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Topic: The term "papilledema" is often misused in different ways when describing nonintracranial pressure-related optic disc edema (ODE) or on fundoscopic examination. However, the extent of these errors is unknown among case reports., Clinical Relevance: "Papilledema" refers to ODE secondary to raised intracranial pressure (ICP). Papilledema is a leading reason for referral to neuro-ophthalmologists. In any specialty setting, papilledema must be distinguished from other causes of ODE because it implies a unique pathophysiology and management strategy. If managed inappropriately, papilledema may cause permanent vision loss., Methods: Cross-sectional evidence-based study with protocol registered on Open Science Framework (digital object identifier: 10.17605/OSF.IO/BUQS3). From Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE, we included case reports with "papilledema" in their title, abstract, or article keywords between January 2011 and March 2022. Studies were graded for the following errors: type 1 (using "papilledema" without evidence of elevated ICP), type 2 (declaring "papilledema" on examination before finding evidence of elevated ICP), type 3 (both errors type 1 and 2), or no error., Results: Among 722 case reports, there was a total of 482 errors (66.8%). There were 12 type 1 errors, 360 type 2 errors, 110 type 3 errors, and 240 studies with no errors. Ophthalmology, neurology, and neurosurgery were the most represented fields, yet only ophthalmology had a low prevalence of errors among all specialties. Regardless, all specialties with at least 10 included reports had a high error prevalence (>30%). Reduced error prevalence was significantly associated with higher impact factor journals, non-open-access publication models, and origin countries with an English official language. Error prevalence was not significantly associated with publication year. Also, the relationship between article citation counts and the prevalence of any type of error did not reach significance. Risk of bias analysis indicated that error occurrence was unrelated to the quality of case report study design., Conclusion: "Papilledema" is widely misused even among ophthalmology case reports. When allowed to propagate, this error can mislead care delivery to patients with ODE. Our results, although limited to case reports, indicate a need for more thorough peer-review standards and neuro-ophthalmology exposure in medical education., (Copyright © 2022 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Abstract Patients with acute brain injury are vulnerable to secondary deterioration, which may go undetected by traditional monitoring. However, multimodal neuromonitoring of brain tissue oxygen tension (PbtO2) and energy metabolism may be able to detect such episodes. We report a retrospective, observational study of 94 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) or traumatic brain injury (TBI) who underwent multimodal neuromonitoring during admission. We examined the co-occurrence of pathological neuromonitoring values: elevated intracranial pressure (ICP, > 20 mmHg), inadequate cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP, 40 and a glucose level

Abstract Background Currently, there is a relative lack of detailed reports regarding clinical presentation and outcome of idiopathic intracranial hypertension in Asians. This study aims to describe the clinical features and treatment outcomes of Korean patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Methods We prospectively recruited patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension from one hospital and retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 11 hospitals in Korea. We collected data regarding preceding medical conditions or suspected medication exposure, headache phenotypes, other associated symptoms, detailed neuroimaging findings, treatments, and outcomes after 1–2 and 3–6 months of treatment. Results Fifty-nine (83.1% women) patients were included. The mean body mass index was 29.11 (standard deviation, 5.87) kg/m2; only 27 patients (45.8%) had a body mass index of ≥ 30 kg/m2. Fifty-one (86.4%) patients experienced headaches, patterns of which included chronic migraine (15/51 [29.4%]), episodic migraine (8/51 [15.7%]), probable migraine (4/51 [7.8%]), chronic tension-type headache (3/51 [5.9%]), episodic tension-type headache (2/51 [3.9%]), probable tension-type headache (2/51 [3.9%]), and unclassified (17/51 [33.3%]). Medication overuse headache was diagnosed in 4/51 (7.8%) patients. After 3–6 months of treatment, the intracranial pressure normalized in 8/32 (25.0%), improved in 17/32 (53.1%), no changed in 7/32 (21.9%), and worsened in none. Over the same period, headaches remitted or significantly improved by more than 50% in 24/39 patients (61.5%), improved less than 50% in 9/39 (23.1%), and persisted or worsened in 6/39 (15.4%) patients. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the features of Asian patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension may be atypical (i.e., less likely obese, less female predominance). A wide spectrum of headache phenotypes was observed. Medical treatment resulted in overall favorable short-term outcomes; however, the headaches did not improve in a small proportion of patients.

