Pediatric neurosurgery
-
Pediatric neurosurgery · Oct 1996
Comparative StudySurgical treatment of 95 children with 102 intracranial arachnoid cysts.
Our review of 95 children with 102 intracranial arachnoid cysts treated surgically from 1976 to 1996 is presented. These patients are divided into two groups, those initially treated from 1976 to 1986 and those treated from 1987 to May 1996, to see whether any improvement in outcome had occurred. There were 31 patients (20 males/11 females) with 34 cysts treated from 1976 to 1986 and 64 patients (45 males/19 females) with 68 cysts treated from 1987 to 1996. ⋯ Although not statistically significant, the second group of patients had a lower rate of reoperation, fewer complications, and a better clinical outcome than the first group. We recommend that in patients without evidence of hydrocephalus, cyst fenestration be considered as the primary procedure, as 73% of the patients in the two series remain shunt free. In those patients with hydrocephalus, we still recommend cyst fenestration, but with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt inserted before fenestration if the hydrocephalus is marked or after fenestration if the hydrocephalus is progressive.
-
Pediatric neurosurgery · Sep 1996
Case ReportsIntestinal obstruction caused by extraperitoneal cerebrospinal fluid collection.
External compression caused by a massive extraperitoneal cerebrospinal fluid collection lead to intestinal obstruction in a 3-year-old child who had previously had a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for treatment of hydrocephalus. Radiological findings and ways of preventing this situation are discussed. A useful diagnostic radiological sign, the "coiling sign', indicating shunt misplacement at the peritoneal level, is also described.
-
Pediatric neurosurgery · Jun 1996
The prognostic value of the Glasgow Coma Scale, hypoxia and computerised tomography in outcome prediction of pediatric head injury.
The outcome of 151 children less than 15 years of age and admitted within 24 h of head injury was studied in relation to clinical and computed tomography (CT) scan features. Thirty one (20.5%) had a poor outcome (24 died, 6 were severely disabled at 6 months after injury and 1 was in a persistent vegetative state) while 120 (79.5%) had a good outcome (89 recovered well and 31 were moderately disabled). Factors associated with a poor outcome were Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score 24 h following injury, presence of hypoxia on admission and CT scan features of subarachnoid haemorrhage, diffuse axonal injury and brain swelling. ⋯ The prognostic value of GCS scores < 8 was enhanced two-to fourfold by the presence of hypoxia. The additional presence of the CT scan features mentioned above markedly increased the probability of a poor outcome to > 0.8, modified only by the presence of GCS scores > 12. Correct predictions were made in 90.1% of patients, indicating that it is possible to estimate the severity of a patient's injury based on a small subset of clinical and radiological criteria that are readily available.
-
Pediatric neurosurgery · Jan 1996
Seizure outcome in children treated for arteriovenous malformations using gamma knife radiosurgery.
Seizures are the second most common presenting symptom of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in children. Although radiosurgery has been found to be a safe and effective alternative treatment, the outcome of seizure control in children after radiosurgery for AVMs is unknown. Between 1987 and 1994, 72 children under the age of 18 years were treated with gamma knife radiosurgery for AVMs at our institution. ⋯ Two of the 72 patients (3%) developed seizures after treatment and remain on medication. Seizure outcome was not associated with the location or complete obliteration of the lesion. We conclude that stereotactic radiosurgery, as a non-invasive alternative, is associated with a good outcome for the AVM as well as AVM-related seizures in children.
-
Reduction cranioplasty can greatly improve the quality of life for selected patients with severe macrocephaly and can significantly diminish some of the difficulties in the long-term chronic care of others. Because of differences in age, cranial morphology and surgical goals, the surgical plan must be tailored to the individual patient. ⋯ Four patients, representing the spectrum of severe macrocephaly and also the problems associated with reduction cranioplasty, are presented. Surgical indications, tactical considerations and risks are discussed.