[Endovascular treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Analysis of eight consecutive patients]. / Traitement endovasculaire de l'hypertension intracrânienne bénigne étiquetée "idiopathique". Analyse de huit cas consécutifs.

INTRODUCTION: Optic nerve sheath fenestration or ventricular shunting are classically proposed after failure of medical treatment. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is caused by venous sinus obstruction in an unknown percentage of cases. Recently, endoluminal venous sinus stenting was proposed as an alternative treatment. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Between September 2003 and December 2004, eight consecutive patients with a diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension underwent MRI venography and direct retrograde cerebral angiography. RESULTS: There were five females and three males aged 22 to 55 years. All patients had vision disorders. The cerebrospinal fluid pressure ranged from 27 to 45 mmHg with normal composition. All patients presented at least one sinus stenosis. Endovascular stenting of the stenotic venous sinus was performed under intravenous heparin administration. Anti-platelet therapy was administered for 3 months post treatment. Intra-sinus pressures were invariably reduced by stenting. Mean follow-up was 18 months. All patients improved clinically. The cerebrospinal fluid pressure had normalized at 3-month follow-up in all patients. In all patients, multidetector row CT-angiography or MRI venography was performed at 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-up and demonstrated the patency of the stent. DISCUSSION: The importance of venous sinus disease as a cause of idiopathic intracranial hypertension is probably underestimated. Patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension should be evaluated with direct retrograde cerebral venography and manometry. In patients with venous sinus lesions, treatment by an endoluminal venous sinus stent is a safe and effective alternative for amenable lesions.

[Endoscopic third ventriculostomy for management of obstructive hydrocephalus secondary to supratentorial intraventricular hematoma. Case report]. / Apport de l'endoscopie dans la prise en charge des hématomes intra-ventriculaires supratentoriels compliqués d'hydrocéphalie. A propos de deux cas.

We report two cases of intraventricular hematoma with obstructive hydrocephalus. We perform endoscopic treatment of the hydrocephalus: aspiration of the hematoma associated with a third ventriculostomy. Both patients respectively aged 59 and 74 years had an obstructive hydrocephalus due to intraventricular hemorrage. The patient neurological status worsen at day 6 for patient No. 1 and at day 4 for patient No. 2. Endoscopic ventriculoscopy was performed respectively at day 6 and at day 5. Operatively, immediate vision was poor but was progressively improved by repetitive irrigation with Ringer-lactate (RL). Obstruction of the right Monro foramen by clot was observed. Introduction of the neuroendoscope into the third ventricle was possible after suction of the hematoma. Perforation of the floor of the third ventricle was performed after identification of the mammillary bodies and the infundibulum. Neurological status recovered within 10 days after surgery and the patients were referred to a medical unit. The patients were independent at home. The one-year MRI follow-up study showed a functional acqueduc in case 1 and a non-functional acqueduc in case 2 indicating in this case that the ventriculocisternotomy was useful. Intraventricular hematoma is not a contraindication for endoscopic third ventriculostomy. If possible, waiting for 6 or 5 days to allow the structuring of the blood clot and using large irrigation RL may facilitate the endoscopic procedure. This indication for endoscopic third ventriculostomy constitutes an alternative to external ventricular drainage which is significatively associated with complication (infection and obstruction). We cannot affirm that the removal of the clots and ventriculocisternostomy versus temporary external drainage avoids secondary hydrocephalus.

Les abces de la fosse cerebrale posterieure; a propos de 4 cas

L'abces de la fosse cerebrale posterieure est une localisation inhabituelle des abces encephaliques. Son diagnostic se fait generalement au stade d'encapsulation avec le risque possible d'engagement amygdalien mettant en jeu le pronostic vital. Nous rapportons notre experience dans la prise en charge des abces de la fosse cerebrale posterieure a travers une serie de 4 cas. Il s'agit d'une serie retrospective de 4 patients; colliges de Janvier 2000 a Decembre 2004. Tous les patients ont beneficie d'un examen clinique et d'une exploration radiologique (tomodensitometrie). L'intervention operatoire realisee dans tous les cas; a consiste en une trepano-ponction de l'abces. Le suivi post-operatoire a ete assure pour une duree minimale de 6 mois. L'age moyen etait de 38;75 ans. Le sex-ratio etait de 3/1. L'antecedent d'otite moyenne chronique a ete note dans 2 cas. Le syndrome infectieux et l'hypertension intra-cranienne etaient constants. Le syndrome cerebelleux a ete note dans 2 cas. La tomodensitometrie a permis de confirmer le diagnostic d'abces de la fosse cerebrale posterieure. Un cholesteatome et une hydrocephalie tri ventriculaire ont ete notes dans 2 cas. Tous les patients ont beneficie d'une trepano-ponction de l'abces. L'examen bacteriologique du pus a permis d'isoler un Staphylococcus aureus dans 1 cas; et un Providencia sp associe au Bacteroides fragilis dans un autre. Une mastoidectomie radicale a ete pratiquee a distance dans 2 cas. L'evolution a ete bonne dans 3 cas. Un cas de deces a ete enregistre. La localisation de l'abces dans la fosse cerebrale posterieure qui est une loge exigue; signe l'urgence de la prise en charge. Tout retard met en jeu le pronostic vital par le risque d'hydrocephalie obstructive et d'engagement amygdalien