Massive Intracranial Hemorrhage Research Articles

Rapid Ventricular Pacing for Clipping of Intracranial Aneurysms: A Single-centre Retrospective Case Series.

Multiple strategies exist to facilitate microdissection and obliteration of intracranial aneurysms during microsurgical clipping. Rapid ventricular pacing (RVP) can be used to induce controlled transient hypotension to facilitate aneurysm manipulation. We report the indications and outcomes of intraoperative RVP for clipping of ruptured and unruptured complex aneurysms. We completed a retrospective review of adult patients who underwent RVP-facilitated elective and emergent microsurgical aneurysm clipping by a single senior neurosurgeon between 2016 and 2023. Intraoperative RVP was performed at a rate of 150 to 200 beats per minute through a transvenous pacing wire and repeated as needed based on surgical requirements. Intraoperative procedural and pacing data and perioperative cardiac and neurosurgical variables were collected. Forty patients were included in this study. The median (interquartile range) number of pacing episodes per patient was 8 (5 to 14), resulting in a median mean arterial pressure of 37 (30 to 40) mm Hg during RVP. One patient developed wide complex tachycardia intraoperatively, which resolved after cardioversion. Fifteen out of 36 (42%) patients who had postoperative troponin measurements had at least one troponin value above the 99th percentile upper reference limit. One patient had markedly elevated troponin with anterolateral ischemia in the context of massive postoperative intracranial hemorrhage. There were no other documented intraoperative or postoperative cardiac events. This retrospective case series suggests that RVP could be an effective adjunct for clipping of complex ruptured and unruptured aneurysms, associated with transient troponin rise but rare postoperative cardiac complications.

Successful treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia with initial hyperleukocytosis, differentiated syndrome and massive intracranial hemorrhage in a child

Introduction. The development of hemorrhagic syndrome at the onset of the disease in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is one of the main causes of therapy failures and the most common cause of death in the early stages of remission induction. The risk of severe hemorrhagic complications increases in patients with the microgranular APL variant, often accompanied with hyperleukocytosis.Aim — to present a clinical case of successful diagnosis and treatment of primary APL with initial hyperleukocytosis in a patient with massive intracranial hemorrhage and differentiated syndrome.Main findings. A clinical observation of the diagnosis and treatment of APL in a 13-year-old patient with initial hyperleukocytosis, massive intracranial hemorrhage and differentiation syndrome is presented. Data on the variable manifestations of hemorrhagic syndrome in patients with APL and its effect on survival outcomes are also given. Diagnostic criteria and approaches in the treatment of differentiation syndrome are presented on the example of a clinical observation, when early clinical diagnosis and timely initiation of special antitumor treatment in the intensive care unit made it possible to achieve clinical, hematological and molecular remission, avoiding the fatal consequences of massive intracranial hemorrhage.

Fatal tumoral hemorrhage from brain metastases of renal cell carcinoma after stereotactic radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor and vascular endothelial growth factor‐targeted therapy combinations

IntroductionBrain metastasis in renal cell carcinoma, which is reported in 10% of cases, leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Establishment of appropriate and safe treatment for brain metastasis renal cell carcinoma remains a pressing need.Case presentationA 56‐year‐old female patient, presenting with anorexia, headache, and occipital swelling, was subsequently diagnosed with clear cell renal cell carcinoma with multiple metastases, including intracranial and epicranial tumors. The patient initially underwent stereotactic radiotherapy for metastatic brain tumors and then received combination therapy with pembrolizumab and lenvatinib. However, after 30 days of treatment, the patient experienced a sudden loss of consciousness due to massive multifocal intracranial hemorrhage, leading to her death the following day.ConclusionAlthough fatal tumoral hemorrhage during combined stereotactic radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor/VEGF‐targeted therapy for patients with brain metastasis renal cell carcinoma is an extremely rare complication, it should always be considered a possibility.

Use of the neuroform atlas for stenting of intracranial atherosclerotic disease: Clinical and angiographic outcomes.

Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is a potential cause of ischemic stroke. Treatment of ICAD can include intracranial stenting. There are specifically designed stents for this use-case; however, less is known about the off-label use of the Neuroform Atlas stent. In this study, we describe the outcomes of the Neuroform Atlas stent for treatment of ICAD. Adult patients with symptomatic ICAD failing best medical treatment undergoing elective intracranial stenting using the Neuroform Atlas stent between November 2018 and March 2021 were included. Patient demographics, procedure-related details and clinical and imaging outcomes were analyzed. Eighteen patients met the inclusion criteria, with a mean follow-up duration of 9.6 ± 6.8 (standard deviation) months. There were two procedure-related mortalities (one massive intracranial hemorrhage and one groin site complication with sepsis). Fifteen patients were alive at the 6-month follow-up, all with satisfactory stent patency on follow-up imaging without any new ischemic events. Modified Rankin Scale at latest follow-up was 1.9 (interquartile range 5). In this single-center consecutive series, intracranial stenting with the Neuroform Atlas stent was a safe and effective treatment for symptomatic ICAD patients failing best medical management.

THERAPEUTIC HYPOTHERMIA OF NEWBORNS: RECOMMENDATIONS OF UNIVERSITÄTSKLINIKUM CARL-GUSTAV-CARUS (DRESDEN, GERMANY)

Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is a modern standard of care for newborns with gestational age ≥36 weeks who have moderate to severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. The introduction of TH is based on evidence-based medicine, and multiple randomized controlled trials confirm its efficiency in significantly reducing the risk of death or severe infant disability. Recent practice emphasizes the vital importance of clearly defined protocols for TH and its use in neonatal care settings with facilities for multidisciplinary care and adequate resources for comprehensive monitoring and treatment.The article reports on the local protocol of TH in the neonatal intensive care unit of the University Hospital at Carl-Gustav-Carus at the Technical University Dresden (Dresden, Germany). TH is administered to newborns with moderate or severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy who were born at a gestational age of ≥ 36+0 weeks, are less than 6 hours old and have no signs of massive intracranial hemorrhage. Exclusion criteria are threat to life, congenital malformations, severe intracranial hemorrhage and poor prognosis. Whole-body cooling to an internal body temperature of 33.5°C is preferred. The cooling period is 72 hours, with warming at a rate of 0.2°C per hour, followed by normothermia over the next 48 hours.Comprehensive assessment of the infant's status includes the Thompson score, amplitude and standard electroencephalography, magnetic resonance imaging, control of blood coagulation, acid-base status and blood gases, etc. Follow-up therapy is aimed at providing adequate ventilatory support to prevent hypocapnia, sufficient fluid supply, effective analgesia and anticonvulsant therapy, etc. Emphasis is placed on the need for further cathemnestic monitoring of infants who underwent TH.

Autopsy Pathology of Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease: Case Reports

An Autopsy is performed on a dead body primarily to determine the cause of death. Two autopsies of death from hypertensive cardiovascular disease were performed at Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Nigeria. The first autopsy was on a 51 year old man diagnosed about 12 years before his death with hypertension. Autopsy report after his death revealed pan-valvular dilatation, benign nephrosclerosis, chronic pyelonephritis, hepatomegaly with chronic passive congestion of the liver, splenomegaly, pleural effusion, pulmonary edema, ascites and moderate cerebral edema. The cause of death was ruled as congestive cardiac failure and hypertensive cardiovascular disease. The second autopsy was on a 60 year old woman who died after a 5 day history of headache and a day history of loss of consciousness. Autopsy report after her death revealed massive intracerebral and intraventricular haemorrhage, pontine haemorrhage, laryngotracheobronchitis, pulmonary edema, and congested liver and spleen. The cause of death was ruled as hypertensive cardiovascular disease with massive intracranial haemorrhage. A thorough autopsy of deaths from hypertensive cardiovascular disease to reveal other associated pathologies was recommended. Keywords: Autopsy, Hypertensive cardiovascular disease, Intracranial haemorrhage, Congestive cardiac failure, Hypertension

Endovascular Treatment of Tandem Atherosclerotic Cervical Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion in the Setting of Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Among tandem occlusions, atherosclerotic cervical internal carotid artery occlusion (ACICAO) can be technically challenging and associated with its unique complications. We evaluated our experience with endovascular treatment (EVT) of ACICAO in the setting of acute ischemic stroke. In total, 154 consecutive patients who underwent EVT for acute anterior circulation stroke at our institute were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with tandem ACICAO were analyzed in this study. Procedures, recanalization rates, complications, and prognoses were evaluated. Ten patients (6%) of all 154 patients had ACICAO. In nine (90%) of the 10 patients, cervical lesions were successfully crossed and intervened upon. Four patients underwent stenting and five underwent angioplasty alone, followed by intracranial procedure. Eight patients (80%) achieved successful recanalization following mechanical thrombectomy for intracranial occlusion. However, one patient had massive subarachnoid hemorrhage during the procedure and another patient developed massive intracranial hemorrhage after EVT, both after stenting. Four of the five patients who initially underwent angioplasty alone subsequently underwent staged endarterectomy or stenting for residual stenosis on or after the next day. The single patient in whom the cervical lesion could not be crossed and another with reocclusion after EVT underwent a rescue bypass procedure due to persistent ischemic symptoms. After 90days, four patients (40%) were functionally independent (modified Rankin scale score 0-2). Our experience suggests that EVT for ACICAO is technically feasible; however, it involves the potential risk of several significant complications. To avoid serious hemorrhagic complications, cervical lesions may be better treated with angioplasty alone first.

