Embolia gaseosa cerebral secundaria a la retirada de una vía venosa central / Cerebral gas embolism secondary to withdrawal of a central venous line

Objetivo. Presentar un caso de embolia gaseosa cerebral secundaria a la retirada de una vía venosa central en un paciente recientemente operado de cirugía abdominal. Caso clínico. Varón de 82 años que presenta súbitamente mioclonías en la extremidad superior derecha y disminución brusca del nivel de consciencia. Se le realiza una tomografía computarizada (TC) que pone de manifiesto burbujas de aire en la circulación intracraneal e infarto hemisférico derecho asociado. El paciente evoluciona clínicamente mal y fallece días más tarde. Conclusiones. El diagnóstico de la embolia gaseosa cerebral se realiza mediante TC craneal si ésta se realiza inmediatamente después de la entrada de aire en la circulación intracerebral. En fases tardías, los hallazgos son inespecíficos y difíciles de distinguir de un infarto isquémico o de la leucoencefalopatía difusa. El tratamiento se basa en medidas de soporte y, en algunos casos, oxígeno hiperbárico, aunque su eficacia real se discute. La embolia gaseosa cerebral es una complicación potencialmente mortal y evitable en pacientes con una vía venosa central u otros procedimientos yatrogénicos que puedan introducir aire en la circulación arterial o venosa

Aim. To report a case of cerebral gas embolism secondary to the withdrawal of a central venous line in a patient who had recently undergone abdominal surgery. Case report. An 82-year-old male who suddenly presented myoclonias in the right upper extremity and a sharp drop in the level of consciousness. A computerised tomography (CT) scan revealed air bubbles in the intracranial circulatory system and associated infarction in the right hemisphere. The patient’s clinical progression was poor and he died some days later. Conclusions. Cerebral gas embolism can be diagnosed using a CT scan of the head if it is performed immediately after the entrance of air into the bloodstream inside the brain. In later phases, findings are unspecific and difficult to distinguish from ischaemic infarction or from diffuse leukoencephalopathy. Treatment is based on supportive measures and, in some cases, hyperbaric oxygen, although their true effectiveness is a controversial issue. Cerebral gas embolism is a potentially fatal and avoidable complication in patients with a central venous line or other iatrogenic procedures that can allow air to enter the arterial or venous circulatory systems

[Cerebral gas embolism secondary to withdrawal of a central venous line]. / Embolia gaseosa cerebral secundaria a la retirada de una vía venosa central.

AIM: To report a case of cerebral gas embolism secondary to the withdrawal of a central venous line in a patient who had recently undergone abdominal surgery. CASE REPORT: An 82-year-old male who suddenly presented myoclonias in the right upper extremity and a sharp drop in the level of consciousness. A computerised tomography (CT) scan revealed air bubbles in the intracranial circulatory system and associated infarction in the right hemisphere. The patient's clinical progression was poor and he died some days later. CONCLUSIONS: Cerebral gas embolism can be diagnosed using a CT scan of the head if it is performed immediately after the entrance of air into the bloodstream inside the brain. In later phases, findings are unspecific and difficult to distinguish from ischaemic infarction or from diffuse leukoencephalopathy. Treatment is based on supportive measures and, in some cases, hyperbaric oxygen, although their true effectiveness is a controversial issue. Cerebral gas embolism is a potentially fatal and avoidable complication in patients with a central venous line or other iatrogenic procedures that can allow air to enter the arterial or venous circulatory systems.

Extracción intravascular percutánea de un porthacath migrado a la arteria pulmonar / Percutaneous intravascular extraction of a porthacath migrated to the pulmonary artery

Propósito: El uso de catéteres venosos centrales ocasionalmente puede estar complicado por una ruptura intravascular y una embolización central del fragmento del catéter, lo cual está asociado a un alto índice de complicaciones serias. El rápido desarrollo de nuevos materiales y dispositivos endovasculares hace al tratamiento endovascular de los cuerpos extraños intravasculares seguro y eficaz. Caso clínico: Presentamos un paciente con un diagnóstico de sarcoma de Ewing en fémur izquierdo, que ha sido tratado con quimioterapia y cirugía. Para la administración de la quimioterapia se le colocó un porthacath. El catéter presentó una migración hacia la arteria pulmonar derecha al intentar retirarlo. Por vía percutánea y con la ayuda de un lazo de nitinol "Amplaz Goose Neck Snare", le hemos extraído de la arteria pulmonar derecha el catéter del porthacath y lo sacamos a través del introductor femoral sin complicaciones y muy bien tolerado. Conclusiones: Creemos que el tratamiento inicial para extraer los cuerpos extraños intravasculares siempre debe ser por vía endovascular y que el lazo de nitinol ("nitinol goose-neck snare") debe ser el primer dispositivo empleado para recuperar los cuerpos extraños (AU)

Early Experience Studying Cerebral Aneurysms with Rotational and Threedimensional Angiography and Review of CT and MR Angiography Literature.

