Streptococcus pneumoniae meningo-encephalitis after trans-sphenoidal surgery: A case report

Although meningismus or meningitis are known to occur after pituitary surgery ; meningo-encephalitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae following a trans-sphenoidal approach has not been previously reported. A 56-year-old man presented with blurred vision. Two days after uneventful surgery, the patient became hyperpyrexic which progressed to confusion and lethargy within 48 hours. Spinal fluid cultures revealed Streptococcus pneumoniae. The patient was treated appropriately and made an uneventful recovery. MR images showed persistent changes within both frontal lobes. This case further suggests that peri-operative antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis may not save the patient from serious surgical infections

Hematoma subdural agudo potencialmente fatal após anestesia combinada raqui-peridural em parto

PubMed: 26323744Background and objectives: Only few reports in literature have pointed out to the possibility of a cranial subdural haematoma formation associated with dural puncture during spinal orepidural analgesia. We herein describe such a rare case who was diagnosed to have acute subdural haematoma after combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia used in labour. Case report: A 34-year-old, primigravid women with a gestation of 38 weeks underwent cae-sarean section under combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia and gave birth to a healthy boy. Thirty-two hours after delivery, her moderate headache progressed to a severe headache associated with nausea and vomiting and later was more complicated with a generalized tonic-clonic seizure and ensuing lethargy. Computed tomography of the brain demonstrated a right-sided fronto-temporo-parietal acute subdural haematoma with diffuse cerebral oedema. She under-went urgent FTP craniotomy and evacuation of the haematoma. Early postoperative cranial computed tomography showed a clean operative site. Eight days after subdural haematoma surgery, she became lethargic again, and this time cranial computed tomography disclosed anextradural haematoma under the bone flap for which she had to undergo surgery again. Two days later, she was discharged home with Karnofsky performance score of 90/100. At follow-up exam, she was neurologically intact and her cranial computed tomography and magnetic resonance were normal. Conclusions: As conclusion, with the use of this combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia, it should be kept in mind that headache does not always mean low pressure headache associated with spinal anaesthesia and that a catastrophic complication of subdural haematoma may also occur. © 2013 Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia

Dirençli İntrakranial Hipertansiyonda Dekompresif Kraniektomi

Aim: This retrospective study was established to analyse the effects of the decompressive craniectomy on patients with different causes of increased intracranial pressure. Material and Method: Nine patients at risk of developing malignant cerebral edema aged between 18 and 75 years were included in this study. Four patients suffered from severe traumatic brain injury, two patients from subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and vasospastic ischemia, and 3 patients from malignant infarction of the middle cerebral artery. Results: Nine patients underwent decompressive craniectomy as the last therapeutic choice. At first admission mean intracranial pressure (ICP) was 22.6 ± 6.7 mmHg; mean preoperative ICP value was 40.8 ± 16.3 mmHg; and mean postoperative ICP value was 9.3± 3.6 mmHg. In two patients bilateral; and in seven patients unilateral frontotemporoparietal craniectomy was preferred. Mean time of the re-implantation of the bone flap was 25.75±10.0 days. One patient with SAH died postoperatively and eight patients survived (mortality rate 11.1%). Mean value of the Glasgow Outcome Scale score as evaluated at 36 months after the decompression was approximately 4. Discussion: This surgical procedure is successful for treatment of the acute or delayed intractable intracerebral hypertension with a low rate of complication if it is performed timely and carefully. © 2012, Derman Medical Publishing. All rights reserved