P200 Lodderomyces elongisporus fungemia in a late post-operative patient with ventricular septal defect: case report

Poster session 2, September 22, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PMObjectivesTo report a case of Lodderomyces elongisporus fungemia in a late post-operative patient with the ventricular septal defect.MethodsInformed consent was obtained from the parents of the child. Clinical history was collected. Routine biochemical tests were conducted. Blood samples were sent to the bacteriology and mycology laboratory for culture. Radiological examination of the head was done to ascertain the cause of neurological manifestations.ResultsAn 11-year-old boy, previously diagnosed as a case of ventricular septal defect (VSD) and severe aortic regurgitation, had undergone VSD closure in December 2010 and aortic valve replacement in January 2011. He was discharged on oral anticoagulants. However, he did not follow up.In August 2018, he presented with fever and right-sided hemiparesis. Hemogram was within normal limits except for decreased hemoglobin. Bacteriological blood culture was sterile, but I.V. antibiotics were administered empirically. However, the patient started to have epileptic attacks and therefore was intubated and antiepileptics were administered. An NCCT of the head revealed a large intraparenchymal bleed. Echocardiography revealed intra-cardiac vegetation measuring 8 × 7 mm and moderate aortic regurgitation.Fungal blood culture inoculated in BACTEC Mycosis IC/F bottle flagged positive after 5 days of incubation. A smear and Gram stain from the same revealed budding yeast cells. Sub-culture was done on Sabouraud dextrose agar and HiCromeTM Candida Differential Agar, and blue-tinged colonies were observed on the latter. The isolate was identified as L. elongisporus when subjected to MALDI-TOF analysis. Identification was confirmed by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA.Antifungal susceptibility test was performed by broth microdilution as per CLSI guidelines. Antifungal therapy was initiated with liposomal amphotericin B, but he continued to have fever even after 1 week and consequently developed status epilepticus. CT scan of the brain revealed massive intracranial hemorrhage. Parents were advised neurosurgery, but they requested discharge against medical advice. The patient was lost to follow-up.Conclusions Lodderomyces elongisporus is a rare cause of invasive bloodstream infections and should not be ignored as a contaminant when isolated from sterile sites. It is often misidentified as Candida parapsilosis by conventional methods and commercially available systems but can be distinguished from it using chromogenic culture media and MALDI-TOF-MS. The current case report highlights the significance of L. elongisporus as a rare cause of invasive fungal infections, the difficulties faced in the identification of this pathogen, and the importance of newer diagnostic methods in identifying it.

Spontaneous skull fracture in a term infant

Instrumental delivery is the most common cause of skull fracture in neonates. We report a depressed fracture with massive intracranial hemorrhage in a term female infant born by unassisted cesarean section after unremarkable pregnancy.

Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke in Children: Experience From the MR CLEAN Registry.

Multiple trials have shown the efficacy and safety of endovascular therapy (EVT) of acute ischemic stroke in adults. Trials in children are lacking and only case reports and case series exist. However, the long-term outcome of children with acute ischemic stroke can be devastating with significant mortality and morbidity. In this study, we describe the safety and efficacy of EVT in children with anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke who were included in the MR CLEAN Registry (Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Netherlands). Patients under the age of 18 years who were treated with EVT for acute ischemic stroke between March 2014 and July 2017 were retrospectively reviewed up to 6 months after EVT. Nine children, aged 13 months to 16 years (median 14 years, interquartile range, 3-15 years), underwent EVT. Stroke cause was thromboembolism in children with end-stage heart failure on left ventricular assist device (4 of these 9 cases). Median time from onset to imaging was 133 minutes. Four children received intravenous alteplase before EVT, with median onset to needle time of 165 minutes. In all but one patient, EVT was technically successful. No major periprocedural complications occurred. At 24 hours after EVT, 3 children completely recovered and 4 children showed partial recovery (median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, 3.5), whereas 2 patients on left ventricular assist device died within the first week due to the occurrence of multiple strokes. One patient on left ventricular assist device developed a fatal massive intracranial hemorrhage and another child died due to left ventricular assist device-related complications. Among the 5 stroke survivors, all had a favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score, 0-2) at 6 months follow-up. EVT of children with acute ischemic stroke seems safe and feasible. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution as more and larger studies are needed to clarify the trade-off between risks and benefits of this treatment.