SUMMARY: From september 2000 to september 2001, 32 consecutive patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms were examined with rotational and 3D reconstruction angiography using an Integris V5000 Philips Medical System: 39 aneurysms were detected. After a selective cerebral artery was catheterized with a 5F or 4F-catheter, 35 ml of contrast medium was intra-arterially administered at a rate of 4 ml/s and a 180 degrees rotational angiography was performed in eight seconds. This information was transferred to a computer (Silicon Graphics Octane) with software (Integris 3DRA, Philips Integris Systems) and a three-dimensional reconstruction was made. The information provided by Angio-3D was useful for evaluating the parent artery, aneurysmal sac, aneurysmal neck and arterial branches. It was also very useful in selecting the therapeutic method. For open surgery, this technique provides preoperative images that are useful for planning microsurgical approaches, especially in cases of large aneurysm showing complex surrounding arteries. For endovascular embolization, various anatomic characteristics of the aneurysm such as neck and sac size, shape, lobularity, parent artery and arterial branches adjacent to the aneurysmal neck must be demonstrated. This is very important to determine the best projection for embolization and to avoid multiple series. This is also essential in the choice of the first coil to create a good basket producing total occlusion. Microaneurysms are demonstrated well with this technique whereas this is difficult to do with conventional arteriography. The Angio-RM and Angio-CT literature show a lower sensitivity and specificity in comparasion with our experience with 3D IA-ROT-DSA. For this reason, we believe that 3D IA-ROTDSA is now the gold standard for patients presenting intracranial aneurysms.

[Intra-arterial fibrinolysis in vertebrobasilar system]. / Fibrinólisis intrarterial en el territorio vertebrobasilar.

INTRODUCTION: The acute vertebrobasilar occlussion is usually a life-treatening disease leading to death or major disability. The treatment with heparin and the selective fibrinolysis no show good results, for this reason the local intra-arterial fibrinolysis appear as the choice treatment in patients with stroke and a agiography with basilar artery occlussion or intracranial vertebral artery occlusion. This tecnique has been proved to be effective treatment for selected patients with acute thromboembolic occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, ophthalmic artery and vertebrobasilar system, reducing the mortality in the vertebrobasilar system from 90% to 40%. CLINICAL CASE: We present a 63 years-old man with a vertebrobasilar thrombosis of a probable cardioembolic origen. He was treated with r-TPA local intra-arterial fibrinolysis, to get a recanalization of vertebrobasilar system. In the control TC we see a haemorragic sufusion in the brain stem. The follow-up see a patient with tetraparesis and palsy of the low cranial nerves and normal superior cerebral functions. CONCLUSIONS: The local intra-arterial fibrinolysis is the choise treatment in the vertebrobasilar thrombosis because the high morbimortality of this patology and the inefficacy of the others therapeutics. The result depend of many factors as the thrombo location, the neurologic state, the evolution time, the start of treatment, the colateral circulation, the nervous tissue reserve, etc, that have dificult predict the result, but it is best of the natural history of the disease. Is necesary, change the concept of emergency and the attitude front the isquemic cerebral disease at the sanitary leaders, the doctors, and the general population, for dispose of more means to cofront this pathology, which permit diminish the morbimortality and reduce the grade of incapacity.

[Preocclusive stenosis of the extracranial vertebral artery. Treatment by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and insertion of endoprosthesis]. / Estenosis preoclusiva de la arteria vertebral extracraneal. Tratamiento mediante angioplastia transluminal percutánea y colocación de endoprótesis.

