Significant Residual Deficits Research Articles

Neurocognitive Impairment in Major Depressive Disorder

Introduction Neurocognitive impairment has been widely reported in major depressive disorder. Patients with major depressive disorder are known to present cognitive deficits, namely in verbal and visual memory, verbal fluency, attention, working memory. Some studies related these deficits with antidepressants, although those were also described in medication-free patients. Other studies suggested that in some groups of patients there may be significant residual cognitive deficits despite an overall positive treatment response with remission of depressive episodes. Objectives/Aims The authors aim to contextualize cognitive deficits in patients with major depressive disorder and treatment options that could preserve/improve the cognitive functions. Methods Scientific literature search and review on the PubMed database with the keywords: 'major depressive disorder', 'cognition', 'neurocognitive impairment', 'memory', 'executive function', 'attention'. Results Given the perception of impaired neurocognitive functioning in patients with major depressive disorder even in the remission phases, there has been an increased interest in attempting to treat those deficits during the last decade. Studies suggest that different types of deficits are found in patients medicated with different types of antidepressants and medication-free patients. Some new treatment approaches have been used such as cognitive remediation therapy which is more frequently used in schizophrenia. Recent studies suggest that cognitive enhancing treatments could be an approach which should be further investigated. Conclusions Currently, the mechanisms underlying neurocognitive deficits in patients with major depressive disorder are not fully understood. Since these symptoms have a major impact on patients' lives this issue will remain an area of ??interest in the near future.

Toxic optic neuropathy in the setting of docetaxel chemotherapy: a case report

BackgroundTo describe the first reported case of toxic optic neuropathy secondary to docetaxel (Taxotere®) chemotherapy.Case presentationA 53-year-old female presented with predominantly unilateral visual loss, but extensive bilateral visual field defects and bilateral optic nerve head swelling 2 weeks after first dose of docetaxel (Taxotere®) and trastuzumab (Herceptin®) chemotherapy for a left sided node-positive, HER2 positive breast cancer. Extensive investigation ruled out other causes of optic neuropathy. She was treated with high dose corticosteroids intravenously for 1 week then a tapering oral dose over 8 weeks. Visual field defects gradually resolved and visual acuity improved. Docetaxel chemotherapy was discontinued but targeted therapy with trastuzumab continued without further complication.ConclusionDocetaxel can cause a toxic optic neuropathy possibly due to an ischemic or neurotoxic mechanism at the optic nerve head. With cessation of docetaxel therapy and treatment with systemic corticosteroids, visual recovery can occur without significant residual visual deficit.

Spinal epidural hematoma – A rare and debilitating complication of thrombolytic therapy

Thrombolytic therapy directed to the achievement of early reperfusion in cases with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction can have significant complications which can be due to bleeding or in the form of allergic reactions. Sometimes these complications can cause mortality or significant and incapacitating morbidity which may at times surpass the risk possessed by the disease itself.We are reporting an interesting case of 63-year-old male, who presented to us with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction and developed acute onset paralysis following intravenous administration of streptokinase and heparin. MRI spine revealed spinal epidural hematoma. Patient was advised urgent surgical evacuation of hematoma, but opted for conservative management. Patient had significant residual neurological deficits at follow-up. In conclusion, spinal epidural hematoma is a rare complication following thrombolysis for acute ST elevation myocardial infarction. Though rare, high index of suspicion is required by physicians, as prompt treatment may lead to complete recovery, which otherwise can lead to debilitating neurological sequel.

Adults With Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome: Outcomes in a New Cohort of Patients

With improvements in surgical technique, children with palliated hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) are now surviving to adulthood. Little is known about this emerging adult population.