Massive intracranial hemorrhage caused by intraventricular meningioma: case report

BackgroundMeningiomas are the most common benign intracranial tumors, and commonly comprise high-vascularizing but slow-growing tumors. On the other hand, meningiomas arising from the ventricular system are of rare occurrence, and spontaneous hemorrhage is an infrequent event.Case presentationWe describe here the rare clinical manifestations of a 28-year-old female with acute intracranial hemorrhage located in the trigone of the lateral ventricle who was initially thought to have suffered an acute cerebrovascular accident, but was subsequently confirmed to have a benign intraventricular meningioma. To clarify the clinical features of such a rare course of meningioma, we also present a short literature review of acute intracranial hemorrhage caused by intraventricular meningioma.ConclusionsVentricular meningioma presenting with hemorrhage such as acute stroke is a rare event, but recognition of such a pathogenesis is important. Although further accumulation of clinical data is needed, we suggest that early surgery should be undertaken in patients with lateral ventricular meningioma, even if it is not so large or asymptomatic.

Surgical management of anomalous origin of coronary artery from pulmonary artery.

BackgroundAnomalous origin of coronary artery from pulmonary artery (AOCAPA), as is evident from the name, is defined as abnormal origin of either coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. The consequences vary in most cases and these anomalies lead to severe coronary hypo-perfusion and ventricular dysfunction. The common variants of this cardiac malformation are an anomalous origin of a left coronary artery from a pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) and anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from a pulmonary artery (ARCAPA). Another rare variant is left main coronary artery atresia that resembles ALCAPA in its mode of presentation. This article presents a single surgeon experience of managing this complex subset of the coronary anomaly from April 2006 to July 2019.Material and methodsThe 105 patients, who underwent surgery for AOCAPA from April 2006 to July 2019, have been included in the study. The patients have been analysed by follow-up echocardiography and electrocardiography (ECG) at our hospital by paediatric cardiologists. Out of 105 patients of AOCAPA, 98 (93.3%) patients underwent ALCAPA repair, of which 59 (60.2%) were males and 39 (39.7%) were females. Four out of five patients, who had an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the right pulmonary artery (ALCARPA), had an intramural aortic course. Three patients (3%) had left main coronary artery atresia and four patients (4%) had ARCAPA. It may be mentioned that seven infants (7.14%) and one adult patient (1%) underwent concomitant mitral valve repair. All the patients with ALCAPA, left main coronary artery atresia and ARCAPA, and 1 of the patients with ALCARPA, underwent coronary relocation. In four out of five patients with ALCARPA, unroofing of intra-aortic intramural course was performed.ResultsOut of 105 patients of AOCAPA, 9 (8.5%) patients had in-hospital mortality. Five infants (5.0%) with ALCAPA and one patient (1%) with ALCARPA died in the post-operative period due to severe left ventricular dysfunction, mitral regurgitation (MR) and sepsis. One adult patient (1%) with ALCAPA, who underwent coronary relocation using in situ trap door technique and mitral valve (MV) repair, died due to massive intracranial bleeding. Two patients out of three (66.6%) with left main coronary atresia died in intensive care unit (ICU) after 3rd and 4th postoperative day, due to low cardiac output, severe ventricular dysfunction and severe MR. Patients were followed up for a median 5.9 years. Seven patients were lost to follow-up, including the sole survivor of left main coronary atresia, after a median follow-up of 4 years after surgery. Three patients underwent mitral valve replacement for progressive residual MR. There has been no late mortality.ConclusionAOCAPA is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly, which usually presents in infancy with left ventricular dysfunction and mitral valve regurgitation. Early diagnosis and surgical re-establishment of the dual coronary system has given gratifying results, with improvement in left ventricular function in survivors. Mitral valve intervention for MR was required, in both early and late phases.

