Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension Secondary to Lumbar Disc Herniation

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension is often idiopathic. We report on a patient presenting with symptomatic intracranial hypotension and pain radiating to the right leg caused by a transdural lumbar disc herniation. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the brain revealed classic signs of intracranial hypotension, and an additional spinal MR confirmed a lumbar transdural herniated disc as the cause. The patient was treated with a partial hemilaminectomy and discectomy. We were able to find the source of cerebrospinal fluid leak, and packed it with epidural glue and gelfoam. Postoperatively, the patient''s headache and log radiating pain resolved and there was no neurological deficit. Thus, in this case, lumbar disc herniation may have been a cause of spontaneous intracranial hypotension.     

Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension Masquerading as Frontotemporal Dementia

F.D. exhibited the cognitive and behavioral profile of frontotemporal dementia in the context of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). Symptoms included orthostatic headache, as well as cognitive and personality changes. He underwent CT, EEG, and MRI as well as neuropsychological evaluations before and after corticosteroid treatment. The initial evaluation documented significant cognitive impairment with a predominance of executive dysfunction. Following treatment, a second evaluation revealed marked improvement in cognition and behavior. Rapid diagnosis and treatment can yield a favorable outcome. Both quantitative and qualitative information from measures of executive functioning were discussed, as well as their anatomical substrates.     

Coma from Worsening Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension After Subdural Hematoma Evacuation

Background  

Low cerebrospinal fluid volume is typically diagnosed in patients presenting with positional headaches. However, severe intracranial hypotension and brain sagging may cause orthostatic coma. We present a case that illustrates this uncommon presentation.     

Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension: Clinical Presentation, Imaging Features and Treatment

Objective

In the present study, the authors investigated the clinical and imaging features as well as the therapeutic outcomes of SIH (spontaneous intracranial hypotension) patients.

Methods

A retrospective review of 12 SIH patients was carried out. The diagnostic work-up included lumbar tapping and measurement of CSF opening pressure, radioisotope cisternography, brain and spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) myelography. Autologous epidural blood patching was performed in patients who did not respond to conservative therapies, including analgesics, steroids, hydration and rest.

Results

Typical postural headache was found in 11 (91%) patients. Nine (75%) patients showed pachymeningeal enhancement on their initial T1-weighted MR images. The CSF opening pressure was less than 60 mmH₂O in 9 of 11 patients. Autologous epidural blood patching was performed in 7 patients, and all of them showed good responses.

Conclusion

SIH can present with various clinical presentations and neuroimaging findings. Autologous epidural blood patching is thought to be the treatment of choice for patients with SIH.     

自发性低颅压并发颅内静脉窦血栓形成临床分析

目的 自发性低颅压（spontaneous intracranial hypotension,SIH）及颅内静脉窦血栓形成（cerebralvenous thrombosis,CVT）均为神经科少见疾病,而SIH合并CVT更为少见,本研究旨在探寻二者之间有无内在联系。方法 报道2例SIH并发CVT的临床资料,并复习相关文献。结果 2例患者SIH在前,CVT发生在后,同时排除了其他导致静脉窦血栓的危险因素,因此推测SIH也是CVT的危险因素之一。经补液纠正低颅压后,静脉窦血栓也随之好转。结论 SIH可能导致CVT,这一观点也被相关文献所证实。     

原发性低颅压头痛15例临床分析

目的：探讨原发性低颅压性头痛的临床特点。方法：回顾性分析15例原发性低颅压性头痛的临床资料。结果：15例患者中,急性发病12例,慢性发病3例;女性9例,发病年龄28～56岁。93.33%患者有体位性头痛,恶心和呕吐是主要伴随症状。腰穿脑脊液平均压力（41.2±30.85）mmH2O,女性患者明显低于男性患者（P〈0.05）。影像学检查和脑池显影均未见明显异常。全部患者均保守治疗后症状明显好转。结论：典型体位性头痛,腰穿脑脊液压力〈60mmH2O为原发性低颅压性头痛的主要特点,预后良好。     

Leaking the Diagnosis: A Case of Convulsive Status Epilepticus Due to Intracranial Hypotension

Neurocritical Care - We describe a case of convulsive status epilepticus caused by intracranial hypotension, a complication of spinal surgery. Intracranial hypotension (IH) is typically...     

Postpartum Trifecta: Simultaneous Eclamptic Intracerebral Hemorrhage, PRES, and Herniation Due to Intracranial Hypotension

Background

In the postpartum patient, sudden depression of consciousness may be caused by a number of etiologies and can result in serious consequences. Rapid, accurate diagnosis allows for specific treatments that optimize outcome, but diagnosis can be challenging in this population. We present a case of postpartum herniation due to intracranial hypotension in a patient with eclampsia, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Methods

Case report.

