Ventriculoatrial shunt in tuberculous meningitis with hydrocephalus

Raised intracranial tension affects the course of tuberculous meningitis adversely. The development of hydrocephalus may account for the raised intracranial pressure. Insertion of a ventriculoatrial shunt significantly alters the course of the disease. The results in seven cases have been detailed and discussed. The levels of consciousness improved, hemiplegia and aphasia practically cleared up, and vision returned even in children who were blind for 4 to 6 weeks. Operation could be performed even in an active stage of the disease without much fear of miliary dissemination.     

Early operation for the ruptured intracranial aneurysm

It has been commonly accepted that the intracranial direct surgery, especially of aneurysmal neck occlusion, is the most desirable treatment for the intracranial aneurysm. However its timing is still controversial. In this report, early operation for the ruptured intracranial aneurysm was advocated based on the analysis of cases, encountered until the end of December, 1970, in which direct operation was performed within 3 weeks from the last subarachnoid hemorrhage, with special reference to the causes of death. The most reliable clinical parameter in deciding the timing of intracranial direct surgery seems to be the course of patient's consciousness. Age, blood pressure, site of aneurysm, motor disturbance, cranial nerve disorder and preoperative vasospasm were less related to the surgical results. The meningeal irritation and frequency of the past subarachnoid hemorrhage were related to the surgical results to some extent only. Therefore direct operation should be performed for the ruptured intracranial aneurysm even within one week after the last attack, providing the patient is neither in a state of coma nor in a down hill course of consciousness.     

Liver abscess secondary to ventriculoperitoneal shunt

Liver abscess is a rare complication following the ventriculoperitoneal (V-P) shunt operation. There has been only one case reported in the literature. We present a case of liver abscess developed about 3 months after V-P shunt operation. A 31-year-old female was admitted to our hospital in comatose condition due to second bleeding from an aneurysm of the right internal carotid artery on January 1, 1984. Obliteration of the aneurysm was performed on the following day. She received V-P shunt operation for the marked hydrocephalus on February 4, but she developed low spinal fluid pressure syndrome. She was able to walk by herself after the replacement of shunt valve on March 4. In the middle of April, she suffered from abdominal pain with a pyrexia for about 5 days. On May 13, a new peritoneal tube was placed in another part of the peritoneal cavity because of the recurrence of hydrocephalus. On the following day, she developed severe abdominal and back pains with a high fever. Abdominal CT scans and ultrasonogram were performed on May 22, showing a well-defined, cystic mass lesion in the liver and the peritoneal tube lying just beneath the mass lesion. Approximately 100 ml of white creamy pus was aspirated from the cystic mass by ultrasound-guided percutaneous puncture, and a 8.3 French pigtail nephrostomy catheter was left in place for 9 days until purulent drainage stopped. Microbiologic examination demonstrated staphylococcus epidermidis in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the shunt tube but was negative in the abscess fluid. The ventricular fluid was drained externally with the V-P shunt tube for a while, but the new ventricular drainage was instituted because of continuous positive cultures in the CSF from the shunt tube. Thereafter, the cultures of the CSF became negative and ventriculoatrial (V-A) shunt operation was performed on July 2. Postoperative course was uneventful. It is considered that the formation of the liver abscess seems to be caused by the focal injury to the liver surface by the insidiously infected peritoneal tube with St. epidermidis, and by the decrease in systemic resistance to infection. Percutaneous aspiration and drainage under the guidance of abdominal computed tomography or ultrasonography are very useful and efficient for the diagnosis and the treatment of liver abscess. When patients show signs of infection to the V-P shunt, we should remove the shunting system and place a new external ventricular drainage, and institute a V-A shunt after confirming negative cultures of the CSF.     

Intracranial hemorrhage associated with pregnancy--4 case reports and a review of the literature

Four cases of intracranial hemorrhage associated with pregnancy are reported. They were a ruptured anterior communicating aneurysm, a ruptured AVM of cerebellar hemisphere, a lt-thalamic and putaminal hemorrhage and brain stem hemorrhage. As the mode of hemorrhage, one case was a subarachnoid hemorrhage, one case was a subarachnoid hemorrhage combined with a cerebellar hemorrhage and other two cases were intraparenchymal hemorrhage. The mean age of these 4 cases was 29.5 years of age from 25 to 35. One case was occurred the intracranial hemorrhage during the first trimester but other 3 cases was occurred during the third trimester. It was, thus, considered the intracranial hemorrhage associated with pregnancy was more frequently occurred during the third trimester. Primigravida and multigravida were equally occurred on each two cases. It was not related to parity. Consciousness levels were drowsiness; one case, semicoma; two cases and deep coma; one case. A case of ruptured anterior communicating aneurysm underwent neck clipping of aneurysm through the rt-fronto-temporal craniotomy on the first day of the attack. This case fully recovered, but the other three cases of severely impaired consciousness level were dead. Maternal prognosis was related to consciousness level. We mentioned the preferred neurosurgical and obstetrical management to the intracranial hemorrhage associated with pregnancy.     