Abstract Background and Aims Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a rare neurological disorder in the pediatric population which is defined as an increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) without the presence of brain parenchymal lesions, hydrocephalus, or central nervous system infection. In this study, we have determined the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in IIH patients. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the electronic databases including Web of Sciences, Scopus, and Pubmed to identify suitable and relevant articles using keyword search methods. The search included keywords such as “idiopathic intracranial hypertension,” “pseudotumor cerebri,” “MRI,” and “pediatrics.” The search was limited to the available publications up to January 2024. Results MRI plays a crucial role in diagnosing IIH by excluding secondary causes and revealing neuroimaging findings associated with elevated ICP. Despite fewer studies in children compared to adults, MRI serves as a cornerstone in identifying traditional neuroradiological markers such as empty sella turcica, posterior globe flattening, optic nerve tortuosity, optic nerve sheath distension, and transverse venous sinus stenosis. Additional subtle markers include increased Meckel's cave length, cerebellar tonsillar herniation, and slit‐like ventricles, although these are less reliable. Diffusion‐weighted imaging does not typically show cerebral ADC value changes indicative of cerebral edema in pediatric IIH. Conclusion MRI findings provide valuable non‐invasive diagnostic indicators that facilitate early detection, clinical management, and potential surgical intervention in pediatric IIH. The reliability of these MRI markers underscores their importance in clinical practice.

Objective: There is a relationship between the incidence of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) and age. The incidence increases with age. This study aims to facilitate the decision-making process in the treatment of ICH. It therefore investigated the outcome after ICH and decompressive craniectomy (DC) in older adults (>65 years of age). Methods: Retrospective, multicentre, descriptive observational study including only consecutive patients who received DC as the consequence of ICH. Additive evacuation of ICH was performed after the individual decision of the neurosurgeon. Besides demographic data, clinical outcomes both at discharge and 12 months after surgery were evaluated according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Patients were divided into age groups of ≤65 and >65 years and cohorts with favourable outcome (GOS IV–V) and unfavourable outcome (GOS I to III). Results: 56 patients were treated. Mean age was 53.3 (SD: 16.13) years. There were 41 (73.2%) patients aged ≤65 years and 15 (26.8%) patients aged >65 years. During hospital stay, 10 (24.4%) patients in the group of younger (≤65 years) and 5 (33.3%) in the group of older patients (>65 years) died. Mean time between ictus and surgery was 44.4 (SD: 70.79) hours for younger and 27.9 (SD: 41.71) hours for older patients. A disturbance of the pupillary function on admission occurred in 21 (51.2%) younger and 2 (13.3%) older patients (p = 0.014). Mean arterial pressure was 99.9 (SD: 17.00) mmHg for younger and 112.9 (21.80) mmHg in older patients. After 12 months, there was no significant difference in outcome between younger patients (≤65 years) and older patients (>65 years) after ICH and DC (p = 0.243). Nevertheless, in the group of younger patients (≤65 years), 9% had a very good and 15% had a good outcome. There was no good recovery in the group of older patients (>65 years). Conclusion: Patients >65 years of age treated with microsurgical haematoma evacuation and DC after ICH are likely to have a poor outcome. Furthermore, in the long term, only a few older adults have a good functional outcome with independence in daily life activities.

