Gastric perforation by a ventriculoperitoneal shunt in an adult.

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt operation is a common neurosurgical procedure applied for managing intracranial hydrocephalus. Migration of a distal catheter is an uncommon complication, and related gastric perforation is rarely reported. Herein, we report the case of gastric perforation in a patient with VP shunt who presented with fever. The distal catheter within the stomach was confirmed by preoperative computed tomographic scan of abdomen and gastric endoscopy. Surgical intervention and appropriate antibiotics management enabled patient recovery. This case emphasizes the importance of early recognition and surgical intervention in this rare complication related to the shunt procedure.

The Clinical Predictors of Shunt-Dependent Hydrocephalus Following Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

AIM: Shunt-dependent hydrocephalus (SDH) is a relatively common complication following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Delay in diagnosis and treatment may worsen neurological outcome. This study was conducted to identify early clinical factors associated with SDH following aSAH. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with aSAH at our hospital from January 2010 through July 2014 were included. Patients aged ? 18 or ? 90 years, with concurrent arteriovenous malformation, treated with both clipping and coiling, or not receiving definitive treatment were excluded. Both clinical and radiological variables were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic model to identify factors independently associated with outcome of SDH following aSAH. RESULTS: Overall, 33 patients (36.2%) developed SDH following aSAH after definitive treatment. Univariate analysis revealed age, emergency department (ED) white blood cell (WBC) count, hypernatremia, Hunt & Hess Grade, modified Fisher"s Grade, presentation of acute hydrocephalus, initial placement of external ventriculostomy, and post-operative central nervous system infection were clinically significant factors. Multivariate logistic regression showed ED WBC count > 14,500/?L (OR 5.096, 95% CI 1.332 to 19.499, p=0.017), poor Hunt&Hess Grade (III, IV & V) (OR 3.562, 95% CI 1.081 to 11.737, p=0.037), and initial placement of external ventriculostomy (OR 4.294, 95% CI 1.125 to 16.393, p=0.033) were independent factors. < p < CONCLUSION: Three early independent predictors of SDH were identified including poor Hunt&Hess Grade, initial placement of external ventriculostomy and ED leukocytosis. Early placement of a ventricular-peritoneal shunt after aSAH may shorten length of stay in hospital and in intensive care unit.

Posterior communicating aneurysm with oculomotor nerve palsy: clinical outcome after aneurysm clipping.

AIM: One of the clinical presentations of intracranial aneurysm is unilateral oculomotor nerve palsy (ONP). The most common location is the posterior communicating artery. Surgical clipping and/or endovascular coiling of the aneurysm are the treatments. The aim of this study was to identify the factors that influence the postoperative recovery of patients who have posterior communicating aneurysm with ONP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 13 patients diagnosed at our hospital from 1993 to 2008 with posterior communicating aneurysm with ONP. Ten patients underwent craniotomy to clip the aneurysm; 3 patients refused surgery. RESULTS: Five (50%) patients presented with periorbital pain. Seven (70%) patients had complete ONP recovery with a median recovery time of 58 days. We found that the first recovered component of ONP after clipping was the parasympathetic fibers with a mean recovery time of 4.4 days. Nine patients had a good recovery outcome; one patient died from postoperative vasospasm. There was no significant linear trend in complete recovery rate across palsy symptom periods. However, the palsy symptom period was significant correlated with recovery time. CONCLUSION: Early decompression of the posterior communicating aneurysm yielded satisfactory recovery and ONP can be reversible. In our patients, the first component of oculomotor function to recover was the parasympathetic fibers.

An unusual primitive neuroectodermal tumor in the thoracic epidural space.

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is a generic term used to describe a group of histologically indistinguishable neoplasms, including cerebellar medulloblastomas, which are located at various sites in the central nervous system. Primary epidural PNETs are rare and few patients have been reported. We report a 15-year-old girl who presented with gradual onset, over 1 month, of upper back pain and bilateral lower leg weakness. A thoracic spine MRI showed a dumbbell-shaped epidural mass at T2-4 with right paraspinal and posterior mediastinal extension. Surgical resection of the epidural tumor for decompression was performed. The pathologic examination revealed a PNET. Primary spinal PNETs typically have a poor prognosis and optimal therapy has not yet been defined. Surgical resection, with the combination of chemo-radiotherapy or radiotherapy, leads to better outcomes. However, primary epidural PNETs may be classified as a subtype of spinal PNETs because they are free from intrathecal invasion. For these patients, surgery alone and surgery combined with radiotherapy or chemo-radiotherapy remain controversial. Our patient received surgery alone and, 1y ear later, has experienced no local recurrence within the epidural space but the mediastinal part of the tumor has enlarged.