INTRODUCTION: Atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the extracranial portion of the vertebral artery is relatively frequent and is usually related to vertebrobasilar ischemia. Due to the lack of a noninvasive diagnostic technique, at present it is often not diagnosed. Surgical treatment is difficult and risky. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is only partly useful due to a high rate of restenosis. The recent development of stenting has led to an evident improvement of PTA results, reducing restenosis and offering an effective treatment with low morbidity and mortality. CLINICAL CASE: Sixty year old male patient, smoker and moderate drinker, who is hospitalized due to repeated ischemic strokes (cerebellar stroke in the left posterior and interior inferior cerebellar arteries, and cerebral stroke at occipito-parietal and ipsilateral capsulo-thalamic levels) in spite of antithrombotic treatment. Angiography showed: a) occlusion of the left vertebral artery; b) preocclusive stenosis of the right vertebral artery in the ostium; c) fetal origin of the right posterior cerebral artery, and d) left hypoplasic posterior communicating artery. PTA and stent placement at the right vertebral artery is performed with an excellent angiographic result, a partial recovery of neurological symptomatology and absence of new episodes of cerebral ischemia during a three-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stent placement is an effective low morbidity-mortality treatment in occlusive atherosclerosis of the vertebral artery, although further randomized multicenter studies are required in order to validate this conclusion.

Fibrinólisis intrarterial en el territorio vertebrobasilar / Intra-arterial fibrinolysis in vertebrobasilar system

Introducción. La oclusión vertebrobasilar aguda es una patología grave con una historia natural que suele terminar en muerte o gran incapacidad. El tratamiento médico con heparina y la fibri nólisis selectiva no han mostrado buenos resultados, por lo que la fibrinólisis local intrarterial aparece como el método terapéutico de elección en aquellos pacientes con un ictus en evolución y una angiografía que demuestra la oclusión de la arteria basilar o de ambas vertebrales a nivel intracraneal. Esta terapia ha probado su eficacia en el tratamiento de pacientes seleccionados con oclusión aguda tromboembólica de la arteria cerebral media, arteria oftálmica y sistema vertebrobasilar, reduciendo la mortalidad, en este último, de un 90 a un 40 por ciento. Caso clínico. Presentamos el caso un paciente varón de 63 años con una trombosis vertebrobasilar de probable origen cardioembólico que tratamos mediante fibrinólisis intrarterial con r-TPA, lográndose la recanalización del sistema vertebrobasilar. En la TC de control se apreció una sufusión hemorrágica en el bulbo y protuberancia. El paciente después del tratamiento quedó con una tetraparesia y afectación de pares bajos, con funciones cerebrales superiores normales. Conclusiones. La fibrinólisis local intrarterial es el tratamiento de elección en la trombosis vertebrobasilar dada la elevada morbimortalidad de esta patología y la ineficacia de otros tratamientos. Los resultados dependen de muchos factores como la localización del trombo, el estado neurológico, el tiempo de evolución, el inicio del tratamiento, la circulación colateral, la reserva del tejido nervioso, etc., que hacen difícil predecir el resultado pero que es mejor que la evolución natural de la enfermedad. Se debe realizar un esfuerzo para cambiar el concepto de urgencia y la actitud frente a la enfermedad isquémica cerebral en los dirigentes sanitarios, en los médicos y en la población general, para poder disponer de más medios para afrontar esta patología, lo que permitiría disminuir la morbimortalidad y reducir el grado de incapacidad (AU)

[Bourneville's tuberous sclerosis associated with double uterus and vagina (didelphic uterus)]. / Esclerosis tuberosa de Bourneville asociada a duplicidad uterovaginal (útero didelfo).

INTRODUCTION: We describe a case that fulfill the diagnostic criteria for the tuberous sclerosis (Bourneville disease), and presents a double uterus and double vagina (didelphic uterus). We have not found any reference ti this association in the literature (MEDLINE search from July 1986 to December 1996). CLINICAL CASE: A 38-year-old woman with mental retardation and seizures who has been with carbamazepine since age 14. In 1979 a double vagina was diagnosed and a resection of a vaginal thin wall was performed. Laparoscopy showed a double uterus and multiple granulations of mesothelial proliferation in the Douglas sac. She has a remarkable behavior disorder with conjugal and familiar problems as well as a chronic renal insufficiency. The examination show a patient with a mental retardation, cutaneous hypopigmentation, facial adenomas sebaceums of Pringle, and ataxia, the rest of exploration was normal. The cranial CT show multiples calcified subependymal nodules. An abdominopelvic CT revealed several lesions in the liver parenchymal, and the pancreas head, compatible with hamartomas or lipomas, big kidneys with bilateral cysts and angiomyolipomas, and didelphic uterus. The cytogenetic study showed a normal karyotype (46,XX) and the molecular cytogenetic study (Fluorescence in situ hybridization, FISH) of chromosomes 2, 3, 4, 9, 11, 12 and 16 showed no chromosomal reangement. CONCLUSIONS: Eventhough both Bourneville disease and didelphic uterus have individually been associated with chromosomal abnormalities, our cytogenetic studies show no chromosomal reangement or abnormality despite the coexistence of both disease in our patient. In the bibliographic search that we have performed we have not found any report of a case like the one we describe here.