Post-traumatic cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (ptCVST) often remains underdiagnosed due to the non-specific nature of clinical signs, commonly mimicking severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) manifestations. Early recognition of this rare and potentially life-threatening complication is crucial for the effective management of severe TBI patients in Intensive Care. The present study reports the case of a 66-year-old male who was transferred to the emergency department due to moderate TBI. Initial emergency brain computed tomography (CT) scans revealed certain traumatic lesions, not necessitating any urgent neurosurgical intervention. During his stay in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), multiple transient episodes of intracranial pressure (ICP) values were managed conservatively, and through placement of an external ventricular drain. Following a series of CT scans, there was a continuous improvement of the initial traumatic hemorrhagic findings despite his worsening clinical condition. This paradox raised suspicion for ptCVST, and a brain CT venography (CTV) was carried out, which showed venous sinus thrombosis close to a concomitant skull fracture. Therapeutic anticoagulant treatment was administered. The patient was discharged with an excellent neurological status. To date, there are no clearly defined guidelines for medical and/or surgical management of patients presenting with ptCVST. Therapy is mainly based on intracranial hypertension control and the maintenance of normal cerebral perfusion pressure (CCP) in the ICU. The mismatch between clinical and imaging findings in patients with TBI and certain risk factors raises the suspicion of ptCVST.

Introduction Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is a valuable treatment for reducing early lethality in malignant intracranial hypertension (IH); however, it has been shown that the decision to implement DC in patients with extensive ischemic stroke should not be based solely on the detection of IH with the use of intracranial pressure (ICP) devices.

Aim: This meta-analysis and systematic review aims to investigate and compare the efficacy of mannitol and hypertonic saline in treating patients who have suffered from traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: We reviewed publications from the Medline database, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from inception to 13 October 2022 with only English-based literature. The risk of bias from included Randomized controlled trial (RCT) s was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's Tool. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was employed to assess the included cohort's quality. The main outcomes of this review were treatment failure, mortality, intracranial pressure (ICP) reduction, and Cerebral Perfusion Pressure (CPP) increment. All the statistical analyses were performed using the Review Manager 5.4.1. A random-effects model was used to pool the studies when heterogeneity was seen, and the results were reported in the odds ratios (OR) and mean differences (MD) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Results: The results of the statistical study found that there was a significantly lower treatment failure rate [OR = 1.80 (1.26, 2.57); p = 0.001; I 2 = 74%], the lower mortality rate [OR = 2.17 (1.26, 3.73); p = 0.005; I 2 = 0%], a greater increase in CPP [MD = -1.28 (-2.50, -0.05); p = 0.04; I 2 = 0%] associated with hypertonic saline treatment as compared to mannitol treatment. However, concerning ICP decrease, there was no significant difference between the two treatment options [MD = 1.86 (-0.64, 4.36); p = 0.14; I 2 = 70%]. Conclusions: Quantitative and qualitative analysis of trials and observational studies comparing the efficacy of hypertonic saline and mannitol demonstrates that hypertonic saline is a preferable treatment option with greater effectiveness and safety than mannitol in managing patients with TBI. [SJEMed 2023; 4(1.000): 051-059]

Decompressive hinge craniotomy as an alternative for low-resource settings

Key Clinical Message This case highlights the need for tailored strategies to address issues like brain herniation, subdural hygroma, and cerebrospinal fluid leak, which, if not managed promptly, can lead to long‐term neurological deficits. Additionally, the role of specialized facilities in delivering highly specialized care for managing such intricate cases cannot be understated. Abstract Decompressive craniectomy‐induced subdural hygroma (SDH) frequently coexists with external cerebral herniation, resulting in neurological impairments. The incidence of brain herniation through a craniectomy defect postoperatively is 25%. Brain herniation (BH), SDH, and cerebrospinal fluid leak require urgent neurosurgical management as they can lead to irreversible long‐term neurological deficits. We report a case of a 42‐year‐old male who presented with headache and grand mal seizures. He was diagnosed with herniation of brain parenchyma through the surgical defect with a displacement of the bone flap by a heterogeneously enhancing lesion in the left parietal lobe along with SDH in the left frontoparietal region post partial resection of high‐grade glioma. In this report, we discuss the pathogenesis and management strategies of brain herniation, wound infection, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, ipsilateral SDH, floating bone flap, and communicating hydrocephalus in an adult patient following partial resection of high‐grade glioma. This particular case emphasizes the value of an individualized patient‐centered surgical approach to minimize the risk of postoperative complications.

