1/46. Successful plasmapheresis in the not-so-benign Bickerstaff's brain stem encephalitis associated with anti-GQ1b antibody.A patient with Bickerstaff's brain stem encephalitis (BBE) associated with anti-GQ1b antibody developed coma, severe weakness, and respiratory distress. The patient required ventilatory support. After having failed to improve on steroids, she was treated with plasmapheresis. She improved concomitantly with the plasmapheresis treatment and made a complete recovery. BBE associated with anti-GQ1b antibody is generally considered to be benign, and specific treatments have not been established. The results with this patient suggest that the condition is not always benign, and plasmapheresis may be beneficial in this disorder.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coma (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/46. Occipitocervicothoracic fixation for spinal instability in patients with neoplastic processes.OBJECT: Occipitocervicothoracic (OCT) fixation and fusion is an infrequently performed procedure to treat patients with severe spinal instability. Only three cases have been reported in the literature. The authors have retrospectively reviewed their experience with performing OCT fixation in patients with neoplastic processes, paying particular attention to method, pain relief, and neurological status. methods: From July 1994 through July 1998, 13 of 552 patients who underwent a total of 722 spinal operations at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have required OCT fixation for spinal instability caused by neoplastic processes (12 of 13 patients) or rheumatoid arthritis (one of 13 patients). Fixation was achieved by attaching two intraoperatively contoured titanium rods to the occiput via burr holes and Luque wires or cables; to the cervical spinous processes with wisconsin wires; and to the thoracic spine with a combination of transverse process and pedicle hooks. Crosslinks were used to attain additional stability. In all patients but one arthrodesis was performed using allograft. At a follow-up duration of 1 to 45 months (mean 14 months), six of the 12 patients with neoplasms remained alive, whereas the other six patients had died of malignant primary disease. There were no deaths related to the surgical procedure. Postoperatively, one patient experienced respiratory insufficiency, and two patients required revision of rotational or free myocutaneous flaps. All patients who presented with spine-based pain experienced a reduction in pain, as measured by a visual analog scale for pain. All patients who were neurologically intact preoperatively remained so; seven of seven patients with neurological impairment improved; and six of seven patients improved one Frankel grade. There were no occurrences of instrumentation failure or hardware-related complications. In one patient a revision of the instrumentation was required 13.5 months following the initial surgery for progression of malignant fibrous histiosarcoma. CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients, OCT fixation is an effective means of attaining stabilization that can provide pain relief and neurological preservation or improvement.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coma (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/46. Subacute onset of oculogyric crises and generalized dystonia following intranasal administration of heroin.A case is reported of a patient who experienced sudden onset of severe respiratory failure, shock and coma after first-time intranasal heroin abuse. During the following days full consciousness was restored, revealing persistent oculogyric crises, axial retropulsive dystonia and ataxia. Initially computer tomography (CT) scans of the brain were normal and cerebral spinal fluid examination showed a slight elevation of lactate. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain demonstrated diffuse bilateral subcortical white matter hyperintensities, with sparing of the U-fibers, symmetric bilateral hyperintensities of the globus pallidum and very hyperintensive subcortical foci in the right hemisphere. Differential diagnostic assessment, treatment, clinical and MRI course of a 6-month follow-up are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coma (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/46. Treatment of primary pure angiosarcoma of ovary with multiple lung metastases: a case report.Angiosarcomas rarely involve the female genital tract. There have only been sporadic case reports of angiosarcomas of the cervix, uterus, vagina, parametrium, broad ligament and pelvis, and only 11 well-documented case reports of primary ovarian angiosarcoma in the English language literature to date. We present a case of primary pure ovarian angiosarcoma with lung metastasis that had partial response after chemotherapy with adriamycin and ifosfamide. But pulmonary hemorrhage and respiratory failure resulted in her death 7 months after initial diagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 8keywords = coma (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/46. Paraneoplastic pemphigus caused by an epithelioid leiomyosarcoma and associated with fatal respiratory failure.A patient is described who initially presented with pemphigus vulgaris, limited to the oral cavity, and weight loss. Although the various laboratory studies pointed to the diagnosis of paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP), the underlying neoplasm was not detected until 6 months later, when the patient developed shortness of breath and routine physical examination on admission revealed an abdominal mass, which eventually was proven to be an epithelioid leiomyosarcoma. In spite of radical excision of the tumour and intensive treatment of the dyspnoea, the patient died of respiratory failure 19 months after the PNP had been diagnosed. early diagnosis of PNP is stressed to possibly prevent fatal pulmonary involvement.