Surg Neurol
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Review Case Reports
A case of giant common carotid artery aneurysm associated with vascular Behçet disease: successfully treated with a covered stent.
A carotid artery aneurysm associated with vascular Behçet disease is extremely rare and often difficult to treat. In this article, we explore a definitive therapeutic strategy for pseudoaneurysm with vascular Behçet disease. ⋯ A covered stent is very useful in repairing arteries with pseudoaneurysm, particularly in cases unsuitable for direct surgery with parent artery occlusion. The influence of the foreign body at the inflammatory lesion and long-term patency of covered stents should be discussed.
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Case Reports
Cerebral salt wasting and elevated brain natriuretic peptide levels after traumatic brain injury: 2 case reports.
Historically, hyponatremia in patients with varying brain diseases was termed cerebral salt wasting. Hyponatremia secondary to CSW was reported to be a distinct entity from SIADH, with the distinguishing feature of decreased extracellular fluid volume. Brain natriuretic peptide, a peptide with natriuretic, vasorelaxant, and aldosterone-inhibiting properties, was recently implicated in aneurysmal SAH patients with CSW. Here, we describe 2 cases of CSW in TBI patients with elevated BNP levels. This phenomenon has not been previously described. ⋯ These patients with TBI had findings consistent with CSW with elevated BNP levels in the setting of normal cardiac function. In both cases, a high BNP level was observed after declining plasma Na levels despite aggressive hypertonic saline infusion. High BNP levels may be associated with CSW. Further studies are necessary to establish a causative role for BNP in TBI-induced CSW.
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Posttraumatic hydrocephalus is a common complication of head injury. However, hydrocephalus after tSAH has seldom been addressed. We present this clinical study to determine the incidence of hydrocephalus and analyze the risk factors for developing hydrocephalus in patients with tSAH. ⋯ Hydrocephalus frequently occurs in patients with tSAH. Increasing age, low GCS score on admission, intraventricular hemorrhage, and severe SAH could be risk factors for facilitating the development of hydrocephalus.
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Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is a potentially serious neurologic disorder that commonly presents with gait difficulty and hand dysfunction. Because the development of CSM is in large part related to advanced spondylosis and degenerative disk disease, elderly patients appear to be at an increased risk to develop this condition. The surgical outcomes of this patient population have been understudied; the authors seek to report their clinical results in a series of patients with CSM older than 75 years who underwent surgical treatment. ⋯ Elderly patients with CSM are likely to obtain neurologic improvement after decompressive surgery. Their postoperative complication rate is higher than that of younger patients, yet most complications appear to be self limiting and do not adversely affect neurologic outcome.
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Traumatic EDHs of the posterior cranial fossa are rare and have a higher mortality than supratentorial localizations. Early diagnosis of TEHPCF and prompt surgical evacuation provide excellent recovery. Active use of cranial CT scanning has taken a major role in the diagnosis, surgical indication, close observation, and strategy planning. As a result, better prognosis is achieved. In this study, we represent our results and experiences in the management of TEHPCF. ⋯ When compared with the literature, our mortality rate was superior to other previously reported studies. In our opinion, this is a result of extensive use of the cranial CT scan together with aggressive surgery. Patients with occipital trauma should be evaluated using cranial CT scans, and those showing mass effect should be immediately treated surgically. The patients that have no mass effect on CT scans can be closely observed by planned serial control CT scans.