Third ventricular colloid cysts presenting with acute neurological deterioration

Colloid cysts may be found in any part of the third ventricle. The authors report that four out of 12 patients with colloid cysts of the third ventricle suffered acute neurological deterioration, and unilateral ventriculostomy resulted in dramatic recovery in two patients. Unilateral ventriculostomy followed by clinical assessment and computed tomographic scanning is an acceptable approach in emergency situations; computed tomographic scanning allows early detection of third ventricular colloid cysts. Ventriculoperitoneal shunting provides a laternative measure to surgical removal of the cyst. Definitive management soon after diagnosis and before acute neurological deterioration is recommended. The cases presenting with sudden death in the literature are reviewed.     

A huge intraspinal teratocarcinoma associated with an arachnoid cyst in a child

The authors report a 11-year-old girl with a huge intraspinal malignant teratoma associated with spinal arachnoid cyst. At seven year of age, suprasellar tumor was diagnosed and the patient received radiation therapy for tumor bed with total dose of 4,225 rads. As the result, marked decrease of the size of tumor was seen by follow-up CT scan. Serum alphafetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) level were at 51ng/ml and 31IU/l when total dose of 2,000 rads were over, and they decreased to 3ng/ml and 6.6IU/l at the dose of 4,225 rads respectively. The histology of the suprasellar tumor was unverified. She was discharged without any neurological deficits. For next 24 months, she received intrathecal administration of Methotrexate by repeated lumber puncture in 14 times. She remained intact neurologically. At eleven years of age, four years later, she started complaining of the right leg pain. On the examination, hypesthesia in the L distribution and stiff neck with positive straight leg raising test were observed. Urinary and bowel function were intact. CT scan of the head revealed residual of the suprasellar tumor but the size of the tumor was unchanged. Myelography showed complete block at the level of L. Laminectomy at L was performed and brownish cyst was found in the intradural space. Aspiration of cyst content and cyst wall resection were carried out. Histology of the cyst membrane was arachnoid and spinal arachnoid cyst was diagnosed. The postoperative course was uneventful until 13th postoperative day, when acute progressive paraparesis and numbness of bilateral toes were seen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Anaesthesia for caesarean section in a patient with Sturge-Weber syndrome following acute neurological deterioration

Sturge–Weber syndrome consists of facial capillary malformation (port-wine stain) and abnormal blood vessels in the brain or eye. Seizures, developmental delay and intracranial and airway angiomata are principal concerns. We report a 28-year-old primiparous woman at 41 weeks of gestation with Sturge–Weber syndrome who developed unilateral weakness, aphasia, blurred vision and confusion. Preeclampsia was excluded. Neuroimaging showed left sided cerebral oedema and a right parieto–occipital lesion, most likely an angioma. Caesarean section was planned to avoid the risk of angioma rupture during labour. General anesthesia was avoided due to the haemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and reports of seizure-related mortality. Despite the possibility of raised intracranial pressure and precipitation of cerebral herniation, a lumbar epidural block was administered but failed. A subarachnoid block was successfully performed and a healthy infant delivered. The choice of anaesthesia was strongly influenced by detailed radiological investigations and multidisciplinary participation.     

High altitude: an unusual cause of neurological deterioration in a patient with an arteriovenous malformation

High altitude associated with neurological deterioration is an unusual presentation for an arteriovenous malformation (AVM). A case report of a man with a left temporal occipital AVM who developed symptoms that were markedly intensified by exposure to high altitude is presented. The AVM was removed surgically, and all symptoms resolved. The pathogenesis of this unusual AVM symptom complex is discussed in this report.     

重症急性胰腺炎并发中毒性表皮坏死松解症的诊断和治疗

中毒性表皮坏死松解症(TEN)是一种急性皮肤炎症反应,属于重型药疹的一类.随着抗生素、非甾体类解热镇痛等药物在救治危重患者中的广泛应用,TEN在临床上,特别是ICU病房中其发病率有增高趋势.TEN病死率较高,且对危重患者的整体预后有较大影响.本文报道南京军区南京总医院普通外科收治的1例重症急性胰腺炎患者,应用阿司匹林预防血栓及栓塞并发症过程中并发TEN,总结该病的诊断和治疗经验以供临床医师参考.     

