1/99. pituitary apoplexy after cardiac surgery presenting as deep coma with dilated pupils.Acute clinical deterioration due to infarction or haemorrhage of an existing, often previously unrecognized, pituitary tumour is a rare but well-described complication. It can occur spontaneously or may be caused e.g. by mechanical ventilation, infection or surgical procedures. We report on a case of pituitary apoplexy occurring in a 64-year-old patient 3 weeks after cardiac surgery. The patient presented with deep coma and dilated pupils. magnetic resonance imaging revealed a haemorrhagic pituitary tumour. After prompt endocrinologic replacement therapy with levothyroxine and hydrocortisone the patient regained consciousness. Neurological examination revealed right oculomotor nerve palsy and bilateral cranial nerve VI palsy. Subsequent trans-sphenoidal removal of a nonfunctional macroadenoma with large necrotic areas was performed. The patient recovered completely. To our knowledge, pituitary tumours presenting with a combination of deep coma and dilated pupils must be considered exceedingly rare. Possible pathophysiologic mechanisms are discussed. As our case illustrates, even in severe cases complete recovery is possible if the diagnosis is suspected, and diagnostic and therapeutic measures are initiated in time.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = consciousness (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/99. The prevention of irreversible lung changes following reversible phrenic nerve paralysis.phrenic nerve paralysis frequently follows operations on the neck such as resection of a cervical or first rib. It all too often passes unrecognised or is incorrectly treated, leading to permanent lung damage which may be severe enough as to result in a functional pneumonectomy. This is particularly unfortunate since the phrenic nerve paralysis is usually temporary. Three case histories are described of reversible paralysis of the phrenic nerve in which, due to prompt diagnosis, the ensuing lung changes were either prevented or immediatley treated. Intermittent assisted respiration with a Monaghan respirator was used to provide nebulised inhalations of mesna several times a day. The method is applicable via a tracheostomy, an endotracheal tube or a simple mouthpiece. The latter is illustrated. The therapy is not hindered by immobilisation of the head and neck and the level of consciousness of the patients is of no importance. Many chest x-rays demonstrate the rapid clearing of the lungs achieved. All three patients were discharged with perfectly normal lungs.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = consciousness (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/99. Transient mutism resolving into cerebellar speech after brain stem infarction following a traumatic injury of the vertebral artery in a child.A 3.7-year-old girl presented with an anterior neck injury followed by progressive subcutaneous emphysema and loss of consciousness. After resuscitation, a laceration on the first tracheal cartilage was closed surgically. As she was extubated one week later, she was found to have right hemiplegia and muteness. MRI showed a T2-bright lesion on the tegmentum of the left midbrain down to the upper pons. Right vertebral angiography disclosed an intimal flap with stenosis at the C3 vertebral level presumably caused by a fracture of the right C3 transverse process later confirmed in a cervical 3D-CT scan. Her muteness lasted for 10 days, after which she began to utter some comprehensible words in a dysarthric fashion. Her neurological deficits showed improvement within 3 months of her admission. Transient mutism after brain stem infarction has not been reported previously. We discuss the anatomical bases for this unusual reversible disorder in the light of previous observations and conclude that bilateral damage to the dentatothalamocortical fibers at the decussation of the superior cerebellar peduncle may have been responsible for her transient mutism.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = consciousness (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/99. Recurrent psychogenic coma following tracheal stenosis repair.Medication, intracranial hemorrhage, infarction, infection, hypoxia, organ failure, and nutritional deficiency may cause unconsciousness following successful emergence from anesthesia. A 39-year-old woman with a history of tracheal stenosis, depression, and anxiety had complete unconsciousness on 3 separate occasions following surgical repair of her tracheal stenosis. In each case, the patient's endotracheal tube had been removed; she was alert and oriented to person, time, and place; and she was admitted to the hospital for observation. Within a few hours after the tube was removed, the patient became abruptly unconscious for periods of 36, 18, and 30 hours. Each time, the results of cardiac, pulmonary, metabolic, and neurologic examinations and radiological studies were normal. We hypothesize that the patient's apparent comas were the result of an underlying conversion disorder precipitated by unresolved psychological conflict surrounding a long history of abuse in which she was repeatedly smothered by a pillow.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = consciousness (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/99. Postpartum dissecting aneurysm of the superior cerebellar artery--case report.A 37-year-old female with toxemia of pregnancy suffered sudden headache and loss of consciousness on the day following a cesarean delivery. Computed tomography revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Vertebral angiography revealed a fusiform dilatation near the origin of the right superior cerebellar artery (SCA) with distal luminal narrowing. She underwent surgery within 24 hours of the ictus. A SAH clot was carefully removed from the prepontine cistern, and subadventitial discoloration was seen in the wall of the right SCA just distal to the aneurysmal protuberance (rupture site). The dissecting aneurysm was treated with body clipping by directly clipping the rupture site and with additional wrapping of the proximal SCA, including the aneurysmal protuberance and discolored site. The postoperative clinical course was uneventful. Postoperative angiography revealed complete obliteration of the aneurysm and patency of the SCA. Therapeutic intervention should be considered for patients with ruptured dissecting aneurysm who present with recurrent SAH.