Emerging Sylvian Subpial Hematoma after the Repair of the Ruptured Anterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm with Interhemispheric Approach: Case Report

A 60-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital due to a sudden loss of consciousness. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a thick subarachnoid hemorrhage in almost all of the parachiasmatic cisterns, including the sylvian cisterns, with mild hydrocephalus. Three dimensional (3D)-CT angiography showed an irregularly shaped aneurysm at the bifurcation of the left A2 and the frontopolar artery. The aneurysm was successfully obliterated by clipping through the interhemispheric approach. CT performed immediately after the operation showed a newly formed left temporal subpial hematoma. The patient''s neurological status improved gradually after surgery, but deteriorated again 2 days after the operation. CT revealed an enlarging right sylviansubpial hematoma. The subpial hematoma was rapidly removed surgically. Slight hemiparesis and impaired higher cognitive function remained after a shunt procedure for subsequent hydrocephalus. Emerging sylvian hematoma associated with a distant site of a ruptured aneurysm is extremely rare. However, adequate attention is required in cases with a thick subarachnoid hemorrhage in distant fissures.     

Efficacy and some complications of programmable pressure valve

Twenty-five patients with hydrocephalus were treated using Sophy programmable pressure valve. The valve pressure is adjustable percutaneously with a magnet. This valve was very useful for management cases presenting overdrainage and high-risk cases of shunt dysfunction such as aqueductal stenosis and idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. It was also useful for hydrocephalus after subarachnoid hemorrhage because it was difficult to know the most adequate pressure before the shunt operation. Two patients developed acute subdural hematoma of arterial origin after the shunt operation. The causative factor appeared to be low intracranial pressure and rupture of small arterial branches. This complication may be more frequent in cases using this system than in cases using other systems. We must pay attention to this complication and it is necessary to improve the shunt system. One bed-ridden patient developed necrosis of the skin because of this valve, and it had to be removed. We should place this valve so that it is at the anterior of the chest.     

Disturbed cerebrospinal fluid circulation after subarachnoid hemorrhage and acute aneurysm surgery

In 138 patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms operated on within 48 to 72 hours after subarachnoid hemorrhage, an external ventricular drainage catheter was inserted before craniotomy and was used intermittently during the first week after surgery. In 51 patients, intracranial pressure (ICP) was measured intraoperatively. The majority of patients showed increased ICP intraoperatively irrespective of the preoperative Hunt and Hess grade and the amount of subarachnoid blood accumulation or intraventricular blood clot. Intraoperative drainage of cerebrospinal fluid allowed easy access for aneurysm dissection by making the brain slack in more than 90% of patients. Postoperative ICP measurements revealed that significant brain swelling did not occur in the majority of patients. In 7 patients, persistently elevated ICP (greater than 20 mm Hg) was recorded. Nine patients (8%) developed shunt-dependent hydrocephalus; all of these patients had suffered an intraventricular hemorrhage. Measurements of the volumes of cerebrospinal fluid drained did not allow prediction of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus.     

Exploration of the pineal region: observations and results

Experience with direct exploration of the pineal region in 22 consecutive patients is reported. Of these cases, mass lesions with obstructive hydrocephalus were found in 19; the remaining 3 had arteriovenous malformations of the pineal region. Of the 19 mass lesions, 5 (26%) were benign and curable. Although a preliminary shunt was routinely provided in all patients with obstructive hydrocephalus before exploration of the pineal region, the condition of five (26%) worsened after the shunt operation, requiring emergency decompression of the pineal tumor. A transtentorial approach through a right occipital craniotomy was uniformly employed in all cases. Overall mortality was less than 5%. These observations and results support the policy of direct exploration of all lesions in the pineal region.     

