Pediatric neurology
-
Pediatric neurology · Sep 2014
Comparative Study Observational StudySurgery for intractable epilepsy due to unilateral brain disease: a retrospective study comparing hemispherectomy techniques.
Hemispherectomy is a surgical procedure used to treat medically intractable epilepsy in children with severe unilateral cortical disease secondary to acquired brain or congenital lesions. The major surgical approaches for hemispherectomy are anatomic hemispherectomy, traditional functional hemispherectomy, and peri-insular hemispherotomy. We describe the epilepsy outcome, including the need for reoperation, after hemispherectomy in patients with brain malformations or acquired brain lesions who underwent hemispherectomy for refractory epilepsy. ⋯ Seizure outcome after hemispherectomy is good in patients with acquired lesions and with developmental malformations. Although the seizure outcome was similar in the three procedures, the complication rate was higher with anatomic hemispherectomy than with the more recent functional hemispherectomy and peri-insular hemispherotomy. The group with cortical malformations generally had surgery at a younger age; two patients with malformations of cortical development who underwent functional hemispherectomy required second surgeries. The need for reoperation in these cases may reflect the anatomic complexity of developmental hemispheric malformations, which may lead to incomplete disconnection.
-
Pediatric neurology · Sep 2014
Case ReportsPosterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in acute intermittent porphyria.
Acute intermittent porphyria is an inherited disease that is rarely diagnosed in prepubertal children. It can affect the autonomic, peripheral, and central nervous system. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a clinicoradiological entity characterized by headache, seizures, altered consciousness, and visual disorder associated with potentially reversible neuroradiological abnormalities predominantly in the parieto-occipital lobes. We report a child with acute intermittent porphyria who presented with radiological manifestations suggestive of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. ⋯ The association of abdominal pain, mental status changes, and autonomic dysfunction should arouse the suspicion of acute intermittent porphyria. Acute intermittent porphyria can be associated with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.
-
Pediatric neurology · Sep 2014
"Alice in wonderland" syndrome: presenting and follow-up characteristics.
We investigated the distribution of symptoms and etiologies of patients with "Alice in Wonderland" syndrome (visual perception of change in one's body size) and "Alice in Wonderland"-like syndrome (extrapersonal illusions) at presentation and to determine their prognosis. ⋯ "Alice in Wonderland" syndrome and "Alice in Wonderland"-like syndrome typically affect young children, and the most common visual complaints are micropsia and teleopsia. The most common associated condition is infection, but half of these individuals have no obvious trigger. Magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography are not helpful. The symptoms of "Alice in Wonderland" syndrome and "Alice in Wonderland"-like syndrome usually resolve, but in more than one third of the cases, they continue. One quarter of patients without a history of migraine may subsequently develop migraine.
-
Pediatric neurology · Sep 2014
Case ReportsHigh-dose rosuvastatin treatment for multifocal stroke in trauma-induced cerebral fat embolism syndrome: a case report.
Fat embolism syndrome is a life-threatening condition with treatment centering on the provision of excellent supportive care and early fracture fixation. No pharmacologic intervention has yet shown any clear benefit. We used high-dose rosuvastatin specifically for its anti-inflammatory effects to treat a patient with severe fat embolism syndrome. We also suggest that magnetic resonance imaging and transcranial Doppler studies are helpful in establishing the diagnosis and for monitoring the patient's course. ⋯ We feel that the acute administration of high-dose rosuvastatin early in the development of our patient's illness may have contributed to his ultimate recovery. Therapeutic guidelines cannot be extrapolated from a single patient, but our experience suggests that statin therapy could be potentially beneficial for individuals with severe fat embolism syndrome, and this approach deserves further clinical evaluation. Additionally, the diagnosis and monitoring of cerebral involvement in fat embolism syndrome is facilitated by both magnetic resonance imaging and transcranial Doppler studies.
-
Pediatric neurology · Sep 2014
Observational StudyHigh prevalence of early language delay exists among toddlers with neonatal brachial plexus palsy.
An association of language impairment with neonatal brachial plexus palsy has not been reported in the literature. The current treatment paradigm for neonatal brachial plexus palsy focuses on upper extremity motor recovery with little formal assessment of other aspects of development, such as language. We performed a cross-sectional pilot study to investigate early language delay prevalence in toddlers with neonatal brachial plexus palsy and potential neonatal brachial plexus palsy-related factors involved. ⋯ We observed high language delay prevalence among toddlers with neonatal brachial plexus palsy. Although our subject sample is small, our findings warrant further study of this phenomenon. Early identification and timely intervention based on type of language impairment may be critical for improving communication outcome in this population.