An Analysis of the Risk Factors and the Outcomes of Cerebrovascular Diseases in Northern

Stroke is a growing epidemic in the developing countries. The risk factors of stroke are the same as those of atherosclerosis, but the relative incidences of the various risk factors keep changing with time and cultural and environmental factors. So, a periodic analysis should be done. The generation of the data which pertained to the clinical profile of stroke in our institution by using the WHO Steps Stroke Manual, version 2 and to make note of the risk factors and the correlation of the outcome with the Glasgow's Coma Scale (GCS) at admission and with the Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) on the 28th day. A prospective study was conducted on 157 cases of stroke patients who were admitted to the Medicine Department of a tertiary care institute during June 2011 through June 2012. Amongst the 157 cases (92 males and 65 females), 86 % were above 40 years of age and this was the most prevalent age group in the age range of 51-60 years. The risk factor analysis showed hypertension as the most prevalent risk factor, followed by diabetes cum hypertension. Hemiplegia/hemi paresis was the most common presentation, followed by aphasia. Radiological studies showed that ischaemic strokes were the most frequent ones, followed by haemorrhagic strokes (71 vs. 29 %). Amongst the ischaemic infarcts, the anterior circulation infarct was the most frequent one. The outcome was poor with haemorrhagic strokes and in those who were presented with a GCS of less than 3. The overall mortality was 22.29 %. A significant residual deficit (MRS >3) was seen in 49.7 % of the patients. There is a need for prospective representative population based surveys viz. the WHO Stroke Steps 2 and 3.Public health measures are essential to enhance the awareness about the importance of knowing the risk factors. Hence, the message which has to be percolated to the masses is - stroke is a 'brain attack' that is preventable.

Traumatic Brain Injury: Analysis of Functional Deficits and Posthospital Rehabilitation Outcomes

Advances in emergency medicine, both in the field and in trauma centers, have dramatically increased survival rates of persons sustaining traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, these advances have come with the realization that many survivors are living with significant residual deficits in multiple areas of functioning, which make the resumption of a quality lifestyle extremely difficult. To this point, TBI has recently been characterized as a chronic disease. As with other chronic diseases, TBI is often causative of persistent disabling symptoms in multiple organ systems. Therefore, posthospital residential rehabilitation programs have emerged to treat these symptoms with the goal of helping these individuals regain function and live more productive and independent lives.This study examined the nature and severity of residual deficits experienced by a group of 285 brain-injured individuals and evaluate the efficacy of posthospital residential rehabilitation programs in treating those deficits.Participants consisted of 285 individuals who had sustained a TBI and, due to multiple residual deficits, were unable to care for themselves, necessitating admission to residential posthospital rehabilitation programs. All participants were evaluated at admission and discharge on the Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory?Version 4 (MPAI-4). The MPAI-4, developed specifically for persons with acquired brain injury, measures 29 areas of function often affected by TBI.From the 29 skills evaluated, the 12 most often rated as causing the greatest interference with function were identified. Of these skills, the cognitive deficits including memory, attention/concentration, novel problem solving, and awareness of deficits were highly correlated with disruption in performing everyday societal roles. The impact of treatment for reducing the level of disability in these areas was statistically significant, t(284) = 17.43, p < .0001. Improvement was significant even for participants admitted more than 1 year postinjury, t(78) = 8.05, p < .0001.Skill deficits interfering with reintegration into home and community are highly interrelated and should be treated with the understanding that progress in one area may be dependent on change in another area. Cognitive skills including memory, attention/ concentration, novel problem solving, and awareness of deficits were highly correlated with measures of overall functional outcome. Posthospital programs using a multidisciplinary treatment approach achieved significant reduction in disability from program admission to discharge. The benefits of these programs were realized even for the most chronically-impaired participants.