Two cases of impending herniation due to multiple traumatic acute subdural hematomas: combination of burr hole evacuation and craniotomy

A contralateral extra-axial hematoma sometimes occurs during an operation on an acute subdural hematoma and may become fatal. Using a combined procedure of burr hole evacuation and craniotomy, we treated 2 cases of multiple traumatic acute subdural hematomas. Our policy for such cases is first to perform a burr hole evacuation for the acute subdural hematoma in the emergency room, while simultaneously preparing the operation room for a possible further operation. Next, we perform computed tomography (CT) of the brain. If the evacuation does not provide enough decompression, we either carry out a craniotomy at the same site, or, we observe the patient without resorting to craniotomy. However, if the patient's condition deteriorates, burr hole evacuation is repeated and/or craniotomy is carried out as soon as possible on the lesion at the already prepared operation room. Both of our patients received craniotomy for another subdural hematoma after the burr hole evacuation. Though his intracranial pressure was well managed during the acute stage, one of the patients died 21 days after the trauma due to an extensive brain infarction caused by vasospasm. The other regained consciousness and was able to walk 5 months after the trauma in spite of cerebral infarction from vasospasm. The possible mechanism of vasospasm in severe head injury is also discussed.     

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt in cryptococcal meningitis with hydrocephalus

Fourteen patients with cryptococcal meningitis were reviewed. All patients had a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for hydrocephalus. Early recognitions and prompt relief of hydrocephalus were useful for eight patients who showed rapid deterioration of consciousness or signs of cerebral herniation. There was no surgical response in four patients who had had weeks of confusion or mental change. It seems, therefore, that the duration of disturbance of consciousness or change of mentality before shunting is critical in determination of the outcome of the treatment. Ventricular shunting was effective in relieving papilledema in five patients. However, the surgery did not prevent the development of papilledema to optic atrophy and subsequent blindness in two patients. Hence, in addition to hydrocephalus with increased intracranial pressure, conditions such as direct invasion of the optic pathways by Cryptococcus neoformans or optochiasmatic arachnoiditis may be responsible for the visual failure. Ventricular shunting was also helpful in restoring paraparesis in one patient. Of the cerebrospinal fluid determinations, low protein concentration was a favorable indicator for surgery. Of the seven patients who received the surgical procedure before the start of antifungal therapy, four showed a significant improvement despite active infection of the central nervous system. None of the seven patients deteriorated because of the surgical operation. Thus, active stage of cryptococcal meningitis does not contraindicate the necessity of shunting, and premedication with antifungal drugs is unnecessary. Also, no shunt-related morbidity and mortality was seen in this study.     

Severe tension pneumocephalus caused by opening of the frontal sinus by head injury 7 years after initial craniotomy--case report

A 46-year-old man presented with severe tension pneumocephalus triggered by mild head injury 7 years after craniotomy. He had a history of subarachnoid hemorrhage due to ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm, coating of the aneurysm performed via a craniotomy, and a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt inserted. He fell from bed in a rehabilitation hospital. Eight hours after the injury, he became comatose and suffered general convulsion. He was then transferred to our hospital. Radiography and computed tomography (CT) revealed a large amount of intracranial air and a widely opened frontal sinus. On the day of admission, the shunt tube was ligated. Surgery was performed to repair the dura mater and close the frontal sinus. Postoperative CT revealed reduction in the amount of air and frontal sinus obstruction. The patient had a good postoperative course without meningitis. Tension pneumocephalus may occur as a complication several years after a craniotomy because of the chronic lowering of intracranial pressure induced by a VP shunt. Complete frontal sinus repair is important during the initial craniotomy.     

A case of internal carotid-posterior communicating artery aneurysm presenting pure acute subdural hematoma

The incidence of acute subdural hematoma (SDH) due to a ruptured intracranial aneurysm varies from 0.5% to 7.9% of all intracranial aneurysms. Pure acute SDH without subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is rare. According to the literature, only 18 cases (including our case) of pure acute SDH identified by CT scan have been reported. Here we report a case of an internal carotid-posterior communicating artery (IC-PC) aneurysm presenting pure acute SDH identified by CT. We summarize the 18 reported cases. A 55-year-old female experienced severe headache on October 9, 1999, which did not improve after medication. Four days later, left ptosis began. She was admitted to the department of ophthalmology to treat oculomotor nerve paresis. A computed tomography (CT) scan obtained on admission, revealed no obvious abnormality. She was treated by hormonal therapy, but her symptoms continued. Ten days later, she suddenly lost consciousness and was transferred to our hospital. Although the CT scan revealed a thick left SDH with marked midline shift, SAH was absent. Her neurological state was Hunt & Kosnik grade IV. A left carotid angiogram revealed an IC-PC aneurysm with active extravasation. The patient was taken to the operating room for emergency removal of the SDH and aneurysmal neck clipping. During the operation, adhesion between the aneurysmal dome and the arachnoid was observed, but subarachnoid hemorrhage was not identified at all. The aneurysm was successfully clipped. Postoperatively, her consciousness improved immediately. In this case, the pure acute SDH identified by CT was responsible for causing the direct hemorrhage into the subdural space via an adhesive lesion.     

