Maternal Serum Eye Drops in the Management of Pediatric Persistent Corneal Epithelial Defects: A Case Series.

PURPOSE: We report our experience with the use of maternally derived serum eye drops as adjunctive treatment in the management of pediatric persistent corneal epithelial defects. METHODS: Five eyes of 4 patients were identified in a retrospective review of pediatric patients with persistent corneal epithelial defects who received maternal serum drops. Diagnoses associated with the defects comprised pontine tegmental cap dysplasia with bilateral cranial nerve V1, V2, V3, and VII palsies; pontine tegmental cap dysplasia with left cranial nerve V1, VII, and VIII palsies; traumatic left cranial nerve II, V1, V2, and VI palsies due to a basilar skull fracture; and Stevens-Johnson syndrome with ocular involvement. We evaluated the feasibility of using maternally derived serum drops; thus, we looked at the ability to prepare and tolerate the drops as well as any complications that could have been associated with treatment. Other data collected included visual acuity, corneal examination, and current and previous treatments. RESULTS: Both the duration of therapy and time of follow-up ranged from 5 to 28 months. All patients experienced improvement or resolution of their corneal epithelial defects within 3 weeks of initiating serum eye drops. Furthermore, there were no adverse effects from the use of allogeneic serum drops. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal serum eye drops are a well-tolerated and potentially beneficial addition to the management of pediatric persistent corneal epithelial defects.

Nerve block for the treatment of headaches and cranial neuralgias - a practical approach.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have presented evidence that blocking peripheral nerves is effective for the treatment of some headaches and cranial neuralgias, resulting in reduction of the frequency, intensity, and duration of pain. OBJECTIVES: In this article we describe the role of nerve block in the treatment of headaches and cranial neuralgias, and the experience of a tertiary headache center regarding this issue. We also report the anatomical landmarks, techniques, materials used, contraindications, and side effects of peripheral nerve block, as well as the mechanisms of action of lidocaine and dexamethasone. CONCLUSIONS: The nerve block can be used in primary (migraine, cluster headache, and nummular headache) and secondary headaches (cervicogenic headache and headache attributed to craniotomy), as well in cranial neuralgias (trigeminal neuropathies, glossopharyngeal and occipital neuralgias). In some of them this procedure is necessary for both diagnosis and treatment, while in others it is an adjuvant treatment. The block of the greater occipital nerve with an anesthetic and corticosteroid compound has proved to be effective in the treatment of cluster headache. Regarding the treatment of other headaches and cranial neuralgias, controlled studies are still necessary to clarify the real role of peripheral nerve block.

Tolosa-Hunt syndrome preceded by facial palsy in a child.

We report on a previously healthy 11-year-old boy with unilateral periorbital mild headache and facial nerve palsy, followed during the next 5 months by recurrent unilateral headaches and subsequent extrinsic paresis of the third cranial nerve and paresis of the sixth cranial nerve, each of which improved with steroids. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed increased thickening of the left cavernous sinus and adjacent structures, with marked gadolinium enhancement. Eight months after the initial signs, he developed left retro-orbital headache that lasted 16 days and was relieved 24 hours after resuming steroid treatment. Recurrent multiple cranial neuropathies, neuroimaging findings, and long-lasting headache that responded to steroids indicated Tolosa-Hunt syndrome, further confirmed by extensive investigation and a long follow-up to exclude other causes. This patient illustrates the complexity of disorders with multiple cranial nerve palsies, and adds to the sparse literature on Tolosa-Hunt syndrome in children, describing the first pediatric case preceded by facial palsy.

Endoscopic management of brainstem injury due to ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement.

INTRODUCTION: We report a patient who suffered from brainstem injury following ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement in the fourth ventricle. DISCUSSION: A 20-year-old man with complex hydrocephalus and trapped fourth ventricle underwent a suboccipital placement of a VP shunt. Postprocedure patient developed double vision. Magnetic resonance imaging showed that the catheter was penetrating the dorsal brainstem at the level of the pontomedullary junction. Patient was referred to our Neuroendoscopic Clinic. Physical exam demonstrated pure right VI cranial nerve palsy. Patient underwent flexible endoscopic exploration of the ventricular system. Some of the endoscopic findings were severe aqueductal stenosis and brainstem injury from the catheter. Aqueductoplasty, transaqueductal approach into the fourth ventricle, and endoscopic repositioning of the catheter were some of the procedures performed. Patient recovered full neurological function. The combination of endoscopic exploration and shunt is a good alternative for patients with complex hydrocephalus. A transaqueductal approach to the fourth ventricle with flexible scope is an alternative for fourth ventricle pathology.

