Disseminated pneumocephalus secondary to air compressor injury.

We report an unusual case of a young male patient who presented with severe pain and swelling of his left eyelid following an air compressor tip accident. He suffered extensive facial edema accompanied by deep tissue emphysema and an elevated intraocular pressure. On noncontrast CT scan, air was detected in the intraconal and extraconal orbital compartments, and intracranially within the subarachnoid spaces as well as in the suprasellar and perimesencephalic cisterns. There were no detectable fractures. We presume that by perforating the orbital septum, Tenon's capsule, and the optic nerve sheath, air had managed to penetrate the cranium through the optic nerve subarachnoid space and into the intracranial subarachnoid space.

Seasonal variation in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in northern Israel.

The incidence of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) and ischemic stroke vary across seasons. Most studies examining seasonal variation in sICH have been conducted in countries with significant climatic changes across seasons, whereas studies from the Mediterranean region, which has a relatively mild winter, are limited in number and have produced inconsistent results. Further studies from the region are called for, especially from countries where sICH seasonality has not yet been explored. A total of 974 patients with sICH between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2014 were included in this study. The seasonal, monthly and weekday distribution of hospital admissions, in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay and functional outcome at discharge were examined. We found that most hospital admissions due to sICH occurred in the winter (n = 286, 29%), whereas the fewest admissions occurred in the summer (n = 205, 21%; p = 0.0011). In terms of monthly distribution, most admissions were in January (n = 107, 11%), and the fewest admissions were in September (n = 60, 6%; p = 0.0004). There were no differences in the distribution of sICH between weekdays and weekends. Also, we found no significant weekday or seasonal variations in in-hospital mortality or functional outcome of sICH. Our results suggest that temporal patterns impact the natural course of sICH in northern Israel. The identification of factors, including biological ones, responsible for seasonal variation in regions with mild seasonal changes requires further research but could aid in the design of strategies for preventing sICH.

Brainstem hypoperfusion in severe symptomatic vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: role of basilar artery vasospasm.

BACKGROUND: The hemodynamic effects of vertebrobasilar vasospasm are ill defined. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of basilar artery (BA) vasospasm on brainstem (BS) perfusion. METHODS: Forty-five patients with delayed ischemic neurological deficits (DIND) following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) underwent cerebral angiography prior to decision-making concerning endovascular treatment. BA diameter was compared with baseline angiogram. Regional brainstem (BS) cerebral blood flow (CBF) was qualitatively estimated by (99m)Tc ethyl cysteinate dimer single photon emission computed tomography (ECD-SPECT). FINDINGS: Delayed BS hypoperfusion was found in 22 (48.9%) of 45 patients and BA narrowing of more than 20% was found in 23 (51.1%). Seventeen of 23 (73.9%) patients with BA narrowing of more than 20% experienced BS hypoperfusion compared to 6 of 22 (27.3%) patients with minimal or no narrowing (p = 0.0072). Patients with severe and moderate BS hypoperfusion had higher degree of BA narrowing compared to patients with normal BS perfusion and mild BS hypoperfusion (p < 0.001). The three-month outcome of patients n-22) with BS hypoperfusion was significantly worse compared to patients (n-23) with unimpaired (p = 0.0377, odd ratio for poor outcome 4, 1.15-13.9 95% confidence interval). INTERPRETATION: These findings suggest that the incidence of BA vasospasm in patients with severe symptomatic vasospasm is high and patients with significant BA vasospasm are at higher risk to experience BS ischemia. Further studies should be done to evaluate the effects of endovascular therapy on BS perfusion and the impact of BS ischemia on morbidity and mortality of patients with severe symptomatic vasospasm.

Alteration in brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) plasma concentration following severe traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a potent natriuretic and vasodilator factor which, by its systemic effects, can decrease cerebral blood flow (CBF). In aneurysmal subarchnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), BNP plasma concentrations were found to be associated with hyponatremia and were progressively elevated in patients who eventually developed delayed ischemic deficit secondary to vasospasm. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate trends in BNP plasma concentrations during the acute phase following severe (traumatic brain injury) TBI. METHODS: BNP plasma concentration was evaluated in 30 patients with severe isolated head injury (GCS<8 on admission) in four time periods after the injury (period 1: days 1-2; period 2: days 4-5; period 3: days 7-8; period 4: days 10-11). All patients were monitored for ICP during the first week after the injury. FINDINGS: The initial BNP plasma concentrations (42+/-36.9 pg/ml) were 7.3 fold (p<0.01) higher in TBI patients as compared to the control group (5.78+/-1.90 pg/ml). BNP plasma concentrations were progressively elevated through days 7-8 after the injury in patients with diffused SAH as compared to patients with mild or no SAH (p<0.001) and in patients with elevated ICP as compared to patients without elevated ICP (p<0.001). Furthermore, trends in BNP plasma concentrations were significantly and positively associated with poor outcome. INTERPRETATION: BNP plasma concentrations are elevated shortly after head injury and are continuously elevated during the acute phase in patients with more extensive SAH and in those with elevated ICP, and correlate with poor outcomes. Further studies should be undertaken to evaluate the role of BNP in TBI pathophysiology.