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = coma (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/46. Respiratory failure after liver transplantation.A rapidly growing haemangioendothelial sarcoma of the liver in a twenty-two year old woman was treated by liver transplantation. disseminated intravascular coagulation resulted in massive blood loss during surgery, and contributed to the death of the patient from respiratory failure on the fourth post-operative day, despite continuous post-operative intermittent positive-pressure ventilation. Other factors leading to her respiratory failure are discussed. There was no evidence of dysfunction in the transplanted liver.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coma (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/46. ammonia detoxification by continuous venovenous haemofiltration in an infant with urea cycle defect.We report the case of a newborn baby with carbamoyl phosphate synthetase deficiency. He presented at 2 weeks of life, deteriorating to a state of hyperammonaemic coma and respiratory failure. Rapid detoxification was successfully achieved by continuous venovenous haemofiltration while a definitive diagnosis and treatment were determined. The ammonia clearance achieved by continuous venovenous haemofiltration was greater than 20 mL/min/m(2), which is superior to that achieved by peritoneal dialysis and arteriovenous haemofiltration in this age-group.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coma (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/46. Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the lung presenting as bronchial obstruction in a heart transplant recipient.We present a case of acute respiratory failure secondary to bronchial obstruction caused by a rare form of sarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, in a heart transplant recipient with a history of wheezing for several months. Despite attempts at palliative endoscopic argon coagulation, the patient expired soon after presentation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coma (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/46. Extrapyramidal syndrome as a delayed and reversible complication of acute dichlorvos organophosphate poisoning.We describe 4 cases of delayed extrapyramidal disorder following acute dichlorvos poisonings. All patients were seriously poisoned since all exhibited profound coma and respiratory failure, and they were all tracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated. On admission, plasma cholinesterase activity was greaty decreased, < 10 micromol/ml/h at 37 C in all patients (< 10% of normal for our laboratory). Extrapyramidal symptoms occurred between 5 and 15 d and were characterized by dystonia of arms and legs, resting tremor, cogwheel rigidity, and hypereflexia. With bromocriptine therapy the features of extrapyramidal syndrome disappeared progressively with complete recovery in all patients. Our observations suggest a delayed extrapyramidal syndrome should be taken into account during the course of acute dichlorvos organophosphate poisonings.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coma (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/46. Multiple complications and withdrawal syndrome associated with quetiapine/venlafaxine intoxication.OBJECTIVE: To report a case of quetiapine/venlafaxine intoxication associated with multiple complications and to review their possible relationship with these 2 drugs. CASE SUMMARY: A 53-year-old white man was admitted to the hospital for loss of consciousness secondary to voluntary intoxication with venlafaxine and quetiapine. Several complications were attributable to this intoxication including seizures, prolonged coma, respiratory depression, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, prolonged QRS and QTc intervals, and a possible venlafaxine withdrawal syndrome. DISCUSSION: Quetiapine could be responsible for the neuroleptic malignant syndrome presented in this case. Moreover, venlafaxine intoxication, fever, autonomic instability, and myoclonus presented serotonin syndrome as a differential diagnosis. Potential causes of seizures and prolongation of the QRS and QTc intervals are reviewed. Finally, prolonged coma and late venlafaxine withdrawal are discussed with regard to the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of drug elimination in the context of intoxication. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should be aware of possible complications following intoxication with atypical antipsychotics and anti-depressants, including protracted altered mental status.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = coma (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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