Anatomia microcirúrgica do nervo laríngeo recorrente: aplicações no acesso cirúrgico anterior à coluna cervical / Microsurgical anatomy of the recurrent laryngeal nerve: applications on the anterior approach to the cervical spine

OBJETIVO: Descrever a anatomia do nervo laríngeo recorrente (NLR) bilateralmente, correlacionando-a com os prováveis mecanismos de lesão na abordagem cervical anterior. MÉTODO: Foram examinados 12 cadáveres de adultos provenientes do Laboratório de Microcirurgia da Faculdade de Medicina da UFMG. Os dados foram analisados em termos de freqüência, média e desvio-padrão. RESULTADOS: O NLR esquerdo teve comprimento total médio de 9,4 ± 1,6 cm. Penetra na laringe em 36,3 por cento dos casos na altura de C5, 18,2 por cento de C4, 18,2 por cento de C5-C6, 18,2 por cento de C6 e 9,1 por cento de C4-C5. Recorre em 45,4 por cento dos casos na altura de T3, 18,2 por cento de T3-T4, 18,2 por cento de T4 e 18,2 por cento de T5. O NLR direito teve comprimento total médio de 5 ± 0,3 cm. Penetra na laringe em 44,4 por cento dos casos na altura de C5, em 44,4 por cento de C6 e 11,1 por cento de C3-C4. Recorre em 60 por cento dos casos na altura de T1, 30 por cento de C7 e 10 por cento de T2. CONCLUSAO: O NLR direito encontra-se mais vulnerável a lesões operatórias por dois aspectos diferentes e complementares: trajetória e comprimento. Devido ao fato de apresentar trajetória mais oblíqua e desprotegida, não se relacionando de forma íntima com o sulco traqueoesofágico, existe maior possibilidade de ocorrerem traumas diretos, como a compressão por retratores ou a secção acidental, principalmente nas abordagens envolvendo níveis vertebrais mais baixos. Da mesma forma, o seu menor comprimento favorece o estiramento de suas fibras durante a tração per-operatória.

[Ischemic anoxic cerebral crises in children. Electrophysiological aspects]. / Crisis cerebrales anóxicas isquémicas en el niño. Aspectos electrofisiológicos.

INTRODUCTION: Ischemic anoxic cerebral crises are linked to cardio-inhibition in response to vagal hypersensitivity which causes cerebral ischemic. OBJECTIVE: In this paper we proposed to describe the clinical and electrophysiological features seen during the ocular compression test. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 200 children with clinical findings suggesting ischemic anoxic cerebral crises with positive results on ocular compression testing. RESULTS: The ocular compression test provoked signs and symptoms, on average, in between 48.5% and 62.5% of the patients; generalized hypotonia and loss of consciousness were the most frequent signs. We found that the presence of clinical changes depended on the duration of the pause in heartbeat. There was also an association between the duration of the pause in heartbeat and the electroencephalographic findings. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of a state of vagal hypersensitivity is of considerable value in the positive differential diagnosis of cerebral crises in children, and of definite prognostic value.

Síndrome da fissura orbitária superior: caso näo usual de etiologia incerta / Superior orbital fissure syndrome: an unusual case of uncertain etiology

Os autores relatam um caso de Síndrome da Fissura Orbitária Superior de etiologia incerta em um paciente de 33 anos de idade. Os principais fatores etiológicos relacionados à Síndrome da Fissura Orbitária Superior säo traumáticos, infecciosos e neoplásicos. Esses podem causar danos aos nervos cranianos que penetram na órbita através da fissura orbitária superior. Optou-se pelo tratamento conservador em uma avaliaçäo 4 meses após o trauma verificou-se a regressäo dos sinais e sintomas clínicos, ressaltando a persistência da lesäo do nervo abducente

Manifestaçöes otoneurológicas na dolicoectasia da artéria basilar e vertebral / Otoneurological manifestations in the vertebrobasilar dolichoectasy

Sao feitas consideraçoes a respeito do quadro clínico otoneurológico e da fisiopatologia na dolicoectasia vértebro-basilar. Os autores apresentam como ilustraçao um caso com manifestaçoes clínicas centrais e periféricas em um paciente com dolicoectasia da artéria basilar e vertebral.