Role of dural fenestrations in acute subdural hematoma.

OBJECT: Patients with acute subdural hematomas (ASDHs) have higher mortality and lower functional recovery rates compared with those of other head-injured patients. Early surgical decompression and active intensive care treatment represent, so far, the best way to assist these patients. Paradoxically, one of the factors contributing to poor outcomes in cases of ASDHs could be rapid surgical decompression, owing to the severe extrusion of the brain through the craniotomy defect in response to acute brain swelling. To avoid the deleterious consequences of abrupt decompression of the subdural space with disruption of brain tissue, the authors have adopted a new surgical technique for evacuation of ASDHs. This procedure consists of creating multiple fenestrations of the dura (MFD) in a meshlike fashion and removing clots through the small dural openings that are left open, avoiding the creation of a wide dural opening and the disruption of and additional damage to brain tissue. METHODS: Thirty-one patients (26 male and five female patients with a mean age of 32.5 years) harboring ASDHs were treated using this method. On admission there were 16 patients (51.5%) with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores of 3 to 5, 11 patients (35.5%) with GCS scores of 6 to 8, and four patients (12.9%) with GCS scores of 9 to 12. Postoperative computerized tomography scans of the brain revealed evacuation of more than 80% of the hematoma in 29 of 31 patients. The overall mortality rate in this group was 51.6%. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary report of a new surgical approach for patients who have sustained ASDHs should be considered to avoid abrupt disruption of the brain and to allow the gradual and gentle release of subdural clots. This is especially important in cases in which there are severe midline shifts and a tight brain. Further clinical studies should be conducted in a more selected series to estimate the impact of this new procedure on morbidity and mortality rates.

Brain natriuretic peptide and cerebral vasospasm in subarachnoid hemorrhage. Clinical and TCD correlations.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hyponatremia has been shown in association with cerebral vasospasm (CVS) following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). In the past few years there has been increasing evidence that brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is responsible for natriuresis after SAH. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between BNP plasma concentrations and CVS after aneurysmal SAH. METHODS: BNP plasma concentrations were assessed at 4 different time periods (1 to 3 days, 4 to 6 days, 7 to 9 days, and 10 to 12 days) in 19 patients with spontaneous SAH. BNP plasma levels were investigated with respect to neurological condition, SAH severity on CT, and flow velocities measured by means of transcranial Doppler. RESULTS: Thirteen patients had Doppler evidence of CVS; 7 of these had nonsymptomatic CVS. In 6 patients, CVS was severe and symptomatic, with delayed ischemic lesion on CT in 5 of these. CVS was severe and symptomatic in 6 patients, and delayed ischemic lesions were revealed on CT in 5 of these. BNP levels were found to be significantly elevated in SAH patients compared with control subjects (P=0.024). However, in patients without CVS or with nonsymptomatic CVS, BNP concentrations decreased throughout the 4 time periods, whereas a 6-fold increase was observed in patients with severe symptomatic CVS between the first and the third periods (P=0.0096). A similar trend in BNP plasma levels was found in patients with severe SAH compared with those with nonvisible or moderate SAH (P=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our results show that BNP plasma levels are elevated shortly after SAH, although they increase markedly during the first week in patients with symptomatic CVS. The present findings suggest that secretion of BNP secretion after spontaneous SAH may exacerbate blood flow reduction due to arterial vasospasm.

Penetrating head injuries caused by a new weapon, the side dome.

The "side dome" is a mix of high and low explosives with a multitude of small metal balls molded within a specially designed half-sphere that directs the explosion wave and the projectiles in one direction to augment the harm. This weapon, originally designed by guerrilla and terrorist groups, is now used by regular armies. This report presents one craniocervical and eight cranial injuries caused by this new weapon and discusses the cases' various clinical features, the paucity of intracerebral cavitation damage along the missile track, the need for only minimally aggressive surgery, and the relatively favorable outcome. In all cases, the helmet offered good protection and the entry of the projectiles was just below its rim in an upward direction.