Cross-sectional study of a United Kingdom cohort of neonatal vein of galen malformation.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the course and outcomes in a UK national cohort of neonates with vein of Galen malformation identified before 28 days of life. METHODS: Neonates with angiographically confirmed vein of Galen malformation presenting to 1 of 2 UK treatment centers (2006-2016) were included; those surviving were invited to participate in neurocognitive assessment. Results in each domain were dichotomized into "good" and "poor" categories. Cross-sectional and angiographic brain imaging studies were systematically interrogated. Logistic regression was used to explore potential outcome predictors. RESULTS: Of 85 children with neonatal vein of Galen malformation, 51 had survived. Thirty-four participated in neurocognitive assessment. Outcomes were approximately evenly split between "good" and "poor" categories across all domains, namely, neurological status, general cognition, neuromotor skills, adaptive behavior, and emotional and behavioral development. Important predictors of poor cognitive outcome were initial Bicêtre score ≤ 12 and presence of brain injury, specifically white matter injury, on initial imaging; in multivariate analysis, only Bicêtre score ≤ 12 remained significant. INTERPRETATION: Despite modern supportive and endovascular treatment, more than one-third of unselected newborns with vein of Galen malformation did not survive. Outcome was good in around half of survivors. The importance of white matter injury suggests that abnormalities of venous as well as arterial circulation are important in the pathophysiology of brain injury. Ann Neurol 2018;84:547-555.

Presentation, course, and outcome of postneonatal presentations of vein of Galen malformation: a large, single-institution case series.

AIM: To describe presentation, clinical course, and outcome in postneonatal presentations of vein of Galen malformation (VGM). METHOD: Children older than 28 days presenting with VGM (from 2006-2016) were included. Notes/scans were reviewed. Outcome was dichotomized into 'good' or 'poor' using the Recovery and Recurrence Questionnaire. Logistic regression was performed to explore relationships between clinico-radiological features and outcome. RESULTS: Thirty-one children (18 males, 13 females) were included, presenting at a median age of 9.6 months (range 1.2mo-11y 7mo), most commonly with macrocrania (n=24) and prominent facial veins (n=9). Seven had evidence of cardiac failure. VGM morphology was choroidal in 19. Hydrocephalus (n=24) and loss of white matter volume (n=15) were the most common imaging abnormalities. Twenty-nine patients underwent glue embolization (median two per child). Angiographic shunt closure was achieved in 21 out of 28 survivors. Three children died of intracranial haemorrhage (1y, 6y, and 30d after embolization). Ten patients underwent neurosurgical procedures; to treat haemorrhage in four, and hydrocephalus in the rest. Outcome was categorized as good in 20 out of 28 survivors, but this was not predictable on the basis of the variables listed above. INTERPRETATION: Postneonatally presenting VGM has distinctive clinico-radiological features, attributable to venous hypertension. Endovascular treatment is associated with good outcomes, but more specific prognostic prediction was not possible within this cohort. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Clinical and radiological features in older children with vein of Galen malformation relate to venous hypertension. Outcome is good in most cases with endovascular therapy. Mortality is low but is related to intracranial haemorrhage.

Association Between Migraine and Atopic Diseases in Childhood: A Potential Protective Role of Anti-Allergic Drugs.

BACKGROUND: Migraine is a common cause of headache in childhood. Several studies have investigated the association between migraine and atopic diseases, mostly in the adult population. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate this association in children. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted across 3 European tertiary care hospitals between June 2014 and August 2014. Cases (n = 229) were children aged 6-18 years consulting for a migraine episode. Controls in the same age range (n = 406) were consulting for a minor injury and did not have a history of recurrent headache. Logistic regression analyses tested the effect of atopic diseases and anti-allergic therapies on occurrence of migraine. RESULTS: Children with migraine were more likely to have persistent asthma compared to absence of asthma (odds ratio [OR]: 4.57, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.04-10.24) and less likely to have been treated by inhaled or nasal corticosteroid (OR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.15-0.76) or antihistamine therapy (OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.18-0.60). The median number of monthly migraine episodes was higher in children with persistent asthma (3; interquartile [IQR]: 1-4; range: 0.5-10) compared to children with intermittent asthma (2; IQR: 1-3; range: 0.1-4) or non-asthmatic children (2; IQR: 1-3; range: 0.1-12) (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Persistent childhood asthma was associated with increased risk of migraine and higher frequency of migraine attacks. History of anti-asthmatic or anti-allergic therapies was associated with decreased risk of migraine in children and adolescents. The role of these therapies on the pathogenesis and occurrence of migraine needs to be further elucidated because of the huge potential impact in terms of public health.