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = consciousness (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/99. Benign aqueductal cyst causing bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia after external ventricular drainage. Case report.The introduction of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to the field of neuroimaging has allowed detection of various lesions that cause aqueductal stenosis. The authors report the case of a 3-year-old boy in whom a benign ventricular cyst developed in the aqueduct. The patient became drowsy after having complained of headache and vomiting; MR imaging revealed mild triventricular dilation and a normal-sized fourth ventricle. Repeated MR imaging performed 1 week later revealed an aqueductal cyst that had markedly enlarged during the intervening period. An external ventricular drainage system was installed, but recovery of consciousness in the child was unsatisfactory and a new bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia developed. Fenestration of the cyst wall and placement of a ventriculocisternostomy in the third ventricle were performed simultaneously by using a flexible neuroendoscope. By 2 weeks postsurgery, the patient's neurological symptoms had completely resolved. This case illustrates that simple rerouting of ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can aggravate the symptoms of this rare lesion by causing severe compression of periaqueductal structures by a cyst that maintains a high intracystic pressure. Endoscopic surgery was an excellent choice of treatment to achieve both cyst fenestration and normalization of intracranial CSF pressure by creating a ventriculocisternostomy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = consciousness (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/99. Cerebral function after aortic surgery using retrograde cerebral perfusion: report of three cases.INTRODUCTION: The neurological analysis undertaken on three cases of aortic aneurysm treated surgically using retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP) are reported herein. This is the first detailed analysis of postoperative neurological studies in such cases. methods: The oxygenation state of cerebral Hb and cytochrome aa3 levels were monitored by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) during RCP. Postoperative neurological scoring, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and monitoring of local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) quantatively by N-isopropyl-p-[123I] iodoamphetamine (IMP) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were performed for an extended follow-up period after surgery. RESULTS: The T2WI of MRI findings which consisted of many spotty high intensity areas in the striatum, cerebellum and hippocampus, may reflect the postoperative severe consciousness and mental disturbances (2-4 weeks). However, in all cases the neurological deficit gradually improved until they returned to their normal preoperative states. The improvement of LCBF correlated well with neurological recovery. CONCLUSION: The conditions of the conventional method of RCP must be improved to prevent transient severe consciousness and mental disturbances which occur after the operation in relationship with the appearance of the high intensity area on the MRI T2WI.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = consciousness (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/99. Complicated emergent endovascular repair of a life-threatening bilateral internal jugular vein occlusion.A 62-year-old woman had painful facial swelling that progressed to extensive periorbital and perioral edema with loss of vision, hearing, and consciousness. Her past surgical history was significant for right radical neck dissection including internal jugular vein (IJV) resection, laryngectomy, partial esophagectomy, tracheoesophageal fistula repair, and tracheostomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx. In addition, the patient had received radiation therapy to the neck. A venogram revealed occlusion of the left IJV. A guidewire from the femoral vein was passed through the occluded segment; however, attempts to introduce an angioplasty balloon failed. A percutaneous basilic vein approach allowed passage of a dilator sheath over a guidewire, thereby enabling Wallstent deployment across the IJV occlusion. A second Wallstent was inserted across a stenosis in the brachiocephalic vein; however, this second stent reoccluded the IJV. Surgical removal of the second Wallstent was required through a segmental claviculectomy and venotomy. Patency was restored in the IJV and the brachiocephalic vein with the return of baseline neurologic function. This case demonstrates a complicated emergent endovascular repair of a life-threatening IJV occlusion that required surgical salvage.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = consciousness (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/99. Intracerebral hemorrhage from a ruptured pseudoaneurysm after STA-MCA anastomosis--case report.A 43-year-old hypertensive male developed a pseudoaneurysm at the site of a superficial temporal artery (STA)-middle cerebral artery (MCA) anastomosis, causing massive intracerebral hemorrhage 5 years after the operation. He first experienced repeated transient ischemic attacks, and cerebral angiography disclosed complete occlusion in the cervical portion of the left internal carotid artery. STA-MCA anastomosis was performed, and the ischemic attacks stopped. Postoperative angiography confirmed patency of the anastomosis and good filling of the cortical branches of the left MCA. Five years after surgery, the patient suffered sudden onset of generalized convulsions and consciousness disturbance. Computed tomography disclosed a massive intracerebral hemorrhage in the left frontoparietal region, and angiography revealed an aneurysmal dilatation at the site of the anastomosis that was not seen before. Emergency evacuation of the hematoma and clipping of the aneurysmal dilatation were performed. The patient recovered well and became ambulatory. Histological examination of the surgical specimen showed collagen tissue, indicating a pseudoaneurysm. patients who undergo STA-MCA anastomosis, especially hypertensive patients, should be followed up by repeated magnetic resonance angiography to confirm the patency of the anastomosis and cerebral perfusion, and to detect the formation of pseudoaneurysms at the anastomosis site, which can cause fatal bleeding.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = consciousness (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/99. Complications of venous insufficiency after neurotologic-skull base surgery.OBJECTIVE: To characterize the incidence and complications resulting from venous insufficiency after neurotologic-skull base surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case review of >3,500 cases. SETTING: Tertiary referral center, inpatient surgery. patients: Six patients: four with complications related to chronic venous insufficiency and two with complications related to acute venous insufficiency. INTERVENTION(S): Medical (steroids, acetazolamide, hyperventilation, mannitol) and surgical (lumboperitoneal shunt, optic nerve decompression, embolectomy) interventions were undertaken. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Chronic venous insufficiency: nonobstructive hydrocephalus manifested by headache, disequilibrium, and papilledema with resultant visual loss. Acute venous insufficiency: acute nonobstructive hydrocephalus resulting in mental status abnormalities in the postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: (1) incidence of 1.5 per 1,000 cases. (2) Acute and chronic forms with different pathogenesis. (3) Acute form presents postoperatively with change in consciousness and herniation, and may proceed to death. (4) Chronic form presents months or years postoperatively with headache, disequilibrium, and visual changes from papilledema. (5) Occurs almost solely in patients with preoperative abnormalities of the venous collecting system. (6) Causes mental status changes postoperatively.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = consciousness (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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