1/10. Late recovery from head injury: case report and review.Some problems of prognosis in patients with head injury are reviewed, and a case of late and unexpected recovery from post-traumatic dementia presented. The possible mechanism of recovery is discussed with particular reference to normal pressure hydrocephalus.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/10. Unusual arachnoid cyst of the quadrigeminal cistern in an adult presenting with apneic spells and normal pressure hydrocephalus--case report.A 67-year-old woman was admitted to our clinic with symptoms of normal pressure hydrocephalus, lower cranial nerve pareses, and pyramidal and cerebellar signs associated with respiratory disturbances. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 4.7 x 5.4 cm quadrigeminal arachnoid cyst causing severe compression of the tectum and entire brain stem, aqueduct, and cerebellum, associated with moderate dilation of the third and lateral ventricles. Emergency surgery was undertaken due to sudden loss of consciousness and impaired breathing. The cyst was totally removed by midline suboccipital craniotomy in the prone position. Postoperatively, her symptoms improved except for the ataxia and impaired breathing. She was monitored cautiously for over 15 days. CT at discharge on the 18th postoperative day revealed decreased cyst size to 3.9 x 4.1 cm. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of the arachnoid cyst of the quadrigeminal cistern. The patient died of respiratory problems on the 5th day after discharge. Quadrigeminal arachnoid cysts may compress the brain stem and cause severe respiratory disturbances, which can be fatal due to apneic spells. patients should be monitored continuously in the preoperative and postoperative period until the restoration of autonomous ventilation is achieved.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/10. L-carnitine administration reverses acute mental status changes in a chronic hemodialysis patient with hepatitis c infection.A chronic hemodialysis patient presented with elevated serum ammonia concentration (189 micromol/l) and acutely altered mental status. He had been adequately dialyzed over the prior months and had no evidence of liver dysfunction, despite serological evidence for hepatitis c virus infection. His mental status deteriorated to coma despite vitamin replenishment, intensive hemodialysis, lactulose treatment, and blood pressure control over a 3-day period. Blood free L-carnitine concentration was depressed, and total carnitine concentrations was normal. Three hours after a single 2 g dose of L-carnitine was administered intravenously, the mental status reverted to normal. hyperammonemia resolved over a 5-week period. We suspect that subclinical liver dysfunction and dialysis status in tandem contributed to the carnitine deficiency, hyperammonemia, and confusion and that the L-carnitine administration reversed these biochemical and clinical abnormalities.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/10. Ready to go.The patient with a decreased level of consciousness in the absence of trauma presents difficult assessment and intervention problems. This is compounded when the history is vague or nonspecific. In this case, the patient's history of embolic CVA alerted providers to the possibility of another thrombus. This patient's sudden symptoms could have resulted from a clot in the brain, heart or aorta. This patient presented with an altered level of consciousness, vomiting and low blood pressure. As is typical in elderly female patients, she had an unusual presentation of an MI. A myocardial infaction is classified as either transmural or subendocardial. A transmural infarct extends through the full thickness of the myocardium and holds greater-risk of complications due to loss of functional muscle. In a subendocardial infarct, necrosis is limited to the endocardial surface. Although many elderly patients present with subendocardial MIs, this one had a large transmural MI. In general, the circumflex artery serves the lateral and posterior walls of the myocardium, and the right coronary artery (RCA) serves the inferior wall. In an anterior MI, the left anterior descending artery (LAD) is obstructed. This vessel serves the left ventricle, parts, of the septum and paillary muscles. The LAD is often referred to as the "widowmaker" because left ventricular infarcts have a high incidence of mortality. Occlusion of LAD can cause the usual damage of an MI, and can also cause fatal damage to the valves. This patient was in profound cardiogenic shock -- the left ventricle had infarcted and was unable to maintain cardiac output. Because of her recent stroke, she was not a candidate for thrombolytic medication. With ultrasonography, a large area of the anterior wall was found to be akinetic, or not functioning at all. In this care, the sourrounding myocardium not only has to pump blood with less muscle but also to "drag" the dead tissue. This results in a progressively higher rate of O2 cnsumption within the heart, further damage to the strained heart, and death. As cigarette smoking and obesity complete for the leading preventable cause of death in the united states, familiarity with cardiac anatomy and physiology 12-lead interpretation, pharmacology and electrical therapy is essential for all emergency providers- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/10. More than just an ocular solution.Apraclonidine eye drop is an alpha adrenergic agonist derived topical clonidine, used for the treatment of intraocular pressure elevation. We report what is to our knowledge the first case of systemic toxicity of apraclonidine resulted from repeated local administration. Clinical manifestation of toxicity was similar to oral clonidine overdose. Toxicities of ocular drugs should always be considered when a patient presents with new systemic problems.