Aspectos otoneurológicos em Traumatismos Cranioencefálicos: série de casos / Otoneurological aspects in Traumatic Brain Injuries: series of cases

RESUMO Estudo retrospectivo, transversal e descritivo, aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa (CEP), sob o número CAAE 16728013.0.0000.5346. Trata-se de uma série de casos que tem por objetivo investigar a presença de sintomas otoneurológicos e o equilíbrio postural de seis pacientes com tontura após traumatismo cranioencefálico (TCE). Foram submetidos a uma anamnese clínica e a avaliações: teste de organização sensorial por meio da posturografia dinâmica foam laser e provas oculomotoras e vestibulares da vectoeletronistagmografia computadorizada (VENG). Os dados foram analisados a partir dos valores de referência para cada avaliação. Na posturografia, observou-se que as maiores diferenças entre o valor obtido e o valor de referência foram nas posições VI, V e III, respectivamente. A análise sensorial indicou alteração, principalmente, nos sistemas de preferência visual e vestibular. Todos os pacientes avaliados apresentaram ao menos uma alteração nas provas da VENG. Cinco pacientes tiveram alteração na prova calórica e nenhum apresentou alteração na prova rotatória pendular decrescente, que avalia a compensação vestibular. Além das queixas vestibulares, quatro pacientes estavam em tratamento com psicotrópicos para depressão. Tais resultados ratificam a presença de alterações vestíbulo-oculares no pós-TCE, os quais devem receber atenção especial devido ao comprometimento central associado.

ABSTRACT It is a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive, approved by Ethics Research Committee (ERC), under number CAAE 16728013.0.0000.5346. This is a series of cases that aims to investigate the presence of otoneurological symptoms and the postural balance of six patients with dizziness after Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Participants were submitted to a clinical anamnesis and the evaluations: Sensory Organization Test through Foam Laser Dynamic Posturography and oculomotor and vestibular tests of Computerized Vectoelectronystamography (VENG). The data were analyzed from the reference values for each evaluation. In posturography, it was observed that the greatest differences between the value obtained and the reference value were in positions VI, V and III, respectively. Sensory analysis indicated alteration mainly in the visual and vestibular preference systems. All the evaluated patients presented at least one alteration in the VENG tests. Five patients had alterations in the caloric test, and none presented alterations to the rotatory chair test (RCT), which evaluates the vestibular compensation. Considering vestibular complaints, four patients were on psychotropic treatment for depression. These results demonstrate the presence of vestibulo-ocular alterations in post-TBI, which should receive special attention due to associated central impairment.

Simultaneous Occurrence of a Splenial Lesion and Downbeat Nystagmus Due to Lithium Neurotoxicity

No abstract available.

Bradicardia extrema por infarto talámico paramediano bilateral / Extreme bradycardia due to bilateral paramedian thalamic infarction

RESUMEN Alteraciones autonómicas agudas por infartos cerebrales se han descrito con frecuencia comprometiendo la región insular, dentro de las anormalidades se han documentado alteraciones de severidad variable del ritmo cardíaco, incluyendo la bradicardia extrema sintomática; en la literatura solo hay un reporte de caso de bradi-cardia extrema asociado a un infarto talámico paramediano bilateral, a continuación, describimos un segundo caso de un infarto talámico con la misma presentación.

SUMMARY Acute autonomic disturbances due to cerebral in farcts has been describe frequently with association of the insular cortex, within the describe abnormalities had been document a variety of cardiac disturbances including extreme symptomatic bradycardia; In the literature just exist a case report of extreme bradycardia associate with a bilateral paramedian thalamic infarct, in the following article, we describe a second case of this infarct with the same presentation.

Clinical Correlation between Perverted Nystagmus and Brain MRI Abnormal Findings

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To analyze the clinical correlation between perverted nystagmus and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormal findings and to evaluate whether perverted nystagmus is clinically significant results of brain abnormal lesions or not. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We performed medical charts review from January 2008 to July 2014, retrospectively. Patients who were suspected central originated vertigo at Frenzel goggles test were included among patients who visited our hospital. To investigate the correlation with nystagmus suspected central originated vertigo and brain MRI abnormal findings, we confirmed whether performing brain MRI or not. Then we exclude that patients not performed brain MRI. RESULTS: The number of patients with perverted nystagmus was 15, upbeating was 1 and down-beating was 14. Among these patients, 5 patients have brain MRI abnormal findings. However, 2 patients with MRI abnormal findings were not associated correctly with perverted nystagmus and only 3 patients with perverted nystagmus were considered central originated vertigo and further evaluation and treatment was performed by the department of neurology. CONCLUSIONS: Perverted nystagmus was considered to the abnormalities at brain lesions, especially cerebellum, but neurologic symptoms and further evaluation were needed for exact diagnosis of central originated vertigo.

