Admission risk factors for cerebral vasospasm in ruptured brain arteriovenous malformations: An observational study

Introduction  

Cerebral vasospasm is a well-documented complication of aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage but has not been extensively studied in brain arteriovenous malformations (BAVMs). Here, our purpose was to identify risk factors for cerebral vasospasm after BAVM rupture in patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission.     

Superior vena cava syndrome: cause of secondary raise of intracranial pressure after traumatic brain injury

A 41-year-old male is admitted for cranial trauma, having fallen from his own height. His state of extreme agitation imposes sedation, intubation and mechanical ventilation. A CT-scan reveals acute right hemispheric subdural haematoma, with discrete midline shift, and diffuse cerebral oedema. ICP-monitoring reveals severely increased intracranial pressure, which is responsive to routine medical neuroprotective treatment. Ten days after admission, sedation and neuroprotective treatment is gradually withdrawn. At the end of the second week, a secondary ascent in ICP is observed. The presence of a right subclavian central venous line, in combination with the strong inflammatory response and septic state of the patient, has caused bilateral thrombosis of subclavian and internal jugular veins. This superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) impedes cerebral venous drainage, thus raising ICP. Within a few days of anticoagulant therapy, SVCS resolved. Impeded cerebral venous drainage is often forgotten or ignored as a cause of secondary elevated ICP. In face of persisting or recurring raised ICP and cerebral oedema, or apparition of communicant hydrocephalus, cerebral venous drainage should be investigated.     

Entre événements de vie et croyances culturelles : un délire à la croisée des chemins

We present the story of a woman who lost in a shipwreck her last 19-years-old son. Mariama T. is a widow, her husband died eight years ago, after a mysterious illness according to her. The couple had got four children before the birth of Landing, dying successively in their early weeks or months of life. A curse of the ancestors was suspected, the kañaalen's ritual was performed to restore relation with the ghost of ancestors to guarantee the survival of her child. Landing effectively survived until the fateful date of the drama: the shipwreck of the boat, Le Joola that happened on September 26th 2002. After his sudden death, Mariama developed progressively a paranoiac delusion centred on women who practised the kañaalen whom she accused of treason. She is persuaded that they had killed her son by digging up the fetish that was protecting him. Since then, she talked only about means she may use to avenge on them. This observation is the occasion of a critical reflection on a missed therapeutic relation.     

Characterization of surface topography of 3D printed parts by multi-scale analysis

Surface topography is a key element between process parameters and manufactured part performances. Within the context of 3D printed parts, one difficulty is to consider the total 3D surface topography including internal porosity. In this paper, an original method is proposed for the characterization of the surface topography, both internal and external. Starting from volumetric data obtained by Computed Tomography measurements, a method of surface extraction is performed that identifies skin voxels corresponding to the internal and external part surface, and which are the support to the calculation of the Specific Surface Area (SSA). A multi-scale analysis is thus proposed to characterize the total surface, (SSA), obtained at different scales. The interest of the multi-scale analysis is illustrated through various examples that attempt to link process parameters to part properties.