Syncope and seizure-like activity secondary to acute herpes zoster infection of the trigeminal nerve.

Syncope may occur with glossopharyngeal neuralgia. We describe a patient with acute herpetic infection of the first branch of the trigeminal nerve associated with episodes of shooting pain, cardiac arrest and tonic-clonic movements. Resemblances with the so-called "cardiovascular" form of glossopharyngeal neuralgia, as well as putative mechanisms of the syncope, are discussed.

Idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia complicated by lingual nerve dysesthesia.

The treatment of facial pain disorders has become a multifaceted discipline that involves numerous scientific fields. Diagnostic and treatment modalities may be beneficial to the patient but at times may also complicate the problem and compromise the outcome. We present an interesting case of left trigeminal neuralgia complicated by unassociated lingual nerve dysesthesia.

Aspergilose invasiva do seio esfenoidal e paralisia do 6§ nervo / Invasive aspergillosis of the sphenoid sinus and paralysis of the 6th nerve

A aspergilose do seio esfenoidal é doença rara e pode se apresentar sob diferentes formas clínicas devido a envolvimento de diversas estruturas anatomicamente adjacentes ao seio esfenoidal. Relatamos o caso de uma paciente com 74 anos de idade, diabética, com paralisia do sexto nervo esquerdo secundária a aspergilose do seio esfenoidal. Näo havia história de cefaléia ou de queixas sugestivas de alergia respiratória. A tomografia computadorizada revelou lesäo etmoideo-esfenoidal à esquerda, com presença de imagem cálcica em seu interior e destruiçäo óssea. A paciente foi submetida a cirurgia com retirada de material necrótico e debridamento da lesäo, seguida de tratamento com anfotericina B e 5-fluorocitosina. Exame histológico revelou a presença de hifas sugestivas de Aspergilus sp. Após três meses de tratamento a paciente apresentou recuperaçäo total da paresia do nervo abducente. O diagnóstico pré-operatório de aspergilose do seio esfenoidal é dificil. No entanto, a presença de imagem cálcica ou de densidade metálica à radiografia simples de crânio ou à tomografia computadorizada sugere fortemente o diagnóstico. O exame histológico revela a presença de hifas dicotomatosas em 45,0 típicas do Aspergillus. O tratamento inclui excisäo e debridamento da lesäo seguida do uso de anfotericina B associada a 5-fluorocitosina ou rifampicina

[Bilateral abducens nerve palsy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma]. / Paralisia bilateral do abducente em carcinoma de nasofaringe.

We report a case of bilateral abducens palsy as initial finding in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Possible mode of involvement is discussed. Only one case has been reported in the past.

Paralisia bilateral do abducente em carcinoma de nasofaringe / Abducens bilateral palsy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Apresentamos um caso de paralisia bilateral do abducente como achado inicial em carcinoma de nasofaringe. Discute-se o modo de envolvimento. Somente um caso semelhante foi registrado anteriormente na literatura

[Symptomatic vagotonia in young patients. Clinical data and therapeutic approach]. / Vagotonía sintomática en pacientes jóvenes. Datos clínicos y actitud terapéutica.

Syncope or near-syncope can be the manifestation of a benign problem or a symptom of a life-threatening disease. Vasovagal syncope accounting for almost 70 per cent of cases. We identified 5 young patients who were presented to us with syncope or near-syncope. Diagnostic test, such as electrocardiogram, Holter monitoring and electrophysiological study identified only markers of hypervagotonia. We treated them with oral propantheline. By the time of follow up (20 months) none had recurrent episodes of syncope. Propantheline can be useful in patients with symptomatic vagotonia.

Superior oblique muscle paralysis in the CREST syndrome.

A 54 year old male with the CREST (Calcinosis, Raynauds, Esophageal hypomotility, Sclerodactyly, Telangiectasia) variant of progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) presented with vertical diplopia diagnosed as a left superior oblique muscle paralysis. Although cranial nerves abnormalities have been reported in PSS, to our knowledge this is the first report of the CREST syndrome in association with a IV nerve palsy in whom no other etiology could be found.