1/7. Right thalamic hemorrhage resulting from high-voltage electrical injury: a case report.A 12-year-old boy was admitted with electrical burn and loss of consciousness. On physical examination his general condition was poor. Extensive burn areas, second and third degree, were present on his face, scalp, bilateral auricles, right cervical region, shoulders, right axilla, upper region of the thorax, and proximal region of the upper extremities. The total burned surface area was about 25%. Pupils were isocoric, but response to light was bilateral poor. He was stuporous and responsive only to pain. Deep tendon reflexes were exaggerated and plantar responses were bilateral extensor. Bilateral decorticate rigidity was noted. Computerized tomography of brain revealed brain edema and right thalamic hemorrhage. magnetic resonance imaging of brain, examined 25 days after admission, revealed right thalamic hemorrhage and mild right subdural effusion. He was discharged form hospital 40 days after admission. However, spastic quadriplegia and severe mental retardation remained as sequela. On the 4th month of follow-up, no improvement was noted in his neurological examination. On the 9th month of follow-up, his clinical condition was better, but bilateral electric cataract was diagnosed. Both eyes were operated on and intraocular lenses were implanted with good results. Now he is 16th month of follow-up: neurological examination revealed only mild hemiparesis on the left side and mild articulation disorder. His school performance was moderate and intelligence quotient was 71. magnetic resonance imaging of brain showed markedly improvement of the hemorrhage. To our best knowledge thalamic hemorrhage resulting from high-voltage electrical injury has not previously been reported in the literature.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/7. Neuro-otologic evaluation of the patient with acute, severe head injuries: correlations among physical findings, auditory evoked responses, and computerized tomography.Long-term clinical neurologic and otologic sequelae of traumatic head injury are well recognized. In this article, we describe the relationship among neurophysiologic, neuro-otologic, and neuroradiologic findings in a series of fifty patients with acute, severe head injury. Seventy percent of the patients had one or more otologic abnormalities, of which hemotympanum was most common. Outcome of computerized tomography (CT), auditory brainstem response (ABR), and otologic examination findings were not mutually dependent. For example, otologic disease was found in 50% of the patients with normal ABR. All but one patient in the series showed brain damage by CT; yet only 14% of the series had evidence of temporal bone fracture and, unexpectedly, one third of this group yielded normal otologic findings and a normal ABR. We conclude that combined application of otologic examination, CT scanning, and auditory evoked response assessment provides complementary information on structural and functional neuro-otologic status in persons with acute, severe head injury.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/7. Acute brain edema due to water loading in a young woman.Increased intracranial pressure developed in a mentally and physically normal patient following ingestion of 30 glasses of water as a voluntary preparation for ultrasonic gynecological examination. hyponatremia resulted and induced brain edema which provoked increased intracranial pressure. hyponatremia was treated by intravenous infusion of hypertonic NaCl and mannitol solutions. Corticosteroids were added and continued for a week. The patient totally recovered 4 days after admission.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/7. Occult duodenal perforation complicating cerebral infarction: new problems in diagnosis of Cushing's ulcer.Cushing's ulcers of the duodenum are well known complications of neurosurgery, head trauma, and other causes of increased intracranial pressure. Perforation of Cushing's ulcer of the duodenum is infrequently described. That the use of high-dose corticosteroids for cerebrovascular infarct in an aphasic patient may obscure the symptomatology and physical findings of a perforated Cushing's ulcer has not been described to our knowledge. We report a patient with a large left hemispherical infarct and resultant aphasia who developed a perforated duodenal ulcer and extensive chemical peritonitis while receiving high dose corticosteroids for increased intracranial pressure. She was unable to register any complaints and the typical physical findings of perforated duodenal ulcer with chemical peritonitis were virtually absent. A high index of suspicion must be maintained for a perforated Cushing's duodenal ulcer in the patient receiving high dose dexamethasone despite the presence of nonspecific symptomatology and abdominal findings. Elevated serum gastrin levels, as in this patient, may also indicate the patients with increased intracranial pressure who are at greater risk for developing Cushing's ulcer.