Results

A 26-year-old woman developed headache on postpartum day (PD) 1 after cesarean section with epidural anesthesia. Over the next 3?days, she developed progressively worsening headache and hypertension. On PD 5, she had a generalized seizure, leading to endotracheal intubation, propofol infusion, and transfer to our institution. By PD 6, she opened her eyes to voice, followed commands, moved all extremities, and had briskly reactive 4?mm pupils. MRI showed L parasagittal ICH with minimal mass effect, edema consistent with PRES, and brain descent with obliteration of the basal cisterns and tonsillar herniation. Later on PD 6, after diuresis for pulmonary edema, she became unresponsive with a dilated and nonreactive left pupil. She was laid flat for transport to CT, with improvement in arousal and pupil reactivity within 5?min. Intravascular volume was repleted with normal saline and albumin, and she was placed in the Trendelenburg position. Over the subsequent 8?h, she developed a dilated and nonreactive left pupil whenever her head was raised to horizontal. Her head position was gradually successfully raised over 48?h without need for a lumbar epidural blood patch. She was discharged home on PD 13 with only mild left arm dysmetria.

Conclusions

Intracranial hypotension may coexist with other potential causes of cerebral herniation in the postpartum period. Establishing this diagnosis is crucial because its treatment is opposite that of other causes of herniation.     

Intrathecal Saline Infusion: An Emergency Procedure in a Patient with Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension

Background

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a neurologic condition with the prototypical symptom of orthostatic headache. We report a dramatic case of SIH with life-threatening bilateral hygroma and uncal herniation.

Methods

Case report.

Results

A 44-year-old male patient presenting with orthostatic headache and double vision was diagnosed with SIH. Diagnostic imaging showed meningeal enhancement and bilateral hygroma. A conservative treatment regime was initiated. The patient’s condition rapidly deteriorated with progressive loss of consciousness. Cranial MRI showed beginning uncal herniation. As an emergency treatment measure, an intracranial pressure (ICP) probe was inserted and intrathecal lumbal saline infusion was initiated. This led to a stabilization of ICP and allowed further diagnostics and treatment.

Conclusion

Intrathecal lumbal saline infusion in combination with ICP monitoring can be a life-saving treatment option in unstable SIH patients.     

超声测量视神经鞘直径辅助诊断自发性低颅压1例个案报道

<正>1病例介绍患者女性,38岁,因"头痛、呕吐伴发作性左上肢麻木10 d,加重4 d"入院。患者入院10 d前无明确诱因出现头痛,表现为后枕部胀痛,伴呕吐,呈非喷射性,呕吐物为胃内容物,发病后逐渐出现发作性左上肢麻木,每次持续数秒,自行缓解。入院前4 d头痛及呕吐症状加重,呈持续性胀痛,于2018年1月28日急诊以"头痛"收入吉林大学第一医院神经内科。既往史:否认自身免疫性疾病、血液病、     

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Spinal Subdural Hematoma Due to Acute CSF Hypotension

Background

Intracranial subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and spinal subdural hematoma (SDH) are rare complications of spine surgery, thought to be precipitated by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hypotension in the setting of an intraoperative durotomy or postoperative CSF leak. Considerable clinical variability has been reported, requiring a high level of clinical suspicion in patients with a new, unexplained neurologic deficit after spine surgery.

Methods

Case report.

Results

An 84-year-old man developed symptomatic spinal stenosis with bilateral lower extremity pseudoclaudication. He underwent L3-5 laminectomy at an outside institution, complicated by a small, incidental, unrepairable intraoperative durotomy. On postoperative day 2, he became confused; and head CT demonstrated intracranial SAH with blood products along the superior cerebellum and bilateral posterior Sylvian fissures. He was transferred to our neurosciences ICU for routine SAH care, with improvement in encephalopathy over several days of supportive care. On postoperative day 10, the patient developed new bilateral lower extremity weakness; MRI of the lumbar spine demonstrated worsening acute spinal SDH above the laminectomy defect, from L4-T12. He was taken to the OR for decompression, at which time a complex 1.5-cm lumbar durotomy was identified and repaired primarily.

Conclusions

We report the first case of simultaneous intracranial SAH and spinal SDH attributable to postoperative CSF hypotension in the setting of a known intraoperative durotomy. Although rare, each of these entities has the potential to precipitate a poor neurologic outcome, which may be mitigated by early recognition and treatment.

     

Hyperpyrexia as the Presenting Symptom of Intracranial Hypotension

Introduction

Hyperpyrexia is a severely elevated core body temperature secondary to an elevated hypothalamic set thermo-regulatory threshold. Hyperthermia is an elevated core body temperature beyond the normal hypothalamic set thermo-regulatory threshold. Intracranial hypotension can present with a wide variety of symptoms ranging from orthostatic headache up to coma. We report a rare case of hyperpyrexia associated with intracranial hypotension.

Methods

A case report of a 55-year-old female patient with a history of angiogram-negative subarachnoid hemorrhage status post-ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement six years prior to admission who suddenly developed encephalopathy and high fever. Conventional management of the fever was unsuccessful.

Results and Management

Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed signs of significant intracranial hypotension. When the VP shunt was tapped, no cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) could be obtained. Once the VP shunt settings were adjusted, the patient’s encephalopathy and hyperpyrexia resolved.