Do we really need patch and shunt for carotid endarterectomy?

Aim: The efficacy of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for stroke prevention in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients is well known. We aimed to share long term follow up results for primary closure technique for CEA without shunting and investigated risk factors for complications in this patient group. Material and Methods: Between September 2013-2019, 122 patients with isolated CEA with primary closure were enrolled in this retrospective study. Dopppler ultrasound (DUSG) scanning was used as the primary imaging tool for the determination of residual and recurrent stenosis. During the follow-up period duplex ultrasonography was performed in the second month, sixth month and annually thereafter. Ipsilateral cerebrovascular events and mortalities were recorded during follow up period. Results: The mean age was 69,1 ± 7,1 (48-90) years. The median follow-up time was 47 (5 to 78) months. Hospital mortality was reported in 1 patient (0,8%). Early postoperative cerebrovascular accident were seen as ipsilateral disabling stroke in 1 patient (0,8%), ipsilateral non-disabling stroke in 1 patient (0,8%), reversible ischemic neurological deficit (RIND) in 1 patient (0,8%) and massive intracranial bleeding in 1 patient (0,8%). Late mortality was reported in 4 (3,3%) patients. 2 (1,6%) were cardiac reasons and 2 (1,6%) were non cardiac reasons. During the follow-up period ipsilateral cerebrovascular accident (CVA) were seen in 3 patients (2,5%) and these were; ipsilateral disabling stroke in 1 patient (0,8%), ipsilateral non-disabling stroke in 1 patient (0,8%), RIND in 1 patient (0,8%).According to the latest duplex scanning during follow up period 4 (3,3%) patients had below 50% restenosis, 2 (1,7%) patients had above 70% restenosis and 1 (0,8%) patient had total occlusion. Conclusion: Primary closure technique for CEA can be used in selected patients with acceptable early and late complication rates, low mortality and low restenosis rate.

Incidence, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Veno-Occlusive Disease / Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome (VOD/SOS) in Children with Severe Thalassemia (ST) Conditioned with Busulfan- Cyclophosphamide (Bu-Cy) Based Regimen

Introduction Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome / Veno-occlusive disease (VOD/SOS) is one of the major complication which increases morbidity and mortality following allogeneic stem cell transplant. Busulfan-cyclophosphamide (Bu-Cy) based conditioning regimen, use of busulfan and patients with thalassaemia are considered to be among the important risk factors for development of VOD/SOS (Barker et al. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2003) 32, 79-87, Dix et al Bone Marrow Transplantation 1996 Feb;17(2):225-30). We routinely use oral busulfan in our low and intermediate risk thalassemia transplant conditioning regimen. We summarize the incidence, risk factors, severity and outcomes of VOD/SOS in our patient population. Methods We studied the incidence of VOD/SOS defined by EBMT criteria (Corbacioglu et al. Bone marrow transplantation 2018 Feb;53(2):138-145) in 121 consecutive patients with ST (thalassemia syndrome with the inability to spontaneously maintain hemoglobin levels ≥ 7 g/dl) on a single uniform protocol across three collaborating centers from India - People Tree hospitals, Bangalore (PTH), Care Institute of Medical sciences, Ahmedabad (CIMS), South- East Asia Institute of Thalassaemia (SEAIT). Our conditioning regimen comprised of Fludarabine (150 mg/m2, days -17 to -13), anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) (Genzyme 4 mg/kg, days -12 to -10, dose was increased to 7 mg/kg in case of splenomegaly and or sex mismatched transplants), busulfan (14 mg/kg oral, not adjusted to serum levels over days -9 to -6) and cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg, days -5 to -2). G-CSF-primed bone marrow (5 μg/kg/dose twice daily for 5 days prior to harvest) was the source of hematopoietic stem cells in all cases. The majority of patients (111) were low - intermediate risk based on liver size < 2 cm from costal margin and age less than 15 years (median 6.9 years, range 1.1 to 14.5) while 10 patients might have been high-risk based on Pesaro classification due to liver >3 cm by palpation at transplant. In fact, liver biopsies were not performed. All matched related donors were HLA-compatible by high resolution typing. None of the patients received routine defibrotide prophylaxis and all patients have at least one year follow up. Results Out of the 121 patients studied, 18 developed VOD/SOS (14.9%). One patient developed massive intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) on day 9 and subsequently died on day 11, had some features of VOD/SOS which may have contributed to the ICH. Another patient needed admission in intensive care with respiratory distress was treated with defibrotide for 5 days and recovered. In all others VOD/SOS resolved spontaneously with supportive care only. There was a trend towards decreased overall (94% vs 97%) and disease-free survival (83% vs 89%) in the VOD/SOS group, both did not reach statistical significance (Fig 1 and 2). None of the previously known risk factors studied such as age at BMT (p =0.16), Ferritin level at BMT (p = 0.2), hepatitis C status (p = 0.28) and raised pre-transplant ALT levels (> 3 times normal upper limit) (p = 0.7) showed significant variation between VOD/SOS group and unaffected group. Factors which showed significant difference were Major ABO mismatch (p = 0.041), presence of splenomegaly at BMT (p = 0.0015) and duration of Hydroxyurea (HU) treatment pre-transplant for more than 12 months (p = 0.04). Longer duration of HU may be related to the prolonged down-staging process for poorly managed ST patient pre-transplant. As expected, the VOD/SOS group required increased blood product support (Table 1). Conclusion Our results suggest that even though about 15% of low/intermediate risk thalassaemia transplants using Bu-Cy may develop VOD/SOS, in the great majority of cases this complication is mild and resolves spontaneously with supportive care alone. Many of the known risk factors did not seem to be relevant in our patient population. The possible role of splenomegaly at BMT and major ABO mismatch as risk factors for VOD/SOS may warrant further studies. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Emergency or urgent splenectomy in children for non-traumatic reasons.