Hypothalamic and basal forebrain germinoma presenting with amnesia and hyperphagia

Patients harboring primary intracranial germinomas usually have had Parinaud's syndrome and hydrocephalus (with pineal tumors) or hypopituitarism, visual loss, and diabetes insipidus (with suprasellar tumors) at presentation. The few reported cases of verified intraparenchymal hypothalamic germinomas all have been in prepubertal males with progressive neurologic deficits, altered levels of consciousness, or clinically apparent panhypopituitarism. The subject of this report was an endocrinologically normal, primiparous 24-year-old woman who presented with hydrocephalus followed by worsening anterograde amnesia and hyperphagia despite having a functioning ventriculoatrial shunt. Computed tomography scanning and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an anterior hypothalamic, thalamic, and basal forebrain mass, which stereotactic biopsy proved to be a germinoma. Intraaxial germinomas restricted to the anterior hypothalamus or thalamus rarely have been reported. The clinical features of the current patient may be unique.     

Successful surgical management of patients with infective endocarditis associated with acute neurologic deficits

Subjects were 2 patients with neurologic deficits due to infective endocarditis. The first, a 30-year-old woman with acute ischemic stroke, was found to have vegetation from infective endocarditis as the embolic source. Two weeks after she experienced an acute ischemic stroke, we conducted elective cardiac surgery. The second, a 16-year-old girl with infective endocarditis, suffered a ruptured mycotic aneurysm in the left carotid system complicated by intracranial hemorrhage. We conducted a successful staged mitral valve replacement following craniotomy.     

A case of ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysm with acute subdural hematoma after clipping of the aneurysm nine years previously

It is known well that acute subdural hematoma develops most frequently after head injury, and secondly from pathological lesions such as intracranial ruptured aneurysm or AVM. A case of ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysm which was clipped nine years before resulting in acute subdural hematoma is reported. At 6 pm on July 21, 1988, a 53-year-old woman with severe headache starting at 4:20 pm was transferred to our hospital. She suffered from herniated signs; Conscious disturbance; anisocoria; positive OCR; decerebrate posture. An emergency CT showed right acute subdural hematoma with severe midline shift. Following a decompressing craniotomy at 9 pm, the subdural clot was evacuated. It measured 90g in volume and the underlying cortex was normal. There was no evidence of SAH. Right carotid angiography three weeks after the first operation showed a middle cerebral artery aneurysm at the site of a clip which had been applied nine years ago. A second operation was performed on August 30, 1988. Via the right pterional route, the middle cerebral artery aneurysm was clipped successfully with a Sugita's clip replacing the first clip. We concluded that the regrowth and rebleeding of the middle cerebral artery aneurysm which had been clipped nine years before was most probable. She was discharged with slightly decreased consciousness and right motor weakness, on November 13, 1988.     

Analysis of 223 ruptured intracranial aneurysms with special reference to rerupture

A review of 223 patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms, including 46 with rerupture, showed that the operability rate was higher and the prognosis better in patients with one rupture. Rerupture cases with low Hunt--Hess grades (0--II) had no better prognosis than one-rupture cases of grade IV. The mean interval between first rupture and rerupture was 12 days. Aneurysms located in the vertebrobasilar system showed the highest rate of rerupture. Daughter and bled-shaped aneurysms had a greater tendency to rerupture. The incidence of rerupture was increased in patients with narrowly localized vasospasm and acute hydrocephalus. Time-course studies of factors of the coagulating and fibrinolytic system suggested their usefulness in predicting the occurrence of vasospasm, infarction, and rerupture and the prognosis of patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Patients at high risk for rerupture of aneurysm should undergo early operation.     

Subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by a ruptured anterior spinal artery aneurysm

A 51-year-old man presented with an extremely rare case of intracranial subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by rupture of an anterior spinal artery aneurysm manifesting as disturbance of consciousness following sudden onset of neck pain and numbness of the extremities. Cranial computed tomography revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage, mainly in the posterior fossa. Cerebral angiography studies on admission and on the 4th day demonstrated no definite abnormality as a bleeding source. A ventricular catheter was inserted to treat the acute hydrocephalus, and conservative management was continued during the acute period. Third angiography on the 18th day demonstrated an anterior spinal artery aneurysm at the C1 level which was considered to be the bleeding site. After conservative treatment, the patient was discharged without neurological deficits. Fourth angiography on the 108 th day disclosed spontaneous disappearance of the aneurysm, which was confirmed by the fifth angiography on the 269 th day. If subarachnoid hemorrhage of unknown etiology is encountered, spinal artery aneurysm should be considered as the bleeding source. Despite the controversy concerning the treatment strategy, ruptured spinal artery aneurysms can be treated conservatively because of the possibility of spontaneous regression. Follow-up angiography is required to evaluate the natural course of the lesion.     

Lumboperitoneal shunt: clinical applications, complications, and comparison with ventriculoperitoneal shunt

Lumboperitoneal (LP) shunting has the advantage of completely extracranial surgical management, minimizing intracranial complications. An LP shunt has been intentionally adopted for patients who require cerebrospinal fluid diversion. A retrospective study was designed to examine the indications for and complications associated with LP shunts in 207 patients (including 28 pediatric patients) treated during the past 11 years. Follow-up averaging 5.1 years revealed no deaths related directly to LP shunt placement. Twenty-nine patients (14%) underwent revision of the shunt because of obstruction. Shunt-related infections were observed in only 2 patients (1%). Radicular pain occurred in 10 patients (5%), 2 of whom required shunt replacement. Postoperative occurrence of dyspnea and disturbance of consciousness necessitated conversion to a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt in 2 patients (1%), who subsequently were noted to have Chiari malformations. In 4 patients (2%), an acute subdural hematoma developed after mild head trauma. Symptomatic chronic subdural hematomas were observed in 2 patients (1%). One patient had a mild myelopathy that rapidly resolved after shunt replacement. The comparison to 120 patients treated with a VP shunt during the identical period (an average follow-up of 5.2 years) suggests the following conclusions. After subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by a ruptured aneurysm, hydrocephalus is usually of the communicating type and is an indication for an LP shunt. The incidence of infection and malfunction with an LP shunt is significantly lower than that with a VP shunt. An LP shunt is also indicated for pediatric patients, although a relatively higher incidence of malfunction is noted compared to adults.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Successful Coil Embolization of a Ruptured Basilar Artery Aneurysm in a Child with Leukemia: A Case Report

Ruptured intracranial aneurysms are rare in the pediatric population compared to adults. This has incited considerable discussion on how to treat children with this condition. Here, we report a child with a ruptured saccular basilar artery aneurysm that was successfully treated with coil embolization. A 12-year-old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and accompanying abdominal candidiasis after chemotherapy suddenly complained of a severe headache and suffered consciousness disturbance moments later. Computed tomography scans and cerebral angiography demonstrated acute hydrocephalus and subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by saccular basilar artery aneurysm rupture. External ventricular drainage was performed immediately. Because the patient was in severe condition and did not show remarkable signs of central nervous system infection in cerebrospinal fluid studies, we applied endovascular treatment for the ruptured saccular basilar artery aneurysm, which was successfully occluded with coils. The patient recovered without new neurological deficits after ventriculoperitoneal shunting. Recent reports indicate that both endovascular and microsurgical techniques can be used to effectively treat ruptured cerebral aneurysms in pediatric patients. A minimally invasive endovascular treatment was effective in the present case, but long-term follow-up will be necessary to confirm the efficiency of endovascular treatment for children with ruptured saccular basilar artery aneurysms.     

Pneumocephalus in patients with CSF shunts

The authors present two cases of pneumocephalus occurring in patients with permanent shunts and review nine previously reported cases. Mental status changes and headache are the most common presenting symptoms. Six of the 11 cases of pneumocephalus occurred in patients with shunt placement for hydrocephalus secondary to aqueductal stenosis. In these patients, thinned cerebrospinal fluid barriers secondary to long-standing increased intracranial pressure may predispose them to pneumocephalus. Temporary extraventricular drainage is an effective method of treatment in this group of patients. Two other etiologies are identified with significance to treatment, and the role of craniotomy is discussed.