Time course of hemispheric cerebral volume after decompressive craniectomy in malignant middle cerebral artery stroke.

BACKGROUND: Brain edema is the leading cause of death in patients with malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction. Midline shift (MLS) has been used as a monohemispheric brain edema marker in several studies; however, it does not precisely measure brain edema. It is now possible to directly measure hemisphere brain volume. Knowledge about the time course of brain edema after malignant middle cerebral artery infarction may contribute to the condition's management. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, our goal was to evaluate the course of brain edema in patients with malignant MCA infarction treated with decompressive craniectomy (DC) using hemispheric volumetric measurements. METHODS: Patients were selected consecutively from a single tertiary hospital between 2013 and 2019. All patients were diagnosed with malignant middle cerebral artery infarction and underwent a decompressive craniectomy (DC) to treat the ischemic event. All computed tomography (CT) exams performed during the clinical care of these patients were analyzed, and the whole ischemic hemisphere volume was calculated for each CT scan. RESULTS: We analyzed 43 patients (197 CT exams). Patients' mean age at DC was 51.72 [range: 42-68] years. The mean time between the ischemic ictus and DC was 41.88 (range: 6-77) hours. The mean time between the ischemic event and the peak of hemisphere volume was 168.84 (95% confidence interval [142.08, 195.59]) hours. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the peak of cerebral edema in malignant MCA infarction after DC occurred on the 7th day (168.84 h) after stroke symptoms onset. Further studies evaluating therapies for brain edema even after DC should be investigated.

ANTECEDENTES: O edema cerebral é a principal causa de morte em pacientes com infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média. O desvio da linha média tem sido utilizado como marcador de edema cerebral mono-hemisférico em alguns estudos; porém, ele não mede de forma precisa o edema cerebral. Atualmente é possível mensurar diretamente o volume do hemisfério cerebral. O conhecimento sobre a evolução temporal do edema cerebral após infartos malignos da artéria cerebral média pode contribuir para o cuidado clínico desta condição. OBJETIVO: Nosso objetivo é avaliar o edema hemisférico ao longo do tempo, em pacientes com infarto maligno da artéria cerebral média, tratados com craniectomia descompressiva. MéTODOS: Os pacientes foram selecionados de forma consecutiva, em um hospital terciário, entre 2013 e 2019. Todos os pacientes apresentavam diagnóstico de infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média e foram submetidos a craniectomia descompressiva. Todas as tomografias computadorizadas de crânio destes pacientes foram analizadas, e o volume do hemisfério cerebral infartado foi mensurado. RESULTADOS: Analisamos 43 pacientes (197 tomografias de crânio). A idade média dos pacientes na craniectomia descompressiva foi 51,72 (42­68) anos. O tempo médio entre o ictus e a craniectomia descompressiva foi 41,88 (6­77) horas. O tempo médio entre o ictus e o pico do volume hemisférico foi 168,84 (142,08­195,59) horas. CONCLUSãO: O pico do volume cerebral em pacientes com infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média submetidos a craniectomia descompressiva ocorreu no 7o dia (168,84 horas) após o infarto. Mais estudos avaliando terapêuticas direcionadas ao edema cerebral seriam úteis neste contexto.

Time course of hemispheric cerebral volume after decompressive craniectomy in malignant middle cerebral artery stroke / Evolução temporal do volume hemisférico cerebral após craniectomia descompressiva em infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média

Abstract Background Brain edema is the leading cause of death in patients with malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction. Midline shift (MLS) has been used as a monohemispheric brain edema marker in several studies; however, it does not precisely measure brain edema. It is now possible to directly measure hemisphere brain volume. Knowledge about the time course of brain edema after malignant middle cerebral artery infarction may contribute to the condition's management. Objective Therefore, our goal was to evaluate the course of brain edema in patients with malignant MCA infarction treated with decompressive craniectomy (DC) using hemispheric volumetric measurements. Methods Patients were selected consecutively from a single tertiary hospital between 2013 and 2019. All patients were diagnosed with malignant middle cerebral artery infarction and underwent a decompressive craniectomy (DC) to treat the ischemic event. All computed tomography (CT) exams performed during the clinical care of these patients were analyzed, and the whole ischemic hemisphere volume was calculated for each CT scan. Results We analyzed 43 patients (197 CT exams). Patients' mean age at DC was 51.72 [range: 42-68] years. The mean time between the ischemic ictus and DC was 41.88 (range: 6-77) hours. The mean time between the ischemic event and the peak of hemisphere volume was 168.84 (95% confidence interval [142.08, 195.59]) hours. Conclusion In conclusion, the peak of cerebral edema in malignant MCA infarction after DC occurred on the 7th day (168.84 h) after stroke symptoms onset. Further studies evaluating therapies for brain edema even after DC should be investigated.