Emergency splenectomy is rarely performed since a widespread consensus exists towards conservative management of splenic injury. However, in selected conditions, mainly hematological, there is a role for emergency or urgent splenectomy. This study aims to retrospectively review these cases and discuss outcome in relation to the pre-existing splenic pathologies. Between 2000 and 2015, 12 patients, five girls, and seven boys, with a median age of sixyears (3months-13.11years), underwent emergency or urgent splenectomy for non-traumatic conditions. All patients had major associated disorders; mainly hematological (11 cases) including hemolytic anemia with pancytopenia (1), sickle cell anemia (1), AML (1), ALL (2), CML (1), T cell lymphoma (1), Burkitt lymphoma (1), and ITP (3). One patient had a microvillous inclusion disease. Indications for splenectomy included diffuse resistant splenic abscesses (4), intracranial hemorrhage (4) or hypersplenism (3) with refractory thrombocytopenia, and spontaneous splenic rapture (1). Nine patients improved following surgery but three died, owing to massive intracranial hemorrhage (1) and severe respiratory failure (2) despite aggressive management.Conclusions: Rarely, an emergency splenectomy is required in complex settings, mostly refractory hematological conditions, in a deteriorating patient when all other measurements have failed. A multidisciplinary team approach is mandatory in the treatment of these complex cases. What is known • Conservative treatment is advised for splenic injury. • Many hematological disorders are responsible of splenic pathology. What is new • Emergency splenectomy in children for reasons other than trauma is a treatment of last resort that should be performed in a multidisciplinary context. • The outcome of emergency splenectomy in children for reasons other than trauma depends on the underlying medical condition.

Co-existence of arterio-venous malformation and saccular bifurcation aneurysm of a 48years old patient, presented with massive intracranial hemorrhage: case report

Co-existence of arterio-venous malformation and saccular bifurcation aneurysm of a 48years old patient, presented with massive intracranial hemorrhage: case report

Clinical and echocardiographic evaluation of patients undergoing total leaflets preservation during mitral valve replacement; Does it make a difference?

