ABSTRACT
Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is a common disease caused by chronic segmental compression of the spinal cord. Despite the fact that the columns of the nuclei of the phrenic nerve are located between the 3rd and 5th cervical nerve segments, phrenic nerve paresis is not usually clinically significant. We present one case of cervical spondylotic myelopathy with bilateral phrenic paresis in whom magnetic resonance imaging and surgical findings confirmed intrinsic cord disease as being the cause of this syndrome. This case report suggests that one pathophysiology of clinical phrenic nerve paresis may be segmental damage to the anterior horns caused by cervical spondylosis.
Subject(s)
Paresis/etiology , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/etiology , Phrenic Nerve/pathology , Respiratory Insufficiency/etiology , Spinal Cord Compression/complications , Spinal Osteophytosis/complications , Cervical Vertebrae/pathology , Cervical Vertebrae/surgery , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/pathology , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/surgery , Phrenic Nerve/surgery , Spinal Cord Compression/pathology , Spinal Cord Compression/surgery , Spinal Osteophytosis/pathology , Spinal Osteophytosis/surgeryABSTRACT
The authors describe a case of cerebellar abscess by Nocardia in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) that was submitted to a posterior fossa craniectomy for diagnosis and treatment. Pathological and neuroimage findings are discussed as well as the surgical approach taking into account literature data on the subject.
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/complications , Brain Abscess/complications , Nocardia Infections/complications , Nocardia asteroides , Adult , Brain Abscess/diagnosis , Brain Abscess/surgery , Cerebellum/microbiology , Female , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
The authors report a 46 year-old female who was submitted to a right femoral artery coronary arteriography. During the procedure she presented an upward, downward and convergence gaze paresis; an upbeating nystagmus. A NMRI showed a change in T-2 weighted signal of the left paramedian mesencephalic region. A diagnosis of stroke was made and dextran 40 was prescribed. Vertical gaze paresis progressively disappeared. Convergence paresis and nystagmus improved partially only. The possible pathophysiological basis underlying this clinical picture are: catheter-induced dislodgement of an atheromatous plaque; small thrombi formation and release from the catheter tip; catheter-induced vascular lesion with subsequent thromboembolism or dissection of the intima; cardiac arrhythmia; catheter-induced or contrast medium-induced arterial spasm; a combination of two or more of these.
Subject(s)
Cerebrovascular Circulation , Coronary Angiography/adverse effects , Paresis/etiology , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Nystagmus, Pathologic/etiology , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
118 patients (79 mean and 39 women, mean age of 50.7 years) who underwent cardiovascular surgery and extracorporeal oxygenation were prospectively evaluated for neurologic complication and its correlation with risk factors. 71 were submitted to coronary artery graft by-pass (RM), 18 to valve replacement (TV), 6 to prosthetic valve replacement (RV), 11 to commissurotomy(Co), 5 to thoracic aortic aneurysm correction (An Ao T) and 7 to other surgeries (OT). All of them received extracorporeal oxygenation. No deaths were registered; 14 (11.9%) patients had neurologic abnormalities: delirium in 7 cases, ischemic stroke in 6, epileptic seizure in 3. Patients with systemic arterial hypertension and older patients exhibited a statistically significant (p < 0.05) higher risk of complication. Compared to data of the literature, we had a lower index of morbidity and mortality.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases/surgery , Nervous System Diseases/etiology , Postoperative Complications , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Extracorporeal Circulation , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Postoperative Period , Prospective Studies , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
118 patients (79 mean and 39 women, mean age of 50.7 years) who underwent cardiovascular surgery and extracorporeal oxygenation were prospectively evaluated for neurologic complication and its correlation with risk factors. 71 were submitted to coronary artery graft by-pass (RM), 18 to valve replacement (TV), 6 to prosthetic valve replacement (RV), 11 to commissurotomy(Co), 5 to thoracic aortic aneurysm correction (An Ao T) and 7 to other surgeries (OT). All of them received extracorporeal oxygenation. No deaths were registered; 14 (11.9%) patients had neurologic abnormalities: delirium in 7 cases, ischemic stroke in 6, epileptic seizure in 3. Patients with systemic arterial hypertension and older patients exhibited a statistically significant (p < 0.05) higher risk of complication. Compared to data of the literature, we had a lower index of morbidity and mortality.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Cardiovascular Diseases/surgery , Nervous System Diseases/etiology , Postoperative Complications , Extracorporeal Circulation , Postoperative Period , Prospective Studies , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
We examined 348 patients who underwent thrombolytic treatment for acute myocardial infarction. Nine patients (2.58%) developed neurological complications related directly or indirectly to this procedure. Cerebral hemorrhage occurred in 3 patients; 2 patients had transient ischemic attacks, 1 had syncope, another had psychomotor agitation and 2 patients presented seizures during the infusion of the thrombolytic agent, without hemodynamic abnormalities. This latter feature had never been described before.
