven patients received boron neutron capture therapy during craniotomy at our research reactor from 1991 to 1999. This is a form of intra‐operative radiation therapy, which uses neutrons from a nuclear reactor. There are three additional major problems to anaesthetists: boron neutron capture therapy must be given beside the nuclear reactor, with no hospital facilities; neutrons cannot be shielded effectively by ordinary protectors; and neutrons are detrimental to metal devices and especially to electrical appliances. Boron neutron capture therapy has been adopted as an effective therapy for glioblastoma/astrocytoma, but special considerations are required for anaesthesia.