Escitalopram Increased Gray Matter and White Matter in a First-Episode Drug-Naïve Panic Disorder Patient Within 6 Weeks

Escitalopram Increased Gray Matter and White Matter in a First-Episode Drug-Naïve Panic Disorder Patient Within 6 Weeks

Functional outcome following rehabilitation in chronic severe traumatic brain injury patients: A prospective study

Objective:The objective was to assess functional outcome of rehabilitation in chronic severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in-patients.Setting:The study was performed at university tertiary research hospital.Study Design:A prospective cross-sectional studyMaterials and Methods:Forty patients (34 men) with mean age of 30.1 years (range 6--60, SD 10.8), severe TBI (Glasgow coma scale 3--8, duration of coma > 6 hours, post-traumatic amnesia> 1 day postinjury) were admitted in rehabilitation unit minimum 3 months (mean 7.7±4.6 months, range 3--22 months) following injury falling in Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) of 3. Functional recovery was assessed using the Barthel Index (BI) score and disability rating scores (DRS).Data Analysis:Paired Student's t-test was used for the assessment of functional recovery using mean BI scores at admission and discharge. The Wilcoxon nonparametric test was used for the assessment of functional recovery by comparing admission and discharge DRS scores.Results:Mean duration of stay was 30.8 days (range 18--91, SD15.6). Significant functional recovery observed in patients comparing BI and DRS scores at admission and discharge (mean BI admission 50.5±25.4, range 0--85 vs. mean discharge BI score 61.1±25.3, range 0--95, P<0.001, mean DRS admission score 7.57±4.1, range 2.5--21.0 vs. mean discharge DRS score 6.36±4.3, range 1.0-21.0, P<0.001).Conclusion:Patients with severe TBI continue to show functional recovery even in chronic phase with rehabilitation. They are left with significant residual physical and cognitive deficits and would require long-term care and assistance from care givers for the daily activities, as suggested by the mean DRS score at discharge.

HHV-6 encephalitis in pediatric unrelated umbilical cord transplantation: A role for ganciclovir prophylaxis?

The role of ganciclovir as HHV-6 prophylaxis in unrelated HSCT setting remains controversial. We performed an eight-yr retrospective review of patients received unrelated HSCT from January 2000 to September 2008. From January 2002, ganciclovir prophylaxis 5 mg/kg twice daily for seven days for all unrelated HSCT before transplant was adopted. The prevalence of HHV-6 encephalitis was studied before and after the change in policy. Fifty-four unrelated HSCT were performed from January 2000 to September 2008. Four cases (7.4%) of HHV-6 encephalitis were diagnosed. All of them were due to variant B infection. Two cases out of 16 cases (12.5%) were diagnosed before adoption of the policy; two cases out of 38 cases (5.3%) were diagnosed afterward. All of them were unrelated UCB transplant recipients. They were all seropositive to HHV-6 before transplant. Two cases complicated with significant residual neurological deficit and refractory seizure. The other two cases died of other transplant-related mortalities. We conclude that HHV-6 encephalitis is still a rare complication of unrelated HSCT and may be more common in unrelated UCB transplant. Routine use of ganciclovir as HHV-6 prophylaxis in all unrelated HSCT recipients may not be justified but may have a role in unrelated UCB transplant.