Hyperacute spinal subdural haematoma as a complication of lumbar spinal anaesthesia: MRI.

We report two cases of hyperacute spinal subdural haematoma secondary to lumbar spinal anaesthesia, identified with MRI. Prompt diagnosis of this infrequent, potentially serious complication of spinal anaesthesia is essential, as early surgical evacuation may be needed. Suggestive MRI findings in this early phase include diffuse occupation filling of the spinal canal with poor delineation of the spinal cord on T1-weighted images, and a poorly-defined high-signal lesion with a low-signal rim on T2-weighted images.

[Subarachnoid hemorrhage associated to subhyaloid hemorrhage: "Terson syndrome"]. / Hemorragia subaracnoidea asociada a hemorragia subhialoidea 'síndrome de Terson'.

INTRODUCTION: The combination of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and subhyaloid hemorrhage is known as 'Terson syndrome'. Retinal hemorrhage is commonly observed clinically in the optic fundi of patients with SAH, however, subhyaloid hemorrhage of the globe in the setting of SAH has been rarely on CT of the brain. Several mechanisms of subhyaloid hemorrhage have been proposed: a. A sudden increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) forces blood from the subarachnoid space directly into the preretinal space. b. A sudden rise in ICP is thought to decrease venous return to the cavernous sinus from the veins draining the globe. The increased retinal venous pressure results in stasis followed by vessel rupture. c. A sudden rise in ICP obstructs both the retinochoroidal anastomoses and the central retinal vein due to a rapid effusion of CSF through the communication of the subarachnoid space with the optic nerve sheat. This produces an acute decrease in venous drainage from the retina and results in stasis and hemorrhage. CLINICAL CASE: A 35 year old man, with a history of a non controlled arterial hypertension, dilated cardiopathy and 'agitation episodes'. He had a spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage, consistent in a parenchymal hematoma ruptured into ventricles and subarachnoid space. The CT showed through optic nerve sheath this hemorrhage extended to subhyaloid space. The patient came in coma 'dépassé' and brain death. CONCLUSIONS: We report a case of Terson syndrome demonstrated by CT. This CT allow see the blood from the subarachnoid space erupt directly into the preretinal space through optic nerve sheath, confirming one the proposed mechanism for this syndrome.

[Trans-ethmoid meningocele diagnosed in adults. Description of one case]. / Meningocele transetmoidal. Diagnóstico en edad adulta: presentación de un caso.

The meningocele and encephalocele are extracranial herniation of single meninges or meninges with brain tissue, through cranial defect. This pathology can be classificated according to contain or localization. The trans-etmoidal encephalocele is the 5% of meningoencephaloceles, and they are the 8-19% of all neural tube dysraphism. We report a 54 year-old woman with a spontaneous rhinorrhea due to an trans-ethmoidal meningocele associate with a recurrent meningitis. The computed tomographic (CT) revealed a trans-ethmoidal meningocele and she was treated with surgery. In presence of a patient with recurrent meningitis is necessary value the possibility of rhinorrhea, and an exhausted radiology study will be fulfill for identify the opening in the skull through leak CSF, and offer the best treatment. The transetmoidal can be a cause of rhinorrhea. The CT scan study of anterior fosa is a good method for diagnostic of this pathology, however, the IRM is the election method.

[Partial bilateral agenesis of the posterior arch of the atlas]. / Agenesia parcial bilateral del arco posterior del atlas.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital abnormalities of the posterior arch of the atlas (C-1) are very uncommon and not widely known. Isolated partial agenesis of the posterior arch of the atlas was initially considered a benign variation without any clinical or pathological significance. There is, however, increasing evidence that neurological symptoms may occur after minor cervical trauma in patients with an isolated partial agenesis of the posterior arch of the atlas, specially the types 'C' and 'D' malformations described by Currarino et al. CLINICAL CASE: A 63 year old woman with cervicalgia and 'seasickness', was study with a plain cervical spine radiographs and CT with three-dimensional reconstruction, who showed a bilateral partial absence of the posterior arch of C-1 with persistent posterior tubercle, corresponded to type 'D' in the classification descrites by Currarino et al. CONCLUSIONS: The fact of this pathology can unchain an important neurological symptoms after minor cervical trauma, oblige to the physician (radiologist, neurologist, neurosurgeon, traumatologist, rehabilitation specialist) know this pathology, for to include this patients in a group of the risk, and indicate to them who should avoid contact sports and other strenuous athletic endeavors, and furthermore value the surgical treatment.