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/10. Bilateral chronic subdural hematoma cases showing rapid and progressive aggravation.BACKGROUND: We have analyzed the records of our own hospitalized cases of bilateral chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) to reveal the prognosis. methods: Ninety-eight cases of cSDH were operated at our hospital over a 6-year period, in which 14 cases were classified as being bilateral. Among these 14 cases, 6 cases showed a rapid and aggressive clinical course. Therefore, complicated risk factors, the initial data on coagulofibrinolytic examination, magnetic resonance imaging appearance, and prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 6 cases, 5 showed a rapid aggravation as they awaited surgery. The period of the aggravation since the initial diagnosis harboring cSDH was 19 to 54 hours. One case was at first neurologically free from any disturbance but 17 hours later experienced a generalized seizure. All 6 cases experienced consciousness disturbance. In addition, 3 of them manifested oculomotor palsy. Two cases showed an abnormality of coagulofibrinolytic activity. No significant risk factors were revealed. In 4 cases, T(2)-weighted images (T2WIs) revealed the hematoma of a mixed high and low intensity, indicating that the hematoma consisted of both liquid and solid parts of a freshly formed blood clot. In 2 cases, the hematoma showed a low intensity in T(1)-weighted image (T1WI), indicating a recent bleeding of a significant amount. CONCLUSION: The bilateral cases of cSDH should be treated as early as possible with simultaneous decompression of bilateral hematoma pressure, even if the patient shows minimal neurologic deficits. Mixed high and low intensity in T2WI or low intensity in T1WI is the most predictable factor to show rapid aggravation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/10. Tension pneumocephalus.Tension pneumocephalus occurs when intracranial air exists under pressure, resulting in neurologic deterioration. The syndrome is precluded by an extracranial-intracranial communication and a difference in extracranial-intracranial pressure with the latter being greater. Although most frequently associated with head trauma, a variety of situations, including an operative sitting position and use of nitrous oxide anesthesia, have been known to contribute to this potentially life-threatening complication. This article will address pathogenesis, assessment parameters, and medical and nursing approaches utilized to reduce and minimize further entrapment of air. A case report will be presented illustrating this condition.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/10. The clinical picture in occult hydrocephalus.From a study of 16 successfully shunted cases of symptomatic normal pressure hydrocephalus, the typical symptomatology has been characterized. It was found that gait disturbance preceded impaired mentation in 12 of the 16 cases, it began at the same time in three cases and in only one case did impairment of mentation precede it. Of 11 cases of shunt failure, dementia came first in nine and the disturbance of locomotion was relatively less severe or was absent. The various ways in which hydrocephalus may present have been outlined.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/10. "syndrome malin"-like symptoms probably due to interaction between neuroleptica and oral antidiabetic agents.In two cases of chronic schizophrenia complicated by diabetes mellitus, the concomitant use of the neuroleptica and oral antidiabetics was attended by the appearance of symptoms simulative of syndrome malin, i.e. hyperpyrexia, tachycardia, blood pressure instability, disturbances of consciousness, muscle rigidity, tremor, dysphagia, salivation and urinary incontinence. In one of these cases, the patient, a 47-year-old man, died 10 days later. In the other case, a 62-year-old woman, almost all the symptoms subsided after 14 days, and oral dyskinesia persisted for only one additional month. In both cases, hypoglycemia due to oral antidiabetics was not seen. In Case 2, a combined regimen of oral antidiabetics and neuroleptica was later resumed. Again, a similar set of symptoms as seen initially were noted, along with an elevation of the serum CPK level. Parenterally administered biperiden proved to be highly effective in the control of the symptoms. The pathogenetic mechanism of these symptoms might possibly be explained as potentiation of the action of the neuroleptica by oral antidiabetics.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/10. A possible clonidine-trazodone-dextroamphetamine interaction in a 12-year-old boy.A 12-year-old boy on a dextroamphetamine-clonidine-trazodone treatment regimen had a recurrence of insomnia, and his bedtime trazodone dose was doubled from 50 mg to 100 mg. Within 45 mins after taking the first 100-mg trazodone dose on an empty stomach, the patient had a syncopal episode associated with hypotension, bradycardia, and sedation. The drug reaction could have resulted from either trazodone or clonidine, but it is more likely to have resulted from a pharmacodynamic clonidine-trazodone interaction, presumably aggravated by rapid absorption (on an empty stomach) of a recently increased dose of trazodone. It is conceivable but less likely that the psychostimulant was a clinically significant factor. However, a drug interaction between clonidine and D-amphetamine does not need to be postulated to explain this child's syncopal reaction. The authors advise that (1) if trazodone and clonidine are used concurrently, the doses of both agents should be changed slowly, (2) blood pressure and pulse should be carefully monitored at baseline and then periodically during treatment, and (3) administration of trazodone on an empty stomach, and especially dose increases on an empty stomach, should be avoided. physicians should remain aware that trazodone has the potential to produce hypotension and sedation, especially when combined with other agents (such as clonidine) that might produce the same adverse effects.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |