Cerebral salt wasting syndrome following neurosurgical intervention in tuberculous meningitis.

Cerebral salt wasting is characterized by inappropriate natriuresis and volume contraction in the presence of cerebral pathology. Diagnosis can be difficult and therapy is challenging. We report two children with tuberculous meningitis and hydrocephalus who developed cerebral salt wasting following neurosurgical intervention. The first patient was managed with rigorous salt and water replacement whereas the second patient required the addition of fludrocortisone for control of salt-wasting.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy in infants.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic third Ventriculostomy (ETV) is one of the surgical options for obstructive hydrocephalus. There are varying opinions about results of ETV in infants. We are therefore presenting the results of ETV in 54 infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study of 54 infants undergoing ETV in our institution in the last 2 years was carried out. There were 48 cases of congenital hydrocephalus with aqueductal stenosis, 6 of post tubercular meningitis hydrocephalus. Average follow up was 18 months. RESULTS: There was 83.3% (45 cases) clinical success rate in our study. Infection, persistent cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) leak and bleeding occurred in 4 (8%) cases each while blockage of stoma was observed in 8 (14.8%) patients. Majority of ETV stoma closure (6 out of total 8) occurred following infection (4) or bleeding during surgery (2). One patient (2%) had transient diabetes insipidus. Overall failure rate in our study was 16.7% (8 stoma blocks and 1 procedure abandoned). Low birth weight pre mature infants had higher failure rate (3 out of 5 infants 60%) compared to full term infants with normal birth weight (12.3%). Age did not have any impact on the success rate (P>0.05). Success rates were not significanlty different in patients with aqueductal stenosis (85.4%) and TBM (66.6%) (Fisher's exact test, P=0.3). CONCLUSION: ETV was fairly safe and effective in full term normal birth weight infants while the results in low birth weight pre mature infants were poor.

Surgery in tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis in children involves many organs and systems including lymphatics, lungs, CNS, GIT and genitourinary. Although the mainstay of treatment is medical, surgery has a definite role under specific circumstances. It is important to differentiate atypical mycobacterial infection wherein surgery is the primary modality of treatment. The lung is most commonly involved in tuberculosis and besides bronchoscopy, thoracic procedures range from tube thoracostomy to decortication and lung resection. Neurotuberculosis constitutes almost half the cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the commonest type of CNS involvement. Hydrocephalus is a late complication of TBM and shunt surgery is indicated when signs and symptoms of raised intracranial pressure persist despite adequate medical therapy. Abdominal tuberculosis could be peritoneal or gastrointestinal. Either form can complicate the other and each can present in acute, subacute or chronic form. Surgical therapy is reserved for complications like strictures, fistulae and GI bleed. Genitourinary tuberculosis constitutes 15-20% of all extrapulmonary disease and epididymitis is the most common manifestation in the males. Surgery is generally reserved for management of complications such as ureteral strictures, perinephric abscesses and nonfunctioning kidneys.

Intradural extramedullary tuberculoma of the spinal cord: a case report

Intradural extramedullary (IDEM) tuberculoma of the spinal cord is uncommon entity and moreover, few reports have been documented on concurrent IDEM and intracranial tuberculomas. Authors report a case of IDEM spinal tuberculoma having intracranial lesion simultaneously. A 49-year-old woman suffered from paraparesis and urinary incontinence while being given medical treatment for tuberculous meningitis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an IDEM mass lesion between the T1 and T2 spinal levels, and multiple intracranial tuberculous granulomas. Surgical resection of the IDEM tuberculoma followed by anti-tuberculous medication resulted in good outcome.