Epileptic Nystagmus and Vertigo Associated with Bilateral Temporal and Frontal Lobe Epilepsy

Epileptic nystagmus is defined as a quick, repetitive jerky movement of the eyeball associated with seizure activity. In cases of epileptic nystagmus associated with ictal discharge from multiple brain areas, localization of the exact epileptogenic zone could be extremely difficult. In a nine-year-old patient with epileptic nystagmus and vertigo associated with bilateral temporal and frontal lobe epilepsy, we could infer the epileptic focus by interpreting the patient's clinical picture, characteristics of nystagmus, and findings of electroencephalography.

A Case of Pathologic Nystagmus following Chemotherapy Using Carboplatin for Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Case Report

A quadriparetic 62-year-old male patient completely cured from small cell lung cancer was admitted to the hospital. The patient complained of dizziness and spontaneous horizontal nystagmus was present in both eyes. He was tolerable during the cancer treatment, but 4 months later he became bed ridden status and totally dependent on all of the daily living activities. Brain metastasis of primary cancer and paraneoplastic syndrome were suspected first, however the brain MRI and paraneoplastic antibody study revealed negative result. With reviewing his medical history, he took chemotherapy including carboplatin. We suspected the ototoxicity induced by carboplatin, as carboplatin has a unique side effect including ototoxicity affecting the balance function while preserving the hearing function. Clinicians should keep in mind this adverse effect in any patient with chemotherapy including carboplatin and who subsequently develops nystagmus and functional level impairment. In such, we present this case with the related literatures.

Effect of Emergency Department Video-nystagmography for Patients with Dizziness

PURPOSE: We evaluated the effects of emergency department (ED)-based video-nystagmography (VNG) testing on consultation with other departments and length of ED stay of patients with dizziness. METHODS: A before-and-after study was performed at a tertiary ED from May 13, 2011 to May 12, 2012. Adult patients (age> or =15 years) with dizziness were enrolled, excluding patients with incomplete information. We defined the before- and after-phase according to implanting of the ED-based VNG test. The VNG test was performed by an internship physician supervised by 2nd or 3rd grade emergency medicine residents. Primary outcome was any consultation to other specialty departments and the secondary outcome was the length of stay at the ED. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for outcomes by phase were estimated using multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusting for potential co-variates. RESULTS: Of 1,485 eligible patients, 1,449 patients (male: 37.0%, mean age: 59.2+/-15.5 years) were enrolled (415 in the before-phase and 1,034 in the after-phase). The final diagnosis group was stroke (4.8%), peripheral vestibulopathy (44.9%), other specific disease (29.0%), and non-diagnostic symptom (21.4%). The consultation request was more reduced in the after-phase (38.1%) than the before-phase (52.5%). The LOS was not changed between both phases (7.4+/-7.5 hours versus 7.4+/-7.3 hours, p=0.76). The adjusted OR (95% CI) for the consultation of after-phase compared to before-phase was 0.46(0.35, 0.61), while the adjusted OR (95% CI) for LOS was 1.39(0.99, 1.95). CONCLUSION: Implementation of ED-based VNG test significantly reduced the consultation with other specialty departments, while LOS was not affected.

Pseudo-Spontaneous Nystagmus in Lateral Semicircular Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

OBJECTIVES: Spontaneous nystagmus, which has been considered a typical sign of acute vestibulopathy, has recently been reported in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo involving the lateral semicircular canals (LC-BPPV) without unilateral vestibulopathy (pseudo-spontaneous nystagmus, PSN), but research about its clinical application is still limited. Here we investigate the frequency and characteristics of PSN in LC-BPPV patients, and estimate its prognostic value. METHODS: For 95 patients with LC-BPPV, we examined nystagmus in the sitting position in the clinic with video goggles. Patients were categorized as PSN or non-PSN, according to presence of horizontal nystagmus in the sitting position at diagnosis. The duration of vertiginous symptoms before diagnosis and the duration of treatment were compared between the two groups. The results of video-nystagmography test were reviewed when available. RESULTS: PSN was examined in 16 (16.8%) patients, all of whose symptoms disappeared immediately after successful repositioning therapy. While the duration of symptoms did not differ statistically between groups (P=0.481), the duration of treatment in the PSN group was significantly longer than in the non-PSN group (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the presence of spontaneous nystagmus in the sitting position does not preclude a diagnosis of LC-BPPV without unilateral vestibulopathy. PSN was related to a poor outcome of LC-BPPV in this study.

