Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Cerebral oxygen metabolism and neuroelectrophysiology in a clinical study of severe brain injury and mild hypothermia.
Mild hypothermia has an important role in the treatment of severe brain injury and there are therapeutic windows for this technique for patients with severe brain injury. We used a randomized, controlled, clinical study to investigate indexes of cerebral oxygen metabolism and neuroelectrophysiology to evaluate the efficacy of mild hypothermia treatment in severe brain injury. A total of 148 patients (106 males and 42 females), aged 18 to 64 years with acute severe brain injury were selected from June 1998 to June 2004 from the Department of Neurosurgery at The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. ⋯ For patients with GCS 3-4, there was no difference between the hypothermia and normothermia subgroups. We conclude that hypothermia had a significant therapeutic effect on severe brain injury of patients with GCS 7-8, had no effect on patients with GCS 3-4, and an uncertain effect on patients with GCS 5-6. The indexes of cerebral oxygen metabolism and neuroelectrophysiology indicated primary and secondary brain injury, respectively, and provided an effective way to evaluate brain injury.
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Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encephalitis is a rare neurological complication, usually only reported in pediatric patients. We present a 20-year-old, previously healthy male who developed hemorrhagic encephalitis caused by EBV. He was admitted to our hospital with a 1-week history of fever, diarrhea, headache, and confusion. ⋯ EBV DNA was identified in brain biopsy specimens by polymerase chain reaction. The postoperative course was uneventful. To our knowledge, this is the second report of hemorrhagic EBV encephalitis in an adult.
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We performed a prospective study to evaluate the intraoperative value of indocyanine green (ICG) video angiography in anterior circulation aneurysms. From January 2007 to April 2008, 42 patients with anterior circulation aneurysms who were to undergo aneurysm clipping were enrolled in the study. Intraoperative ICG video angiography was performed using a fluorescence microscope. ⋯ ICG video angiography after adjustment of the clip position showed a perfect residual elimination with no abnormal findings. Post-operative DSA, CTA and MRA results corresponded to the intraoperative ICG video angiography findings. Therefore, ICG video angiography is an important tool to monitor residual aneurysm, parent artery stenosis or perforating artery occlusion during intracranial aneurysm clipping.
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We report a 73-year-old man presenting with bilateral leg numbness and weakness. Three spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae (SDAVF) were found after clinical deterioration post lumbar puncture (LP). This patient highlights the difficulties in the diagnosis and management of SDAVF, and the risks of LP.
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Spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma (SSEH) is a rare cause of spinal cord compression in adults, especially in the elderly. We report an independent 88-year-old female, on aspirin only for chronic atrial fibrillation, who presented with a 12-hour history of acute lumbar back pain, urinary incontinence and progressive bilateral lower limb paresis. ⋯ The patient made a poor initial post-operative recovery, but four months later had begun to mobilise independently after intensive physiotherapy. The case highlights the significance of clinical suspicion, especially in those patients on anti-platelet therapy, rapid spinal radiography and emergent decompressive surgery in SSEH patients, as well as the importance of ongoing rehabilitation in restoring neurological function.