[Indications for relief and palliative operations]

Torkildsen and Spitz-Holter drainages and/or osteoclastic trepanation were performed on 29 patients suffering from a severe increase in intracranial pressure and/or a severely worsened general condition as a relieving intervention in order to permit a tumor operation later. The relieving measure enabled a tumor operation in 28 patients. The same procedure was used as a palliative step for another group of 73 patients suffering from inoperable tumorous processes. Evaluation in these cases showed that the release of pressure via the liquor system brought a prolongation of life while at the same time alleviating painful symptoms, in 50 per cent of the patients. Osteoclastic trepanation, on the other hand, appeared to be unsuitable as a palliative measure. The text is accompanied by tables.