Successful separation of the conjoined thecal sac with an epidermal cyst in pygopagus twins

Pygopagus conjoined twins are very rare, and half of all pygopagus twins have other anomalies. This report describes the successful surgical separation of pygopagus twins who had a conjoined thecal sac and an epidermal cyst. Meticulous preoperative planning, development of a model simulator, multispecialty teamwork, and a staged surgery contributed to a successful outcome.     

Presacral epidermal cyst found in an adult male with a high CEA content: Report of an unusual case

A 63-year-old Japanese man presented with constipation, having noticed flat stools for several years. Digital examination of the rectum, followed by barium enema, colonofiberscopy, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an oval mass located between the retrorectal and presacral space without any mucosal lesion. This mass had narrowed the rectal lumen by compressing the rectum anteriorly. Although the plasma levels of the tumor markers were within the normal range, those of the tumor contents were elevated with a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) of 118 ng/mL, while the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) value was 1 ng/mL. The tumor was completely extirpated through an abdominal incision, and there has been no evidence of recurrence thus far. Histological examination showed that the tumor wall was made of keratinized stratified squamous epithelium without any cutaneous adnexal structure, and hence it was diagnosed as an epidermal cyst. CEA was identified in these benign epithelial cells by immunoperoxidase staining using a monoclonal antibody. To the best of our knowledge, there have been only four other cases with a presacral epidermal cyst documented in the Japanese literature, all of whom were female. Our patient is the first reported case of an adult male with a presacral epidermal cyst.     

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI)—an important, severe transfusion-related complication

Background Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is an immune-mediated transfusion reaction that can cause severe complications or even death. It is now the leading cause of transfusion-related death in the United States.Methods The TRALI syndrome is presented in two cases in a surgical intensive care unit and discussed against the background of the present literature. In both cases, concomitant diseases led to an extremely difficult course of TRALI.Conclusions Knowledge of the TRALI syndrome is necessary to enable early diagnosis and treatment. It should be taken into consideration at any time when cardiopulmonary instability occurs after transfusion of blood products, which is a frequent event on surgical Intensive Care Units. TRALI remains a clinical diagnosis supported by serologic studies if these are available. Against the background of this potentially life-threatening complication, every single indication to transfuse blood products needs to be scrutinized carefully.     

Enteral nutrition without the use of an endoscope in patients with severe acute pancreatitis

One of the main elements of acute pancreatitis therapy is nutritional treatment, which should ensure the implementation of the patients' energetic needs, limit the exocrine activity of the pancreas, and maintain the gastrointestinal passage. The most important argument in favor of the above-mentioned is the fact that enteral nutrition in case of severe acute pancreatitis prevents infectious complications. The most effective method is enteral nutrition. The unavailability of bedside endoscopy, and thus the need to transport the patient in order to obtain access, considerably complicates the procedure. Literature data described various bedside techniques consisting in the blind introduction of the feeding tube, which are rarely used, despite the fact that they are cheaper and as effective as endoscopy.     

Delayed neurological deficit following resection of tuberculum sellae meningioma: report of two cases,one with permanent and one with reversible visual impairment

The most common presentation of patients with tuberculum sellae meningiomas is visual loss, and surgical resection is the main mode of treatment. Preservation of vision is not only the main objective of the surgery; loss of vision is also its main risk. Visual deterioration following surgery is usually apparent immediately post-operatively. Here we present two cases of patients who underwent resection of tuberculum sellae meningioma and whose vision following surgery was initially unchanged until the postoperative day two when dramatic visual deterioration occurred. In the first case this resulted in blindness, whereas in the second case vision recovered back to the preoperative state. The possible mechanisms of visual deterioration and modes of treatment are discussed.     

Diagnosis and therapy of severe acute colitis, still an open issue. Our experience

From a review of a series of 12 cases of whom 52 operated and of the literature, the Authors discuss about aetiology, pathogenesis and diagnosis of severe colitis. Clinical and laboratory findings, CT and plain films of the abdomen and at last colonoscopy should be evaluated very carefully for certainty diagnosis of a severe acute colitis or toxic megacolon. They suggest a multidisciplinary approach as fundamental for medical management, for indications and correct timing of surgical procedures and to decrease postoperative morbility and mortality. Total colectomy with ileostomy is recommended in emergency surgical treatment of this colonic acute diseases, whereas for urgency operation, performed not later than 48-72 hour of adequate medical treatment, colectomy is suggested with ileorectal or ileoanal anastomosis and ileostomy.