Headache with focal neurologic signs in children at the emergency department.

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of secondary headache in children consulting at the pediatric emergency department (ED) for headache with a focal neurologic deficit. STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled children aged 6-18 years presenting to the ED of a tertiary care hospital with moderate to severe headache and focal neurologic deficit. Enrollment took place between March 2009 and February 2012. Children with a history of trauma, fever, or neurosurgical intervention were excluded from the study. The final diagnosis was made after 1 year of follow-up. Our primary aim was to identify any differences in the frequency of clinical signs between children with a final diagnosis of primary headache and those with a final diagnosis of secondary headache. RESULTS: Of the 101 patients included in the study, 66% received a final diagnosis of primary headache (94% migraine with aura), and 34% received a final diagnosis of secondary headache (76.5% focal epilepsy). On multivariate analysis, children with bilateral localization of pain had a higher likelihood (aOR, 8.6; 95% CI, 3.2-23.2; P<.001) of having secondary headache. CONCLUSION: Among children presenting to the ED with focal neurologic deficits, a bilateral headache location was associated with higher odds of having a secondary cause of headache. Additional longitudinal studies are needed to investigate whether our data can aid management in the ED setting.

Safety and Efficacy of the Neuroform Atlas Stent for Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The Neuroform Atlas (Stryker Neurovascular, Fremont, CA, USA) is a low-profile laser cut self-expanding nitinol stent designed to provide coil support and wall apposition during aneurysm embolisation. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis of outcomes after treatment with the Neuroform Atlas stent for the purpose of coil embolisation. METHODS: The primary objectives of this meta-analysis were to define the safety (treatment-related complications, neurologic outcomes, mortality rate) and the efficacy (aneurysm occlusion rate) of the treatment of intracranial aneurysms with the Neuroform Atlas stent. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane CENTRAL Library for all published studies on the treatment of intracranial aneurysms with the Neuroform Atlas device up to 6 April 2020. The review was prepared in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 14 studies were analysed (577 patients with 593 intracranial aneurysms). The mean age was 58.2 years and 35.6% were male. Technical success of the procedure was 100%. RROC1/RROC2 (Raymond-Roy occlusion classification (RROC) 1/2) (total occlusion/neck remnant) at a mean follow-up of 8.9 months was achieved in 94.8%. RROC3 was 4.9%. All-cause mortality was 1.8% and permanent residual neurological deficit or disability was 2.7%. Overall complications at follow-up were 6.2%. CONCLUSION: Our analysis demonstrated good rates of occlusion at follow-up for aneurysms treated with the Atlas device at follow-up. The safety profile appears similar to other low-profile intracranial stents.

Recovery position significantly associated with a reduced admission rate of children with loss of consciousness.

BACKGROUND: Loss of consciousness (LOC) is often seen in children. The response of caregivers to a child with LOC has been poorly investigated. Potential caregivers (parents, teachers) seem to have a poor knowledge of the recovery position (RP)-that is, the position into which an unconscious child should be placed in order to protect the airway. OBJECTIVES: To report the management and diagnoses of LOC in childhood, and to evaluate variables associated with an increased hospital admission rate. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study of consecutive children aged between 0 and 18 years diagnosed with LOC at 11 paediatric emergency departments (PEDs) of 6 European countries. The enrolment period was 3 months. Data were obtained from parental interviews, PED reports and clinical examination. RESULTS: 553 children were enrolled. The most frequent final diagnoses causing LOC were seizures (n=278, 50.3%), and vasovagal syncope (n=124, 22.4%). Caregivers put the child in the RP in 145 cases (26.2%). The RP was independently associated with a significant decrease in the admission rate (aOR=0.28; 95% CI 0.17 to 0.48; p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates for the first time that the RP may reduce the admission rate of infants with LOC. Caregivers often perform inadequate manoeuvres when a child becomes unconscious. Campaigns aiming at increasing knowledge of the RP should be promoted.