Pseudo-Vestibular Neuritis Caused by a Vascular Tumor Involving the Anterior Inferior Cerebellum / 대한평형의학회지

Acute vestibular syndrome (AVS) is characterized by the rapid onset of dizziness/vertigo accompanied by nausea/vomiting, gait unsteadiness, and nystagmus lasting a day or more. Some patients with AVS have potentially dangerous central etiologies. AVS caused by central etiologies without significant other neurologic deficit, so called pseudo-vestibular neuritis (pseudo-VN), could be difficult to be differentiated from acute vestibular neuritis. In addition to imaging studies, bedside oculomotor examination-head impulse test, nystagmus and test of skew)-is essential to identify patients with pseudo-VN. Among several central causes of AVS, brain tumor is extremely rare. We report a case of vascular tumor involving the anterior inferior cerebellum with AVS presentations.

Recording of Ictal Nystagmus in a Case of Syncope Presenting Vertigo / 대한평형의학회지

Prevalence of dizziness has been reported to be as high as nearly twenty percent and one half of these population had social handicap to some degree. The diagnostic approach of dizziness heavily relies on the premise that dizziness type predicts the underlying etiology-e.g, vertigo with vestibular causes and presyncope with cardiovascular causes. However, such symptomatological approach sometimes delays correct diagnosis as the presenting symptom of individual patient is typically vague to designate the type. In this paper, a case of a 57-year-old woman who has experienced recurrent rotatory vertigo of cardiovascular origin was discussed. When her head were turned to the left, a fast downbeat nystagmus following a slow upward eye deviation was recorded using video nystagmogram. Hence, we report this single case of syncope presented as peripheral vertigo type with literature review.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo recurrence and persistence / Recorrência e persistência da vertigem posicional paroxística benigna

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common vestibular disorders. AIM: To study the recurrence and persistence of BPPV in patients treated with canalith repositioning maneuvers (CRM) during the period of one year. STUDY DESIGN: longitudinal contemporary cohort series. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients with BPPV were followed up during 12 months after a treatment with CRM. Patients were classified according to disease evolution. Aquatic physiotherapy for vestibular rehabilitation (APVR) protocol was applied in cases of persistent BPPV. RESULTS: After CRM, 96 percent of the patients were free from BPPV's typical nystagmus and dizziness. During the follow up period of 1 year, 26 patients returned with typical BPPV nystagmus and vertigo. Nystagmus and vertigo were persistent in 4 percent of the patients. Persistent BPPV presented improvement when submitted to APVR. Conclusion: During the period of one year, BPPV was not recurrent in 70 percent of the patients, recurrent in 26 percent and persistent in 4 percent.

A vertigem posicional paroxística benigna (VPPB) é das vestibulopatias mais comuns. OBJETIVO: Verificar a recorrência e a persistência da VPPB no período de um ano em pacientes que foram tratados com manobras de reposicionamento de estatocônios (MRE). FORMA DE ESTUDO: coorte contemporânea longitudinal. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Cem pacientes com VPPB foram acompanhados durante 12 meses após o tratamento com MRE. Os pacientes foram classificados de acordo com a evolução da doença no período de um ano. O protocolo de fisioterapia aquática para reabilitação vestibular (FARV) foi aplicado nos pacientes com VPPB persistente. RESULTADOS: Após as MRE, 96 por cento dos pacientes aboliram o nistagmo e a vertigem de posicionamento. Destes pacientes, 26 apresentaram recorrência da VPPB, no período de um ano. Em 4 por cento dos pacientes, a VPPB foi persistente. Os pacientes com VPPB persistente apresentaram melhora clínica após a realização da FARV. CONCLUSÃO: No período de um ano, a VPPB foi não recorrente em 70 por cento dos pacientes, recorrente em 26 por cento e persistente em 4 por cento.