11/166. On the usefulness of brain PET scanning to the paediatric neuro-oncologist.Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning adds a functional dimension to brain scanning; levels of metabolic activity are imaged and this information may complement the more "anatomic" imaging of CT and MRI. In a series of 10 young patients the usefulness of PET scanning technique was investigated. The major areas of usefulness were the distinction of posttreatment sequelae from active tumour (both postsurgical MRI changes from tumour and postradiation MRI changes from tumour) and the localization of persisting tumour amenable to radiosurgical treatment. The technique was beneficial in assessing continuing activity in pineal tumours (residual pineal teratoma mass and residual pineocytoma mass) and in assessing activity in brainstem/cerebellar peduncle gliomas (three cases). In one unusual case of widespread leptomeningeal melanoma, the PET scan under-read the situation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = information (Clic here for more details about this article) |
12/166. stroke rehabilitation and the cardiac transplantation patient.A paucity of information exists concerning the mechanism and occurrence rate of stroke associated with cardiac transplantation. Furthermore, the rehabilitation of such patients has not been elaborated on. This report explores these issues and reviews the medical history and rehabilitation progress of four individuals who suffered a stroke before, or associated with, the transplantation process. Physiologic factors relevant to the rehabilitation of the post-heart transplantation stroke patient will also be discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = information (Clic here for more details about this article) |
13/166. Acquired mind-blindness following frontal lobe surgery? A single case study of impaired 'theory of mind' in a patient treated with stereotactic anterior capsulotomy.Social insight, specifically the ability to represent thoughts and feelings ('theory of mind'), may have a circumscribed and dedicated neurological substrate. Evidence of deficits in 'theory of mind' following acquired lesions would support this idea. Previous studies of lesions resulting from stroke or head injury have been hampered by lack of detailed lesion information and pre-lesion documentation. We report the case of a 76-year-old man who, following a standard surgical procedure to treat bipolar affective disorder, showed evidence of impaired 'theory of mind'. This case, which is the first of its type, may contribute to the search for the brain basis of social insight.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = information (Clic here for more details about this article) |
14/166. Spontaneous postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leaks following application of anti-adhesion barrier gel: case report and review of the literature.STUDY DESIGN: This report documents cerebrospinal fluid leakage after application of anti-adhesion barrier gel in a single-surgeon clinical series of 27 patients treated with ADCON-L (Gliatech, Cleveland, OH) during surgery. OBJECTIVE: To discuss a heretofore unreported postoperative complication when using an anti-adhesion barrier gel for lumbar spinal surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Anti-adhesion barrier gel has been touted as a beneficial adjunct to lumbar surgery. No previous report has been identified that documents the complication encountered in this series. methods: During the time that ADCON-L was used, in a 9-month period, all spinal surgeries were reviewed, and those cases where ADCON-L was used were documented. The reports of all surgeries then were reviewed for complications during surgery, and clinical follow-up information was obtained. RESULTS: Five of 27 cases receiving ADCON-L during surgery developed cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Three of these patients required reoperation. CONCLUSION: The excessive rate of cerebrospinal fluid leakage after the use of ADCON-L is significant, and the morbidity associated with its use outweighs the potential benefit of the product.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = information (Clic here for more details about this article) |
15/166. Histopathology of residual and recurrent conductive hearing loss after stapedectomy.HYPOTHESIS: Histopathologic examination of temporal bones from patients who had undergone stapedectomy may provide information concerning the causes of both residual and recurrent conductive hearing loss (CHL). BACKGROUND: Although closure of the air-bone gap to within 10 dB occurs in approximately 90% of primary stapedectomies, a residual CHL occurs in approximately 10% and recurrent CHL may occur in up to 35% of cases. Putative causes of failure of surgery as determined during revision include erosion of the incus, bony regrowth at the oval window, and displacement of the prosthesis. Most reports on the histopathologic findings of temporal bones from such patients have focused on complications of surgery, with little attempt to correlate postoperative air-bone gap with the observed histopathology. methods: A retrospective review of the author's collection of temporal bones ascertained 22 cases with postoperative CHL of 10 dB or greater (air-bone gap averaged at 500, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 Hz, using postoperative air- and bone-conduction levels) after stapedectomy. These temporal bones were prepared by standard methodology for light microscopy. RESULTS: Of the 22 cases with postoperative CHL equal to or greater than 10 dB, there were 19 with residual CHL, 2 with recurrent CHL, and 1 with both residual and recurrent CHL. The most common histopathologic correlates of residual and recurrent hearing loss included resorptive osteitis of the incus (64%); obliteration of the round window by otosclerosis (23%); the prosthesis lying on a residual footplate fragment (23%); the prosthesis abutting the bony margin of the oval window (18%); adhesions in the middle ear (14%); and new bone formation in the oval window (14%). CONCLUSIONS: Histopathologic examination of temporal bones from patients who in life had undergone stapedectomy provides useful information concerning causes of both residual and recurrent CHL. These data provide a basis for improving both surgical technique and prosthesis design.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = information (Clic here for more details about this article) |