Conclusion

Hyperpyrexia might be a presenting symptom of intracranial hypotension, likely, secondary to hypothalamic dysfunction and compression. In our case, hyperpyrexia was reversible as the intracranial hypotension was emergently treated. Spontaneous intracranial hypotension might be difficult to diagnose, especially if it presented with non-classical symptoms like fever; thus, physicians should be aware of such association.

     

Validation of iScore and PLAN Score for Death in Thrombectomy in Acute Stroke Due to Anterior Circulation Large Artery Occlusion

Background

To validate iScore and PLAN score in acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke patients undergoing thrombectomy.

Intracranial Vessel Wall MRI in Cryptogenic Stroke and Intracranial Vasculitis

Introduction: Intracranial vasculopathies easily elude classic stroke work-up. We aim in this work to show that vessel wall-MRI could prove an efficient alternative to digital subtraction angiography for the diagnosis of intracranial vasculopathies by identifying intracranial arterial vessel walls anomalies and contrast enhancement, suggestive of angiitis of the central nervous system. Materials and methods: Clinical and imaging characteristics of stroke patients diagnosed with primary angiitis of the central nervous system based on vessel wall-MRI were retrospectively reviewed and the clinical and imaging features of angiitis associated with intracranial vessel walls anomalies and contrast enhancement detailed. Results: Twenty patients were included (mean age was 59 years old). All patients were admitted for focal neurological deficits of sudden onset that were recurrent in 13 subjects. Cognitive impairment, headache and seizures occurred in, respectively, 13, 5, and 2 patients. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis was abnormal in 15 patients. In MRI, FLAIR sequences showed ischemic infarcts in 20 patients and DWI showed acute infarct in 15 patients. Digital subtraction angiography was performed in 11 patients and disclosed proximal and distal multifocal stenosis in 10 patients along distal irregularities in different vascular territories in 7. For all of our patients, VW-MRI revealed a concentric contrast enhancement of arterial walls, localized in multiple vascular territories, suggesting angiitis. Abnormalities on digital subtraction angiography and/or MR-Angiography, and vessel wall-MRI were consistent in all patients. Conclusions: This report underlies the added value of vessel wall-MRI to the diagnosis of underlying intracranial vasculopathy, particularly primary angiitis of the central nervous system, without the use of invasive endovascular techniques and the yield of vessel wall-MRI in the work-up of cryptogenic stroke.     

Spontaneous Hyperacute Postischemic Hemorrhage Leading to Death

Hyperacute, spontaneous, and severe parenchymal postischemic hemorrhage is considered rare but might be frequently misdiagnosed as primary intracerebral hemorrhage. The authors report 2 patients with catastrophic postischemic hemorrhage unrelated to anticoagulation, thrombolytics, or coagulopathy. Patient 1 was a 73-year-old woman with left posterior frontal lobe infarction, followed at 5.5 hours by massive postischemic hemorrhage leading to death. Patient 2 was a 52-year-old man with recent brain irradiation who developed left middle cerebral artery occlusion and basal ganglia infarction. Initial gradient-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed petechial hemorrhage within areas of infarction and widespread old microbleeds. He developed massive postischemic hemorrhage at 12 hours, leading to death. The authors conclude that early brain imaging is essential to distinguish postischemic from primary brain hemorrhage. In patients with ischemic stroke, MRI findings such as hyperacute petechial hemorrhage or chronic cerebral microbleeds might predict subsequent parenchymal hemorrhage and thus have implications for tissue plasminogen activator use.     

自发性低颅压致脑静脉窦血栓形成合并多发梗死1例报道及文献复习

目的探讨自发性低颅压致脑静脉窦血栓形成患者的临床、影像学特点和发病机制。方法报道1例自发性低颅压致脑静脉窦血栓形成并脑内多发静脉性梗死患者的临床资料。结合临床、影像学特点及相关文献报道对其进行分析。结果自发性低颅压可导致脑静脉窦血栓形成。静脉系统扩张及血液瘀滞是血栓形成的主要机制。严重的血液瘀滞患者可出现多发皮质静脉性梗死,甚至脑干静脉性梗死,经治疗后多数患者症状消失。结论自发性低颅压是脑静脉窦血栓形成的重要危险因素。静脉性梗死可以出现在脑干。早期发现并治疗,多数患者预后良好。     

Intracranial Hypotension Caused by Dural‐Pleural Fistula

This report describes a rare complication in a woman who underwent thoracic spinal surgery. One month postoperatively, her rehabilitation was interrupted by the development of a severe headache, nausea, vomiting, and a right‐side occulomotor nerve palsy. Imaging of her brain revealed changes typical of intracranial hypotension, and subsequent imaging of the spine revealed a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak at the site of surgery. The CSF was seen to track into the right pleural space via a dural‐pleural fistula. Surgical repair of the fistula led to a definitive resolution in symptoms, thus highlighting the importance of early recognition of this highly unusual complication. J Neuroimaging 2012;22:208‐209.