Impairment versus Activity Limitation after Incident Ischaemic Stroke

Activity limitation scales, such as the Barthel index (BI) and modified Rankin scale (MRS), may fail to identify residual neurological deficits (impairment) in patients without activity limitation, leaving unresolved the question whether improvement in ADLs over time is due to restitution of impairments or compensation for unchanged deficits. We sought to determine the degree of impairment among ischemic stroke patients who have no activity limitation at 3 months. As part of the Performance and Recovery in Stroke registry, patients with first-time ischemic stroke confirmed on MRI were enrolled during acute admission between May 2002 and January 2008. All patients received inpatient and outpatient physical and occupational therapy according to standard of care. Three impairment measures were assessed 3 months after stroke: hand dynamometry in the affected hand (HD), the Fugl-Meyer scale (FM),1 and 9-hole peg test (9HPT). For HD and 9HPT, z-scores were calculated to correct for gender, age and hand dominance.2, 3 The motor score of the FM scale was used (maximum 100). All patients had 3-month BI and MRS assessments. An individual was deemed meaningfully impaired on HD and 9HPT tasks if he or she had a z-score more than 1.5 SD from established population norms, corresponding to a probability of 93.3% that the score was truly worse than population norms. For FM, since population norms do not exist, an individual was deemed meaningfully impaired if he or she had a total score less than 90.4 If an individual scored BI≥95 or MRS≤1, he or she was deemed “not limited in activity.”5 Among 66 patients, mean age was 61.2±10.4 years and 59.1% were male. Seventy-three percent of patients (48/66) were “not limited in activity” (BI≥95) at 3 months. Forty-seven percent of patients (31/66) were “not limited in activity” by MRS (MRS≤1). Of these patients, significant residual deficits were seen in all three impairment measures (Figure). Figure Percentage of patients not limited in activity who qualify as impaired In summary, we found little activity limitation at 3 months, but significant residual impairment. Reasons for this lack of correlation between impairment and disability scores may include insensitivity of disability scores to changes in impairment, the use of compensatory strategies such as learning to brush one’s teeth with the non-paretic hand, and the use of assistive devices. Further research is needed to clarify the relationship between impairment and ADL performance. Stroke trials that employ activity limitation scales as outcome measures may be missing significant changes in impairment. Scales that assess neurological impairments, such as the Fugl-Meyer scale, the Jebsen hand test, and Berg gait exam, may be more appropriate as outcome measures. From a clinical perspective, classifying a patient to be without activity limitation when significant impairment persists may limit opportunities for additional, targeted rehabilitation interventions that could enhance functional abilities and improve quality of life.

Orbital Cysticercosis: Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis, Management, and Outcome

To describe the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, management, and outcome of orbital cysticercosis in a tertiary eye care center in Southern India. Retrospective observational case series. A total of 171 patients with orbital cysticercosis. Retrospective case series involving consecutive patients with orbital cysticercosis from March 1990 to December 2001. Clinical resolution and significant residual deficit. The median age at presentation was 13 years (range 2-65 years), and 93 patients (54.4%) were male. The 3 main symptoms at presentation were periocular swelling (38%), proptosis (24%), and ptosis (14%) with a median duration of 2 (range 0-24) months. The 3 main signs at presentation included ocular motility restriction (64.3%), proptosis (44.4%), and diplopia (36.8%). The cyst locations in the decreasing order of frequency were anterior orbit (69%), subconjunctival space (24.6%), posterior orbit (5.8%), and the eyelid (0.6%). In all, 80.7% of patients had cysts in relation to an extraocular muscle. The superior rectus (33.3%) was the most commonly involved extraocular muscle. Contact B-scan ultrasonography was diagnostic of cysticercosis in 84.4% of patients. Orbital cysticercosis was managed medically in 158 of 166 patients. Although 149 patients received a combination of oral albendazole and prednisolone, 1 patient received oral albendazole alone, 7 patients received oral prednisolone alone, and 1 patient received oral praziquantel. Surgery was performed in 8 patients. Clinical resolution was seen in 128 of 138 patients (92.8%) at 1 month and 81 of 85 patients (95.3%) at 3 months. A significant residual deficit was present in 29 of 138 patients (21.0%) at the final follow-up and included proptosis in 7 patients, ptosis in 6 patients, ocular motility restriction in 3 patients, diplopia in 2 patients, strabismus in 2 patients, and a combination of the above in 9 patients. Orbital cysticercosis is a common clinical condition in the developing world. It typically affects young individuals and has a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Both B-scan ultrasonography and computed tomography scan are useful in confirming the diagnosis. Despite resolution of cysticercosis with medical management, a significant proportion of patients may have residual functional deficits.

HHV-6 Encephalitis in Pediatric Unrelated Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation: Role for Ganciclovir Prophylaxis?

