Early cerebral venous drainage associated with focal seizures: a correlation of digital subtraction angiography and electroencephalography. Illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Early venous drainage is a critical diagnostic feature of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs). However, other conditions associated with early venous drainage can mimic AVMs and AVFs and mislead the treating physician team. OBSERVATIONS: The authors present a unique case of a 56-year-old man with new left hemianopsia. Workup with magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography had revealed cortical enhancement and early venous drainage, possibly caused by an AVF or AVM. Catheter angiography confirmed the presence of early venous drainage of specifically the right occipital lobe. The early venous drainage occurred as the result of local hyperperfusion limited to the right occipital lobe. Subsequent electroencephalography confirmed focal seizure activity in the right occipital lobe. After seizure control with multiple antiepileptic medications, the patient regained his vision. Repeat digital subtraction angiography revealed restoration of normal cerebral blood flow. LESSONS: Early venous drainage observed during catheter angiography can be associated with seizure activity. Differentiation from other conditions, such as AVM, AVF, or ischemic stroke, is critical to facilitate prompt and appropriate treatment.

Vein of Galen malformations in the newborn: case series.

BACKGROUND: Vein of Galen malformations (VoGMs) in newborns often represent life-threatening emergencies. Outcome is difficult to predict. The authors review 50 VoGM cases to correlate anatomical types with treatment and outcome. OBSERVATIONS: Four distinct types of VoGMs are identified: mural simple (type I), mural complex (type II), choroidal (type III), and choroidal with deep venous drainage (type IV). Seven patients presented with mural simple VoGMs with a "single hole" fistula supplied by only one large feeder. These patients were treated electively at >6 months; development was normal. Fifteen patients presented with complex mural VoGMs. Multiple large feeders joined a single fistulous point within the wall of the varix. Patients typically presented with congestive heart failure (CHF) and required emergent transarterial intervention. Mortality was 7.7% with less than two-thirds developing normally. Twenty-five patients presented with choroidal VoGMs. Multiple large arterial feeders joined at multiple fistulous sites. Severe CHF in most patients required emergent transarterial and sometimes transvenous intervention. Mortality was 9.5%; two-thirds of the patients had a normal development. Three babies presented with choroidal VoGMs with deep intraventricular venous drainage. This phenomenon caused fatal "melting brain syndrome" in all three patients. LESSONS: Recognition of the specific VoGM type determines treatment options and sets outcome expectations.

A rare case of an infected aortoiliac graft complicated with Eggerthella lenta bacteremia and septic shock.

We describe the successful medical management of an infected aorto-bi-Iliac endograft. In this case report, we provide an example of a patient with an infected aorto-bi-iliac endograft and how appropriate medical management may result in a positive outcome. We report a case of a 67-year-old man with several medical comorbidities who developed aorto-bi-iliac endograft infection one year after graft placement. The patient presented to our E.R. with fever, lethargy, tachycardia, tachypnea, and hypotension. The diagnosis of an infected endograft was established after excluding any other possible source of infection plus the strong radiological evidence by computed tomographic scan and WBCs labeled Indium-111 tropolone scan. Blood cultures revealed the development of Eggerthella lenta, Escherichia coli Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), and Enterococcus Faecalis. To our knowledge, this is a rare case of an infected endograft and bacteremia due to Eggerthella lenta. After the administration of vancomycin and Meropenem, no improvements were noted to the patient's clinical condition. However, upon the administration of Tigecycline, the patient's clinical condition improved. Two days later, repeat blood cultures were negative. After completion of the course of antibiotics and stabilization of other comorbidities, the patient was discharged home with long term antibiotic therapy under close control of inflammation markers.

Gastric Emphysema and Hepatic Portal Vein Gas as Complications of Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation.

Gastric emphysema (GE) in association with hepatic portal vein gas (HPVG) is a rare, benign medical condition that is very seldom caused by noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV). This report describes a patient who developed GE along with gastric vein gas and HPVG, most likely due to multiple episodes of vomiting in combination of using bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP), a form of NIPPV. The patient responded to conservative treatment with intravenous fluids, pantoprazole, and the urgent cessation of BiPAP and oral intake.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome Secondary to West Nile Virus in New York City.

West Nile virus (WNV) is an arthropod-borne flavivirus belonging taxonomically to the Japanese encephalitis subgroup. Usually, it is transmitted by Culex pipiens mosquitoes. Consequently, an increase in WNV-positive mosquitoes presents a rise of the number of patients, as it has been seen in NYC. We present a 65-year-old patient with WNV infection who presented with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). She had a rapidly progressing ascending paralysis, a common feature in GBS patients but an uncommon presentation in WNV. Realizing WNV as an emerging pathogen along with its uncommon presentation of GBS can be potentially lifesaving if caught at an early stage.

Redundant: A case of complicated dolichocolon in a neonate.

Dolichocolon has been described as a developmental variant and is characterized by redundancy of the colon. Diagnosis is based off clinical symptoms and barium enema or CT-colonography. This redundancy is often seen in the adult and elderly population, with pediatric prevalence limited to case reports. Information regarding radiologic evaluation is limited, as most cases are documented outside of the radiology literature. This case report demonstrates a complex course of transient symptoms of constipation, obstruction, and suspected volvulus in a 1-month-old with dolichocolon. A retrospective review of the images offers insight into gaining suspicion of this variant in radiographs and fluoroscopic exams.

Bipartite patella separation and partial quadriceps tendon rupture in the setting of trauma.

Normal development of the patella typically involves fusion of secondary ossification centers into a single bone during adolescence, with failure of fusion resulting in bipartite and tripartite patellae. In such variants, injury to incomplete ossification center fusion, though uncommon, has been reported to occur in the setting of traumatic quadriceps tendon rupture. The authors present a rare and complex case of traumatic bipartite fragment separation, patellar avulsion, and a complex partial quadriceps tendon tear confirmed surgically in a 36-year-old male. In this case, a tear in the lateral aspect of the quadriceps tendon attached to the nonfused patellar ossification center resulted in retraction of the band containing the bipartite fragment and separation of the patellar fragments, with superior displacement of the smaller bony avulsion likely due to complex attachments from the medial aspect of the quadriceps tendon. Knowledge of the classical locations of a bipartite and tripartite patella can aid in the differentiation of the anatomic variant versus patellar avulsion. Additionally, knowledge of the variable and complex nature of the quadriceps tendon aids in understanding the process of patellar avulsions and various tears, leading to the appropriate orthopedic management.

Acute carotid thrombosis and ischemic stroke following overdose of the synthetic cannabinoid K2 in a previously healthy young adult male.

With the popularity of synthetic cannabinoid street drugs such as "K2 and Spice," a number of serious neurologic adverse events are coming to light. This case is a 36-year-old African American man, with no significant medical history, who presented with extensive left cervical and intracranial internal carotid artery occlusion and subsequent ischemic stroke. The patient endorsed smoking K2-a synthetic cannabinoid (SC) with structural similarity to cannabis. The mechanism by which SC abuse induces a prothrombotic state leading to ischemic neurovascular sequelae is currently unclear, although a temporal association in the absence of other stroke risk factors suggests a causal relationship. Our case highlights the need for emergent neuroimaging upon suspected SC overdose. Practitioners should be vigilant in recognizing that ischemic stroke and unexplained neurologic deficit can arise after SC abuse, especially in younger populations with few stroke risk factors and who are prone to chronic cannabis use.