Introduction Intracranial hypertension continues to be the most frequent cause of death in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Thus, invasive monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP) is a very important tool in neurointensivism. However, there is controversy regarding ICP monitoring and prognosis.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Among the complications related to chronic kidney disease (CKD), those of a neurological nature stand out, and for a better quality of life for patients, the diagnosis and treatment of these complications is fundamental. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the effect of hemodialysis on intracranial pressure waveform (ICPw) in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis and those who are not yet undergoing substitutive therapy. DESIGN AND SETTING: An observational study was conducted in two stages at a kidney replacement therapy center in Brazil. The first was a longitudinal study and the second was a cross-sectional study. METHODS: Forty-two patients on hemodialysis were included in the first stage of the study. In the second stage, 226 participants were included. Of these, 186 were individuals with chronic kidney disease (who were not undergoing substitutive therapy), and 40 did not have the disease (control group). The participants’ intracranial compliance was assessed using the non-invasive Brain4care method, and the results were compared between the groups. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the hemodialysis and non-hemodialysis groups, with the former having better ICPw conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Hemodialysis influenced the improvement in ICPw, probably due to the decrease in the patients’ extra-and intracellular volumes. Furthermore, ICPw monitoring can be a new parameter to consider when defining the moment to start substitutive therapy.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a disease characterized by an increase in the opening pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) associated with symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). The condition is more prevalent in women and typically managed clinically. Surgical treatment is reserved for select refractory cases. The well-established surgical procedures for the management of IIH are CSF shunting and fenestration of the optic nerve sheath. These procedures, however, are associated with high rates of complication and recurrence. More recently, venous sinus angioplasty with stents has been employed in cases with documented narrowing of the sigmoid-transverse sinuses. This technique is associated with a significant reduction in the venous pressure gradient at the stenosis site, alleviating the symptoms of intracranial hypertension. We report a case of a previously healthy 12-year-old patient who presented with 10-day history of headaches, blurring of vision, nausea and vomiting, which evolved with worsening of the visual acuity and papilledema. Imaging scans disclosed stenosis of the right transverse and sigmoid sinuses. The patient underwent stenting of the stenotic venous segments and showed good evolution, with significant clinical improvement within 24 hours of the procedure.

Introduction:In this study, we documented the demographic, etiological, clinical and radiological features of our patients with primary hemifacial spasm (HFS). We also wanted to emphasize that there may be an association between idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and HFS.Methods:Fifty-five patients diagnosed with HFS (28 women) who were followed up in the Movement Disorders Outpatient Clinics of the Department of Neurology University of Health Sciences Turkey, İstanbul Bağcılar Training and Research Hospital between January 2017 and January 2022 were included in this study. Demographic, clinical, and radiological findings were retrospectively reviewed. Depending on radiological findings, patients were divided into three groups: a) Normal findings, b) Incidental findings that did not appear to be related to clinical findings, and c) vascular abnormalities at the level of the brainstem.Results:Only 23 patients had no atherosclerotic risk factors. While magnetic resonance imaging of the brain was normal in 23 patients, 19 patients had ischemic white matter changes, 5 patients had partial empty sella, 7 patients had dolichoectatic basilar artery, and 1 patient had a compression of the anterior segment of the left superior cerebellar artery to the 7th cranial nerve. Based on the history and clinical findings, lumbar puncture was performed in 4 patients, and 3 of them were diagnosed with idiopathic IIH with HFS, and they were treated with acetazolamide. Fifty-one patients were treated with botulinum toxin injections only.Conclusion:Vascular compression is often noted on imaging of patients with primary HFS, but as in our case series, an empty sella finding in patients with chronic headache may be a sign of IIH and should not be overlooked. Also, HFS may be an uncommon presentation of IIH, and symptoms of HFS may improve with treatment of IIH. Additionally, the presence and history of Coronavirus disease-2019 infection should be questioned in newly admitted cases.