Abstract 4667 BackgroundThe role of ganciclovir as HHV-6 prophylaxis in unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) setting remains controversial. MethodsWe performed a 8-year retrospective review of patients received unrelated HSCT from January 2000 to September 2008. From January 2002, ganciclovir prophylaxis 5mg/kg twice daily for 7 days for all unrelated HSCT before transplant was adopted. The other transplant policies including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and graft-versus-host disease control policies remained unchange in that period. The prevalence of HHV-6 encephalitis was studied before and after the change in policy. ResultFifty-four unrelated HSCT were performed from January, 2000 to September, 2008. Total four cases (7.4%) of HHV-6 encephalitis were diagnosed. Two cases out of 16 cases (12.5%) diagnosed before adoption of the policy; 2 cases out of 38 cases (5.3%) diagnosed afterward. All of them were unrelated umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplant recipients. Two cases had significant residual neurological deficit and refractory seizure. The other two cases died of other transplant-related mortalities. ConclusionWe conclude that HHV-6 encephalitis is still a rare complication of unrelated HSCT and may be more common in unrelated UCB transplantation. Routine use of ganciclovir as HHV-6 prophylaxis in all unrelated HSCT recipients may not be justified. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Selective death of newborn neurons in hippocampal dentate gyrus following moderate experimental traumatic brain injury

Memory impairment is one of the most significant residual deficits following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is among the most frequent complaints heard from patients and their relatives. It has been reported that the hippocampus is particularly vulnerable to TBI, which results in hippocampus-dependent cognitive impairment. There are different regions in the hippocampus, and each region is composed of different cell types, which might respond differently to TBI. However, regional and cell type-specific neuronal death following TBI is not well described. Here, we examined the distribution of degenerating neurons in the hippocampus of the mouse brain following controlled cortical impact (CCI) and found that the majority of degenerating neurons observed were in the dentate gyrus after moderate (0.5 mm cortical deformation) CCI-TBI. In contrast, there were only a few degenerating neurons observed in the hilus, and we did not observe any degenerating neurons in the CA3 or CA1 regions. Among those degenerating cells in the dentate gyrus, about 80% of them were found in the inner granular neuron layer. Analysis with cell type-specific markers showed that most of the degenerating neurons in the inner granular neuron layer are newborn immature neurons. Further quantitative analysis shows that the number of newborn immature neurons in the dentate gyrus is dramatically decreased in the ipsilateral hemisphere compared with the contralateral side. Collectively, our data demonstrate the selective death of newborn immature neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus following moderate injury with CCI in mice. This selective vulnerability of newborn immature dentate neurons may contribute to the persistent impairment of learning and memory post-TBI and provide an innovative target for neuroprotective treatment strategies.

Natural History and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Follow-up in 9 Sturge-Weber Syndrome Patients and Clinical Correlation

The natural history of Sturge-Weber Syndrome is variable where some patients have refractory epilepsy and persistent neurologic deficits while others do well. Also, evolution of MRI abnormalities is largely unknown. This long-term follow-up study tries to address these two issues. This retrospective and later prospective study followed 9 children with confirmed SWS. Clinical details of seizures, stroke-like episodes, neurologic and developmental deficits were ascertained specifically. Patients were divided into those with onset below or after 6 months of age for analysis. Disease was classified as active or inactive and correlations were made with the use of aspirin. All past, as well as prospectively acquired imaging was reviewed by two independent blinded neuroradiologists and the images were analysed as ictal (temporally related to seizure/stroke-like event) or interictal. Degree and extent of leptomeningeal enhancement was specifically looked for. Four boys and five girls were followed up for a mean of 6.1 years. Disease activity subsided in 8/9. Early-onset patients had a severe early course with significant residual deficits while late-onset patients did uniformly well. In 6 patients where aspirin was used, a stable course ensued. There was a significant increase in degree/extent of leptomeningeal enhancement during an ictus which returned to the baseline in the interictal state in all 7 patients where both images were available. Focal cerebral atrophy worsened in early-onset cases. In conclusion, SWS patients with onset of seizures/stroke-like events before 6 months of age seem to do worse with a severe early course and persistent neurologic deficits. However the course stabilizes after 5 years of age in most. Late-onset SWS patients have a benign course. Aspirin use is associated with a stable course though further studies are needed. The leptomeningeal enhancement appears to increase during acute events before returning to baseline suggesting that extent of the disease is probably best judged during the interictal state.