16/166. Helical computed tomographic angiography in obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage.Helical computed tomographic angiography with differential color imaging technique clearly demonstrated pulmonary venous obstruction in an infant with total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage before and after operation. This technique is less invasive and provides precise spatial information of complicated vascular anomalies.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = information (Clic here for more details about this article) |
17/166. Cryptococcal meningitis in renal transplant patients associated with environmental exposure.Fungal infections in renal transplant recipients are less common than bacterial infections; however, the morbidity from fungal infections is high. There is limited information in the literature concerning post-transplantation cryptococcal infection due to environmental exposure of patients living in high-risk areas. We report three patients who were diagnosed with cryptococcal meningitis after kidney transplantation. Cryptococcal titers prior to transplant surgery were negative in all three patients. These patients all lived in rural areas and demonstrated evidence of environmental exposure leading to subsequent cryptococcal meningitis. All patients had exposure to pigeon and chicken excreta and, after treatment, two patients are alive and well with excellent allograft function. The third patient has marginal renal function but is currently not on dialysis. early diagnosis is essential for salvage from these potentially lethal infections. Intense headache was a prominent feature in the clinical presentation of our patients, and should signal the need for early sampling and culture of spinal fluid. Meningismus was not present in any of our patients, even when other systemic symptoms were identified. We recommend a high index of suspicion post-transplantation for all patients who may have environmental or occupational exposure to cryptococcus. If infection is detected quickly and treatment instituted promptly, patient recovery and allograft survival are possible. Long-term therapy with fluconazole, a non-nephrotoxic agent, should permit eradication of the infection with preservation of kidney function.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = information (Clic here for more details about this article) |
18/166. Tonicity balance, and not electrolyte-free water calculations, more accurately guides therapy for acute changes in natremia.The usual way to decide why hyponatremia or hypernatremia has developed and to plan goals for its therapy is to analyze events in electrolyte-free water (EFW) terms. We shall demonstrate that an EFW balance does not supply this information. Rather, one must calculate mass balances for water and sodium plus potassium separately (a tonicity balance) to understand the basis for the change in natremia and the proper goals for its therapy. These points are illustrated with a clinical example.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = information (Clic here for more details about this article) |
19/166. Relapsing bacteremia in patients with ventricular assist device: an emergent complication of extended circulatory support.BACKGROUND: Ventricular assist devices (VAD) are currently approved for use as a bridge for transplantation. Although reports have suggested acceptable rates of survival of patients with VAD, there is little information regarding the mechanism and etiology of bacteremia in these patients. methods: We prospectively followed patients who underwent VAD implantation and developed bacteremia during VAD support at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Relapsing bacteremia was defined as at least two episodes of positive blood cultures with a genetically related organism on 2 different days. Species identification and susceptibility testing were performed on all isolates. pulse field gel electrophoresis was performed on selected blood and VAD isolates. RESULTS: Between January 1998 and August 1999, 3 patients with VAD developed relapsing bacteremia, which was treated with full courses of antibiotic agents, 2 of whom also developed VAD endocarditis. All 3 patients had documented driveline or device pocket infections with these isolates. Consecutive blood and VAD isolates were found to be genetically related within each patient. CONCLUSIONS: These patients with bacteremia after VAD implantation had relapse due to the same strain, which may have originated from indolent driveline infection. Endovascular infection in this setting is difficult to eradicate with antibiotic agents and carries a high mortality. These patients should be considered to have priority for orthotopic heart transplantation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = information (Clic here for more details about this article) |
20/166. Efficacy of lamivudine for the treatment of hepatitis b virus infection after liver transplantation in children.BACKGROUND: There is at present very little information about hepatitis b virus (HBV) infection in children after liver transplantation. This is the first study to assess the safety and efficacy of lamivudine in this patient population. methods: We describe three children aged 5-14 years who underwent liver transplantation for fulminant hepatitis a, hyperoxaluria, and cystic fibrosis. Despite adequate immunoprophylaxis, two of the children who were serum hepatitis B surface antigen-positive before transplantation (HBV dna-negative by hybridization) had a reactivation of the disease, and one had a de novo HBV infection, at 12-18 months after transplantation. lamivudine 3 mg/kg was administered on a compassionate-use basis for 14-36 months. RESULTS: After 1 month of therapy, HBV dna disappeared from the serum in all patients by hybridization and in two patients by polymerase chain reaction. In all three children, alanine transaminase levels normalized. One child developed lamivudine resistance after 22 months with no evidence of hepatic decompensation. Repeated liver histological studies revealed progression of hepatic fibrosis in one child. All children remained serum hepatitis B surface antigen- and hepatitis B e antigen-positive. No adverse effects of the drug were noted. CONCLUSION: lamivudine is beneficial and well tolerated in children with HBV infection after liver transplantation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = information (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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