Resumo Antecedentes O edema cerebral é a principal causa de morte em pacientes com infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média. O desvio da linha média tem sido utilizado como marcador de edema cerebral mono-hemisférico em alguns estudos; porém, ele não mede de forma precisa o edema cerebral. Atualmente é possível mensurar diretamente o volume do hemisfério cerebral. O conhecimento sobre a evolução temporal do edema cerebral após infartos malignos da artéria cerebral média pode contribuir para o cuidado clínico desta condição. Objetivo Nosso objetivo é avaliar o edema hemisférico ao longo do tempo, em pacientes com infarto maligno da artéria cerebral média, tratados com craniectomia descompressiva. Métodos Os pacientes foram selecionados de forma consecutiva, em um hospital terciário, entre 2013 e 2019. Todos os pacientes apresentavam diagnóstico de infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média e foram submetidos a craniectomia descompressiva. Todas as tomografias computadorizadas de crânio destes pacientes foram analizadas, e o volume do hemisfério cerebral infartado foi mensurado. Resultados Analisamos 43 pacientes (197 tomografias de crânio). A idade média dos pacientes na craniectomia descompressiva foi 51,72 (42-68) anos. O tempo médio entre o ictus e a craniectomia descompressiva foi 41,88 (6-77) horas. O tempo médio entre o ictus e o pico do volume hemisférico foi 168,84 (142,08-195,59) horas. Conclusão O pico do volume cerebral em pacientes com infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média submetidos a craniectomia descompressiva ocorreu no 7o dia (168,84 horas) após o infarto. Mais estudos avaliando terapêuticas direcionadas ao edema cerebral seriam úteis neste contexto.

Decompressive craniectomy index: Does the size of decompressive craniectomy matter in malignant middle cerebral artery infarction?

Background: Malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction is associated with high mortality, mainly due to intracranial hypertension. This malignant course develops when two-thirds or more of MCA territory is infarcted. Randomized clinical trials demonstrated that in patients with malignant MCA infarction, decompressive craniectomy (DC) is associated with better prognosis. In these patients, some prognostic predictors are already known, including age and time between stroke and DC. The size of bone flap was not associated with long-term prognosis in the previous studies. Therefore, this paper aims to further expand the analysis of the bone removal toward a more precise quantification and verify the prognosis implication of the bone flap area/whole supratentorial hemicranium relation in patients treated with DC for malignant middle cerebral infarcts. Methods: This study included 45 patients operated between 2015 and 2020. All patients had been diagnosed with a malignant MCA infarction and were submitted to DC to treat the ischemic event. The primary endpoint was dichotomized modified Rankin scale (mRS) 1 year after surgery (mRS≤4 or mRS>4). Results: Patients with bad prognosis (mRS 5-6) were on average: older and with a smaller decompressive craniectomy index (DCI). In multivariate analysis, with adjustments for "age" and "time" from symptoms onset to DC, the association between DCI and prognosis remained. Conclusion: In our series, the relation between bone flap size and theoretical maximum supratentorial hemicranium area (DCI) in patients with malignant MCA infarction was associated with prognosis. Further studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

Traumatic acute subdural hematoma and coma: retrospective cohort of surgically treated patients.

BACKGROUND: A subdural hematoma is defined as clot formation in the subdural space after vessel rupture or brain parenchyma damage. Several demographic and tomographic factors were associated to poor prognosis, although some debate according to their specific roles still remains. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of comatose patients admitted to a single-institution, tertiary hospital center, between the years 2013 and 2019 with traumatic acute subdural hematoma requiring surgical evacuation were studied. Demographic and tomographic data were obtained from medical records. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis were performed, using a value of P < 0.05 for significance. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients were selected using the criteria and a total of 37 (48%) head CT exams were evaluated. The overall mortality was 57.1% and achieved 100% at ≥75-years-old subgroup. Univariate analysis only found young age as a good prognosis factor (P = 0.002). Gender (P = 0.784), abnormal pupillary response (P = 0.643), midline shift (P = 0.874), clot thickness (P = 0.206), compressed basal cisterns (P = 0.643), hematoma side (P = 0.879), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (P = 0.510) showed no association. Multivariate analysis showed no statistically significant association between covariates. CONCLUSION: Traumatic acute subdural hematoma is a life-threatening condition. Younger age was the only positive prognostic factor identified. More research is necessary to establish age as a rule-out criterion to surgical indication.

Combined treatment for a hemispheric cerebellar AVM.

Posterior fossa arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) can be a challenging disease, especially those large in size. AVMs can be treated with a combination of endovascular treatment and microsurgery. Here, the authors present the case of a 16-year-old female patient with progressive dizziness and episodic syncope. The workup of the patient showed a hemispheric cerebellar AVM, Spetzler-Martin grade IV. She underwent combined treatment (endovascular and microsurgery) with no complications and cure of the malformation. The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/rNw_Kyd76Mg.

Acute handlebar syndrome: Two extremes of a challenging diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Ulnar nerve mononeuropathy diagnosis can be challenging depending on where neural lesion is present. Repetitive trauma during cycling is a rare cause of ulnar neuropathy. CASE DESCRIPTION: We describe two patients who developed the handlebar syndrome, an ulnar nerve palsy at Guyon's canal after cycling. The first patient had the syndrome after a short-distance ride and she was treated surgically, while the second patient developed the classical syndrome after a long ride and received conservative treatment. Surgical treatment of the first patient led to functional recovery. CONCLUSION: Handlebar syndrome is a neuropathy caused by extrinsic repetitive compression of ulnar nerve at wrist. Increasing incidence of this disease can be expected after increasing popularity of cycling sports. Avoid of repetitive trauma is the main management goal, with surgical treatment reserved for failure of conservative treatment.