The present case report describes a patient who had presented with resistant trigeminal neuralgia and was later discovered to suffer from idiopathic increased intracranial pressure. The related symptoms were resolved by decreasing the intracranial pressure. As in our case, symptom relief can predict a good prognosis in these cases, resulting in an improved quality of life. Although it is not frequently reported, this potential association can be significant as resolving intracranial hypertension can easily improve the symptoms in those suffering from this condition.To our knowledge, no relationship between increased intracranial pressure and trigeminal neuralgia had yet been reported in the literature.

Objective In the present study, we aimed at determining the correlation between tomographic findings of intracranial hypertension and ultrasound measurement of the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD).

Aim:Intracranial pressure may increase due to reasons such as head trauma, intracranial hematoma, cerebral infarction, and cerebral edema. Decompressive craniectomy (DC) may be preferred in the treatment. Our study aims to examine the time of DC and the effect of pupil diameter and midline shift on mortality.Methods:Data from the hospital automation system and patient file records were retrospectively reviewed between 2017 and 2019, and 57 patients who underwent DC for raised intracranial pressure. Fifty-seven patients who underwent DC, whose neurological examination and pupil diameter were recorded after increased intracranial pressure, were evaluated.Results:The mean age of 57 patients was 50.38±19.91 years. The patients’ mean preoperative Glasgow coma score (GCS) was 8.85±3.6 and the mean GCS at discharge was 8.96±6.0. The mean cranial midline shifts of the patients were 7.88±5.35. 49.1% of the patients who underwent DC survived.Conclusion:Mortality rate is lower in patients who underwent DC compared to patients with isochoric pupil, anisocoric, and mid dilated patients. The timing of DC is important in terms of its effect on mortality.

Background. Craniosynostosis is a group of rare congeni-tal diseases of the skull. They arise from premature ossification of one or more cranial sutures. This represents an obstruction to normal brain growth and leads to specific deformations of the skull, which may in the long term cause intracranial hypertension and cognitive delay. Materials and methods. All children treated for craniosyn-ostosis in the Paediatric Neurosurgery Unit of the University Medical Centre Ljubljana between June 2015 and September 2020 (N = 71; age 12.8 years; follow-up 2.7 years) were analyzed. The following data were recorded: affected suture, syndromic condition, hydrocephalus, Chiari malformation, raised intracranial pressure, age at surgery, surgical technique, need for multiple operations, and surgical complications. Results. Sagittal synostosis were present in 54.9 %, 25.3 % metopic, 14 % unicoronal, 1.4 % bicoronal and 1.4 % unilateral lambdoid. Multiple sutures were affected in 2.8 % of cases. Seven % were syndromic. Overall, 74 surgical procedures were performed: fronto-orbital advancement in 40.5 % of cases; biparietal remodelling in 32.4 %; total cranial vault remodelling in 22.9 %; posterior distraction in 2.7 %; posterior expansion in 1.3 %. Conclusions. The treat-ment of craniosynostosis is exclusively surgical and requires a multidisciplinary, neurosurgical, maxillofacial surgical and plastic and reconstructive surgical approach. Surgical treat-ment is performed not only for aesthetical purposes, but mainly to permit normal development of the brain.

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a severe pathology with important social and economic concerns, decompressive craniectomy (DC) represents a life-saving surgical option to treat elevated intracranial hypertension (ICP). The rationale underlying DC is to remove part of the cranial bones and open the dura mater to create space, avoiding secondary parenchymal damage and brain herniations. The scope of this narrative review is to summarize the most relevant literature and to discuss main issues about indication, timing, surgical procedure, outcome, and complications in adult patients involved in severe traumatic brain injury, underwent to the DC. The literature research is made with Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms on PubMed/MEDLINE from 2003 to 2022 and we reviewed the most recent and relevant articles using the following keywords alone or matched with each other: decompressive craniectomy; traumatic brain injury; intracranial hypertension; acute subdural hematoma; cranioplasty; cerebral herniation, neuro-critical care, neuro-anesthesiology. The pathogenesis of TBI involves both primary injuries that correlate directly to the external impact of the brain and skull, and secondary injuries due to molecular, chemical, and inflammatory cascade inducing further cerebral damage. The DC can be classified into primary, defined as bone flap removing without its replacement for the treatment of intracerebral mass, and secondary, which indicates for the treatment of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP), refractory to intensive medical management. Briefly, the increased brain compliance following bone removal reflects on CBF and autoregulation inducing an alteration in CSF dynamics and so, eventual complications. The risk of complications is estimated around 40%. The main cause of mortality in DC patients is due to brain swelling. In traumatic brain injury, primary or secondary decompressive craniectomy is a life-saving surgery, and the right indication should be mandatory in multidisciplinary medical–surgical consultation.

The understanding of the pathophysiology of brain arteriovenous malformations and arteriovenous fistulas has improved thanks to animal models. A rat model creating an artificial fistula between the common carotid artery (CCA) and the external jugular vein (EJV) has been widely described and proved technically feasible. This construct provokes a consistent cerebral venous hypertension (CVH), and therefore has helped studying the contribution of venous hypertension to formation, clinical symptoms, and prognosis of brain AVMs and dural AVFs. Equivalent mice models have been only scarcely described and have shown trouble with stenosis of the fistula. An established murine model would allow the study of not only pathophysiology but also potential genetic therapies for these cerebrovascular diseases. We present a model of arteriovenous fistula that produces a durable intracranial venous hypertension in the mouse. Microsurgical anastomosis of the murine CCA and EJV can be difficult due to diminutive anatomy and frequently result in a non-patent fistula. In this step-by-step protocol we address all the important challenges encountered during this procedure. Avoiding excessive retraction of the vein during the exposure, using 11-0 sutures instead of 10-0, and making a carefully planned end-to-side anastomosis are some of the critical steps. Although this method requires advanced microsurgical skills and a longer learning curve that the equivalent in the rat, it can be consistently developed. This novel model has been designed to integrate transgenic mouse techniques with a previously well-established experimental system that has proved useful to study brain AVMs and dural AVFs. By opening the possibility of using transgenic mice, a broader spectrum of valid models can be achieved and genetic treatments can also be tested. The experimental construct could also be further adapted to the study of other cerebrovascular diseases related with venous hypertension such as migraine, transient global amnesia, transient monocular blindness, etc.

Patients with refractory intracranial hypertension who have already undergone all the measures recommended by the current guidelines can benefit from having their intra-abdominal pressure monitored since its increase generates hemodynamic repercussions and secondary elevation of intracranial pressure. In this context, a bibliographic research was performed on PubMed with the terms intra-abdominal pressure, abdominal compartment syndrome, intracranial pressure, intracranial hypertension. Altogether, 146 articles were observed, 87 of which were from the year 2000, and only 15 articles were considered relevant to the topic. These studies indicate that patients with refractory intracranial hypertension can benefit from the measurement of intraabdominal pressure, since there is evidence that an increase in this pressure leads to organic dysfunctions with an indirect impact on cerebral venous return and, consequently, an increase in intracranial pressure. In those who underwent decompression laparotomy, direct effects were observed in reducing intracranial hypertension and survival.