Background: The effect of anterior and posterior leaflet preservation on left ventricular function after mitral valve replacement is still the subject of ongoing research. The objective of this study is to analyze the early outcomes of total leaflets preservation compared to posterior and non-leaflet preservation during mitral valve surgery on cardiac function and dimensions measured by echocardiography and on the clinical outcomes.Methods: This prospective cohort study recruited 155 patients who had mitral valve replacement (MVR) from April 2016 to March 2018 at Assiut University Hospital. Patients were divided into three groups according to the technique of leaflets preservation; Group I (no leaflet preservation-N-MVR), Group II (total leaflet preservation- T-MVR) and Group III (posterior leaflet preservation-P-MVR). Patients who underwent redo mitral valve replacement (MVR) or those with endocarditis and had combined coronary artery bypass grafting with the MVR were excluded from the study.Results: There were nine early deaths (6%); eight patients were in Group I (N-MVR). Causes of mortality were massive intracranial hemorrhage (n= 2) and left ventricular failure (n=6). One patient died in Group III (P-MVR) from intracranial hemorrhage (1.3%). Hospital stay was significantly longer in N-MVR group compared to T-MVR and P-MVR (10.6±2.13 days in N-MVR group; p= 0.03 and 0.011 respectively). Postoperative low cardiac output occurred in all patients in N-MVR group. Left ventricular function (ejection fraction= 61.28±6.02%) and dimensions (end-diastolic diameter= 5.18±0.69 mm, end-systolic diameter= 3.58±0.78 mm) improved significantly in total leaflets preservation group.Conclusion: Leaflet preservation during mitral valve replacement was associated with improved clinical and echocardiographic outcomes. Non-leaflets preservation increased the risk of postoperative complications and length of hospital stay. Leaflet preservation is recommended as the standard approach during mitral valve replacement.

Neonatal Intracranial Hemorrhage with a Dramatic Outcome Due to Maternal Anti CD36 Antibodies

Fetal/neonatal allo-immune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) results from maternal immunization against fetal platelet-specific antigens (HPA) inherited from the father. Most cases involve HPA located on glycoproteins (GP) IbIX, IaIIa and IIbIIIa. Iso-immunizations can also occur in the absence of expression of membrane proteins, such as GPIIb or GPIIIa in Glanzmann patients. CD36 (also called glycoprotein GPIV) deficiency is observed in 3 to 5% of Asian and African populations. We report here the case of a 41-year-old Canadian woman originated from Africa, who delivered a male dead new-born at 39 weeks of gestation. A massive intracranial haemorrhage was identified as being the obvious cause of death. No platelet antibody against GPIbIX, IaIIa, and IIbIIIa was identified by the gold-standard Monoclonal Antibody-specific Immobilization of Platelet Antigens (MAIPA) assay. Surprisingly, anti CD36 iso-antibodies were identified in the maternal serum with a new bead-based multiplex assay. The CD36 gene was sequenced for both parents, and a mutation was identified on Exon 10 of the mother’s CD36 gene, which was absent for the father: NM_000072.3:c.975T>G inducing a STOP codon at position 325 of the mature protein. The absence of CD36 expression on the mother’s platelets was confirmed by flow cytometry.

Co existence of Arterio-venous Malformation and Saccular Bifurcation Aneurysm of a 48 years Old Patient, Presented with Massive Intracranial Hemorrhage: Case Report

Co existence of Arterio-venous Malformation and Saccular Bifurcation Aneurysm of a 48 years Old Patient, Presented with Massive Intracranial Hemorrhage: Case Report

Fatal cerebral hemorrhage in a tetraplegic patient due to autonomic dysreflexia triggered by delay in emptying urinary bladder after unsuccessful intermittent catheterization by carer: lessons learned

IntroductionOver-distension of urinary bladder in a high spinal cord injury patient is a triggering factor for autonomic dysreflexia. Removing triggering factors is vital to prevent autonomic dysreflexia.Case presentationA 36-year-old tetraplegic patient, who was managed by intermittent catheterizations performed by caregivers, developed recurrent autonomic dysreflexia during a week due to: 1) carers not performing intermittent catheterizations every night; 2) infrequent catheterizations during the day, leading to distension of urinary bladder. A day before his demise, carer attempted routine catheterization; but was unable to insert the catheter; blood pressure rose to 192/109 mmHg. Nifedipine 10 mg was administered. Thirty minutes later, blood pressure was 181/113 mmHg; second dose of Nifedipine was not given. Forty minutes elapsed before a senior carer came and catheterized successfully. Meanwhile, patient developed pounding headache; became drowsy; was talking incoherently. Four and half hours after unsuccessful catheterization, carers contacted emergency services and the patient was taken to Accident and Emergency; CT of head revealed very large acute intracranial hemorrhage in the right frontal and parietal lobes. The patient expired a day later. The Coroner’s verdict: “Patient died of massive intracranial hemorrhage caused by autonomic dysreflexia, a known complication of high spinal cord injury. Emergency protocols to manage autonomic dysreflexia were not followed in the days leading up to his death.”ConclusionFailed urethral catheterization is a potentially life-threatening emergency; every patient should have a care plan explicitly describing what should be done when catheterization is not successful. Preventive measures rather than episodic treatment of autonomic dysreflexia should be the guiding principle.