Cerebellar infarction complicated with acute hydrocephalus

Acute hydrocephalus is a rare manifestation of posterior circulation strokes. Clinical worsening and coma may occur in addition to these symptoms of cerebellar dysfunction. Timely and careful approach will certainly prove to be life saving when deciding for a shunt procedure in a patient developing obstructive hydrocephalus following cerebellar infarct. The case presented here is a reminder for both this rare complication, and the treatment approach. We present a patient with cerebellar infarct and secondary obstructive hydrocephalus. Forty three year old male patient was brought to the emergency room in our hospital with unconsciousness, before that patient with suddenly developing dizziness, loss of balance and vomiting. His neurological examination showed that he was coma. The patient's brain computed tomography scan showed severe third and lateral ventricular dilation suggestive of obstructive hydrocephalus. Following shunt placement and suboccipital decompression, the patient recovered and was able to walk without assistance. Cerebellar infarcts may cause death as a result of pressure increase in the posterior fossa and pressure on the brain stem due to edema. Moreover, the aquaductus or the fourth ventricle may close because of edema and cause obstructive hydrocephalus and acute intracranial pressure increase. Temporary external ventricular drainage or permanent shunt systems and surgical decompression of the posterior fossa may be considered to prevent progressive neurologic worsening. In conclusion, we wished to point out that a timely surgical procedure in a cerebellar infarct case where acute hydrocephalus developed could be life saving.

ETV in tuberculous meningitis with hydrocephalus and allergic reaction to VP shunt: a case report

Hydrocephalus is one of the most common complications of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) occurring in up to 85% of patients with the disease. The placement of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt is the most common form of treatment for hydrocephalus in tuberculous meningitis (TBM). Although allergic reactions to the silicone in shunt device are very rare, the authors describe a case of silicone allergy causing multiple VP shunt revisions. Alternative choice is endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), but it is debatable. ETV has variable success in these patients and is generally not advisable in patients in the acute stages of the disease. A 19-year-old woman with hydrocephalus in tuberculous meningitis, who had undergone multiple VP shunt revisions, presented with shunt malfunction caused by allergic reaction of the tissue surrounding the shunt tubing. Laboratory examination demonstrated high level IgE, high level ESR, and PCR-TBC Positive, related to the allergic reaction. Patient with ETV success score of 50. Patients received ETV and release VSS Shunt. ETV has success in these patients. VP Shunts complications remain a difficult problem in neurosurgical clinical practice. The most typical complications are mechanical obstruction and infection. Allergy to the silicone shunt tubing is quite rare. Silicone allergy is an even more rare occurrence because of its high biocompatibility and low biological reactivity. It is a challenge for ETV when TBM has difficulty to recognize anatomical landmarks on this patient. It could also consider in patients who have shunt failure, and might be a better option than shunt revision.

Early tracheostomy in patient with severe traumatic brain injury clinical experiences in rural and remote areas

Background: Brain injury accounts for most of the causes of death from trauma. Brain injury is defined as a change in brain function, or brain pathology, caused by external forces. Patients with severe brain injury usually required rapid evacuation and special care in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) room for respiratory control, mechanical ventilation, neurosurgical evaluation, and intracranial pressure monitoring (ICP). During admission to ICU, patients using tracheostomy, because it requires analgesia, sedation, and prolonged ventilation.Methods: Descriptive retrospective study conducted in February and March 2018 at Medical Record Installation of General Hospital Province of West Nusa Tenggara. The sample size is determined by consecutive sampling method.Results: Sample size were 60 people from medical record. Male patient more common than female (90 %). Based on Age more patients are 40 years old (43.3%). More Patient with early tracheostomy was survived (68,33%), and the rest died (31,67%).Conclusions: Severe head injury patients with tracheostomy are common at <18 years and >40 years. Patients with Severe brain injury who get early tracheostomy have more good outcomes, and have relatively short duration of ICU care.