During recent years, major advances in surgical techniques, diagnostic methods, anesthesia and adjunctive treatment in the care of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage have been achieved. Nevertheless, the overall outcome of patients with SAH cannot be regarded as satisfactory. The first part of the book concentrates on the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying vasospasm and edema, the principal causes of poor outcome. Recent progress in the field of membrane lipid metabolism has allowed the problem to be approached from an entirely new perspective. The possible participation of free radicals, membrane lipids and eicosanoids is thoroughly discussed. The second part features the problems of practical management of SAH patients. Timing and indication of surgery of aneurysms and the surgical techniques are described in detail.

The Leitmotiv of the Second Convention of the Academia Eurasiana Neurochirurgica was "Cerebrum convalescit" - literally "the brain recovers." The focus of the meeting was on plasticity of the central nervous system, one of the most decisive factors in recovery and readaption after cerebral lesions. 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? - Growth factors and carcinogenesis