Herpes simplex encephalitis: Adolescents and adults

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) remains one of the most devastating infections of the central nervous system despite available antiviral therapy. Children and adolescents account for approximately one third of all cases of HSE. Clinical diagnosis is suggested in the encephalopathic, febrile patient with focal neurologic signs. However, these clinical findings are not pathognomonic because numerous other diseases in the central nervous system can mimic HSE. Neurodiagnostic evaluation can provide support for the diagnosis by the demonstration of temporal lobe edema/hemorrhage by magnetic resonance image scan and spike and slow-wave activity on electroencephalogram. In the current era, the diagnostic gold standard is the detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Although PCR is an excellent test and preferable to brain biopsy, false negatives can occur early after disease onset. Acyclovir is the treatment of choice and is administered at 10 mg/kg every 8 h for 21 days. Even with early administration of therapy after the disease onset, nearly two thirds of survivors have significant residual neurologic deficits. Current investigative efforts are assessing the prognostic value of quantitative PCR detection of viral DNA at the onset of therapy as well as at the completion of therapy and the contribution of prolonged antiviral therapy to improved neurologic outcome.

Surgical Management of Intracranial Complications of Otogenic Infection

We conducted a prospective study of 24 patients to evaluate the evolution of intracranial complications resulting from otogenic infection and to correlate the course of the disease with surgical treatment. Almost half of the patients were younger than 18 years, and most were male. The most common intracranial complication was brain abscess, followed by meningitis, lateral sinus thrombosis, and extradural abscess. Cholesteatoma was found in 14 patients. After the complications were confirmed by computed tomography, initial treatment consisted of intravenous systemic antibiotics followed by mastoid surgery. The surgical approach was determined by the type of ear disease, not by the type of neurologic complication. Modified radical mastoidectomy was performed in 16 patients, tympanomastoidectomy in 6, and myringotomy in 2. No significant morbidity, mortality, recurrence, or residual neurologic deficit was observed at the 6-month follow-up. Early surgical intervention is important in achieving positive outcomes in patients with such intracranial complications.

Herpes simplex: Encephalitis children and adolescents

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) remains one of the most devastating infections of the central nervous system despite available antiviral therapy. Children and adolescents account for approximately one third of all cases of HSE. Clinical diagnosis is suggested in the encephalopathic, febrile patient with focal neurologic signs. However, these clinical findings are not pathognomonic because numerous other infections in the central nervous system can mimic HSE. Support for the diagnosis from a neurodiagnostic perspective is aided by the demonstration of disease of the temporal lobe by magnetic resonance image scan and spike and slow-wave activity on electroencephalogram. In the current era, the gold standard for establishing diagnosis is the detection of herpes simplex virus DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Although PCR is an excellent test and far more desirable than brain biopsy, false negatives can occur early after disease onset. Current therapeutic management calls for the administration of acyclovir at 10 mg/kg every 8 hours for 21 days. Even with early administration of therapy after the onset of disease, nearly two thirds of survivors will have significant residual neurologic deficits. Recent investigative efforts are assessing the value of PCR detection of viral DNA at the completion of therapy and the value of prolonged antiviral therapy.