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/7. Physical recovery after severe closed head trauma in children and adolescents.Three hundred forty-four patients under 18 years of age with severe closed head injuries, comatose over 24 hours, were followed prospectively for a minimum of one year. motor vehicles were involved in 82% of the injuries. Seventy-three percent of the patients regained independence in ambulation and self-care, 10% remained partially dependent in self-care and achieved only limited ambulation, 9% regained consciousness but were totally dependent, and 8% remained comatose. A favorable prognosis for recovery of motor function can be made if the duration of coma is less than three months. Complications of prolonged hypertension, ventricular enlargement, and seizures significantly decrease the probability of achieving physical independence. Although mortality following severe head injury is decreasing, neurologic sequelae in the survivors are statistically unchanged since 1970. Improved neurosurgical management in recent years has not increased the percentage of severely disabled survivors.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/7. Severe rhabdomyolysis with good recovery in a patient with head injury: case report.OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: We report a case of head injury, in which a hyperosmolar state evolved during the course of treatment, complicated by severe rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure, which subsequently resulted in a good recovery after intensive supportive treatment. To our knowledge, such high levels of creatine kinase in a patient with head injury and rhabdomyolysis have not been reported. CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND INTERVENTION: A 19-year-old male patient with head injury sustained a compound fracture of the frontal region. He received a hyperosmolar agent to treat brain edema and developed a hyperosmolar state and diabetes insipidus 1 day after the accident. There were no obvious associated injuries at physical examination. After admission to the intensive care unit, the patient developed myoglobinuria and rhabdomyolysis; serum creatine kinase was elevated to a peak of 650,000 IU/L. Four days later, acute renal failure was noted. The patient's myoglobinuria and rhabdomyolysis gradually declined, and he eventually recovered from acute renal failure after supportive treatment and dialysis. CONCLUSION: We postulate that the hyperosmolar state of the patient was the major cause of his severe rhabdomyolysis. Associated hypokalemia and hypophosphatemia are also predisposed to rhabdomyolysis. The most serious complication in rhabdomyolysis is acute renal failure, but most patients who receive supportive treatment and can survive despite the complications can expect to have normal renal function restored.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/7. Diabetes and transport: a potentially bittersweet combination.These cases represent a portion of the spectrum of medical issues that may be seen in patients with a diagnosis of IDDM. As the first case suggests, knowledge of the disease process and an expanded differential diagnosis is imperative when acting as medical command for these patients. Interfacility transport does not only involve rapid and safe transport between institutions, but must also offer the highest level of expertise available for the referring physician and the patient. For this reason, we recommend the immediate availability of a senior level experienced pediatric physician for involvement in all but the most routine pediatric interfacility transports. Rapid recognition at the time of initial presentation or transport of the correct diagnosis in patient one may have altered potential outcome. Case 2 represents a potential untoward outcome which might be potentiated or exacerbated by the care given during transport. Although this patient's transport time was short, a similar patient may present who needs prolonged transport. The patient might also present to the transport service prior to neurologic deterioration. One must be prepared to intervene for all potential complications as they arise. Case 3 represents a patient whose physical examination suggested more intense therapy was needed than is offered by many DKA protocols. It is important to listen to what the patients are trying to tell us, rather than relying strictly on protocols or guidelines. While protocols or guidelines offer a menu of potential therapies, one must be prepared to vary from these guidelines if suggested by the patient's condition. Recognition of delayed capillary refill in patient 3 allowed for an increase in fluid administration and rapid patient improvement. While not evident with the presented short transports, the use of point of care testing in a transport vehicle can be useful for these types of patients. The opportunity to closely monitor blood chemistry evaluations and gasses can give insight about an ongoing process, suggest therapies, and help direct interventions that, in the past, often waited until the patient arrived at the receiving hospital. That additional information can be invaluable for the ill patient whose outcome may hinge on early recognition of subtle changes with subsequent appropriate interventions.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |