Journal of neurosurgery. Pediatrics
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J Neurosurg Pediatr · Aug 2015
The long-term outcomes of radiosurgery for arteriovenous malformations in pediatric and adolescent populations.
OBJECT Although stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has been accepted as a therapeutic option for arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in children and adolescents, substantial data are still lacking regarding the outcomes of SRS for AVMs in this age group, especially long-term complications. This study aimed to clarify the long-term outcomes of SRS for the treatment of AVM in pediatric patients aged ≤ 18 years. METHODS Outcomes of 116 patients who were aged 4-18 years when they underwent SRS between 1990 and 2009 at the study institute were analyzed retrospectively. ⋯ Of them, 4 patients presented with delayed complications years after SRS (range 9-20 years after SRS). CONCLUSIONS SRS can reduce the risk of hemorrhage in pediatric and adolescent AVMs, with an acceptable risk of complications in the long term. However, adverse events such as expanding hematoma and radiation necrosis that can occur after substantial follow-up should be taken into account at the time that treatment decisions are made and informed consent is obtained.
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J Neurosurg Pediatr · Aug 2015
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyInitial clinical presentation of children with acute and chronic versus acute subdural hemorrhage resulting from abusive head trauma.
OBJECT At presentation, children who have experienced abusive head trauma (AHT) often have subdural hemorrhage (SDH) that is acute, chronic, or both. Controversy exists whether the acute SDH associated with chronic SDH results from trauma or from spontaneous rebleeding. The authors compared the clinical presentations of children with AHT and acute SDH with those having acute and chronic SDH (acute/chronic SDH). ⋯ CONCLUSIONS Overall, the presenting clinical and radiological characteristics of children with acute SDH and acute/chronic SDH caused by AHT did not differ, suggesting that repeated abuse, rather than spontaneous rebleeding, is the etiology of most acute SDH in children with chronic SDH. However, more severe neurological symptoms were more common among children with acute SDH. Children with acute/chronic SDH and asymptomatic macrocephaly have unique risks and distinct radiological and clinical characteristics.
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J Neurosurg Pediatr · Aug 2015
Incidence of seizures on continuous EEG monitoring following traumatic brain injury in children.
OBJECT Seizures may cause diagnostic confusion and be a source of metabolic stress after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children. The incidence of electroencephalography (EEG)-confirmed seizures and of subclinical seizures in the pediatric population with TBI is not well known. METHODS A routine protocol for continuous EEG (cEEG) monitoring was initiated for all patients with moderate or severe TBI at a Level 1 pediatric trauma center. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS Continuous EEG monitoring identifies a significant number of subclinical seizures acutely after TBI. Children younger than 2.4 years of age and victims of AHT are particularly vulnerable to subclinical seizures, and seizures in general. Continuous EEG monitoring allows for accurate diagnosis and timely treatment of posttraumatic seizures, and may mitigate secondary injury to the traumatized brain.
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J Neurosurg Pediatr · Aug 2015
Baclofen overdose from possible intrinsic malfunction of SynchroMed II pump.
This is a case report illustrating an overdose of baclofen in a 10-year-old boy due to a likely malfunction of a SynchroMed II pump. This ultimately necessitated a pump replacement. One-year follow-up showed no further incidents of baclofen overdose, with multiple pump refills.
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J Neurosurg Pediatr · Aug 2015
Case ReportsTreatment of a cerebral pial arteriovenous fistula in a patient with sickle cell disease-related moyamoya syndrome: case report.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal recessive hematological disorder, characterized by sickling of the red blood cells in response to a hypoxic stress and vaso-occlusive crises. It is associated with moyamoya-like changes on cerebral angiographic imaging in 43% of patients. Cerebral aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and dural arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) have been described in association with SCD and moyamoya disease. ⋯ The authors present the case of a 15-year-old boy with SCD-associated moyamoya disease harboring a pAVF who developed a de novo venous aneurysm 8 months after undergoing indirect superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (MCA) bypass that was complicated by bilateral ischemia of the MCA territory. The pAVF was successfully treated with transarterial embolization using Onyx. The authors describe the possible pathophysiological mechanisms and management strategies for this rare occurrence.