Naturally Acquired West Nile Virus Encephalomyelitis in Transplant Recipients

In the 2003 West Nile virus (WNV) epidemic, Colorado reported more WNV cases than any other state, including an unprecedented number in organ transplant recipients. Physicians caring for transplant recipients hospitalized with naturally acquired WNV encephalitis provided data to characterize the clinical symptoms, results of diagnostic studies, and outcomes. Eleven transplant recipients were identified (4 kidney, 2 stem cell, 2 liver, 1 lung, and 2 kidney/pancreas). Seven were directly admitted to 1 of the 2 hospitals in the study, and 4 were referred to 1 of these centers from regional hospitals. All but 1 patient had a prodrome typical of WNV encephalitis in nonimmunosuppressed patients. Ten patients developed meningoencephalitis, which in 3 cases was associated with acute flaccid paralysis. One patient developed acute flaccid paralysis without encephalitis. Six patients had significant movement disorders including tremor, myoclonus, or parkinsonism. All patients had cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis and WNV-specific IgM in the cerebrospinal fluid and/or serum. Cerebrospinal fluid cytologic studies (n = 5) showed atypical lymphocytes, some resembling plasma cells; however, flow cytometry (n = 3) showed that cells were almost exclusively of T-cell (not B-cell or plasma cell) lineage. Magnetic resonance images of the brain were abnormal in 7 of 8 tested patients, and electroencephalograms were abnormal in 7 of 7, with 2 showing periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges. Nine of 11 patients survived infection, but 3 had significant residual deficits. One patient died 17 days after admission, and autopsy findings revealed severe panencephalitic changes with multifocal areas of necrosis in the cerebral deep gray nuclei, brainstem, and spinal cord as well as diffuse macrophage influx in the periventricular white matter. A second patient died of complications of WNV encephalitis 6 months after hospital admission. Naturally acquired WNV encephalitis in transplant recipients shows diagnostic, clinical, and laboratory features similar to those reported in nonimmunocompromised individuals, but neuroimaging, electroencephalography, and autopsy results verify that these patients develop neurological damage at the severe end of the spectrum.

Reduction versus remodeling in pediatric distal forearm fractures: a preliminary cost analysis

The inherent ability of pediatric metaphyseal radius fractures to heal and remodel made us question the need for immediate anatomic reduction under conscious sedation. We believe that isolated closed distal radius fractures with 15° of angulation and 1 cm of shortening will heal well and remodel completely without clinical or functional sequelae. Time and expense can be decreased by splinting and follow-up without the need for immediate anatomic reduction in the emergency room. In order to answer this question, we retrospectively evaluated 34 pediatric metaphyseal wrist fractures that lost position after attempted reduction and healed in their angulated or shortened position. We looked at the time to healing, time to remodeling and any residual clinical or functional deficits. We then did a comparison cost analysis with time matched patients who had complete but minimally displaced fractures of the distal radius that were treated by immediate splinting with orthopaedic follow-up. Our results showed that skeletally immature patients with open physes, isolated injuries, dorsovolar and radioulnar angulations less than 15° and less than 1 cm of shortening will heal and be out of cast within an average of 6 weeks and completely remodel within an average of 7.5 months. The average time in the emergency room was 2 h less with no reduction. The cost of the emergency room visit with attempted reduction was 50% more than splinting with early referral (US$536 versus US$270). None of our patients had significant clinical deformities or residual functional deficits.

Arizona experience with CardioWest total artificial heart bridge to transplantation

Background. We hypothesized that bridge to transplantation with the CardioWest Total Artificial Heart would succeed in a large percentage of patients. Further, we hypothesized that this success rate would not be significantly decreased by infection or thromboembolism. Methods. From 1993 to March 1999, 24 patients received implants with the intention of bridge to transplantation. Data were collected prospectively. Heparin, coumadin, aspirin, ticlopidine, dipyridamole, and pentoxifylline were used for anticoagulation. Results. Four patients died while on device support. Nineteen of 23 patients (83%) were transplanted. All 19 survived long term. One patient remains on CardioWest Total Artificial Heart support 6 weeks after implant. There was one stroke on the day of transplantation. There was a second stroke on the day of implantation. Neither stroke caused significant residual deficits. Both were in close relationship to an operative procedure. There were no serious device-related infections. Conclusions. The CardioWest Total Artificial Heart salvaged 20 of 24 critically ill patients. Neither infections nor neurologic problems were significant. We believe it is the device of choice for decompensating patients with biventricular failure who have adequate body and heart size.