A prospective study of decompressive craniectomy (DC) influence on intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been performed using intraoperative and postoperative monitoring. Purpose. To study quantitative indicators of DC influence on ICP in patients with severe TBI through continuous intraoperative and postoperative monitoring. Materials and methods. A total of 75 patients (14 women and 61 men) with severe TBI (the GCS score at admission was 8 or less) who underwent DC and dura mater opening with further duraplasty were included in the study. A unilateral wide fronto-temporo-parietal decompression was performed. Primary DC was performed in 64 patients. Secondary DC was performed in 11 patients. ICP measurements were carried out using parenchymal sensors on the REF HDM 26.1/FV500 Brain Pressure Monitor (Spiegelberg,Hamburg,Germany). ICP sensor was installed during the first surgery stage. In each case, a decompressive effect of each surgery stage and the entire surgery was assessed. Results. High ICP was diagnosed in 86.7 % of patients preoperatively and in 24 % of patients (P < 0.05) postoperatively. The mean post-DC ICP decreased from 39 mmHg (preoperative) to 15.8 mmHg (postoperative), the average decrease was 59.5 % from the baseline. The largest decrease in ICP by 42.6 % was detected after bone flap removal. Dura mater opening resulted to additional decrease in ICP by 24.7 %. Conclusions. A unilateral wide fronto-temporo-parietal craniectomy is an effective method for sustainable ICP reduction. DC reduces the percentage of patients with intracranial hypertension. Decompressive effect of a surgery does not significantly depend on DC, brain injury type or traumatic compression substrate.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a disease characterized by an increase in intracranial pressure, without presence of parenchymal lesions or hydrocephalus that justify it. Over 90% of cases there is association with stenosis of the dural venous sinuses. It is characterized by headache, tinidus, nausea, vomiting and visual disturbances. Initial treatment is clinical and when it fails there is indication of invasive procedures, among them shunts and fenestration of the optic nerve sheath. Angioplasty of dural venous sinuses, when indicated, has shown an alternative with better results and less complications. We report a case of a female patient, with 27 years old, diagnosed with IIH and bilateral transverse sinus stenosis, which was treated by bilateral stenting and total resolution of symptoms. Besides describing the case we review the literature about the subject.

Intracranial hypertension (ICH) is a life-threatening condition that can be observed in several diseases. Its clinical presentation is variable, with headache, nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, papilledema, and alterations in the level of consciousness. The gold standard for the diagnosis of ICH is still the intracranial implantation of invasive devices. Non-invasive techniques, such as ultrasonography of the optic nerve sheath (USONS), have emerged in recent years with promising clinical results. The authors report the case of a patient with progressive headache associated with visual impairment and papilledema, and the eventual diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension using USONS.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (ICH) is characterized by elevated intracranial pressure without an evident etiology. Here, we report the case of an adult male who presented with headache, diplopia, blurred vision, and nausea. The patient stated that he had searched a general practitioner 1 week ago because he had experienced cough, dyspnea, and fever. The physician started levofloxacin. On admission, the patient reported that his respiratory symptoms recovered. However, he complained about the beginning of neurological symptoms. On neurological examination, papilledema and unilateral abducens weakness were observed. A brain magnetic resonance imaging showed radiographic features of ICH. A lumbar puncture had an opening pressure of 50 cmH2O. Levofloxacin was withdrawn, and acetazolamide 250 mg bid was started. After 2 weeks, the patient had full recovery of the symptoms, and 4 weeks later, no papilledema was observed.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is the most common antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). We describe the case of a 38-year-old woman with relapsing GPA who presented with intracranial hypertension, followed by the appearance of cavitated lung nodules despite treatment with azathioprine. Clinical improvement and ANCA titre reduction were observed after rituximab treatment. We report a rare form of GPA relapse and highlight the challenge of following-up patients with GPA, in whom can be hard to distinguish relapse from the consequences of long-term immunosuppression.

A 27-year-old female presented to the Clinic of Ophthalmology with the complaints of photophobia, headache, and diplopia. An ophthalmological examination indicated that her best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes with decreased contrast sensitivity. Fundoscopic examination revealed bilateral papilledema. The cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure was above normal at 38.5 cm H2O. Cranial magnetic resonance imagining venography revealed left lateral sinus thrombosis and right lateral sinus retardation of filling. Based on her history, laboratory tests, and neuro-imaging findings, she was diagnosed with vascular neuro-Behcet's disease (NBD). It is important to consider NBD in the differential diagnosis of patients with bilateral papilledema and intracranial hypertension.

Abstract Background Reducing intrathoracic pressure in the setting of compromised cerebral perfusion due to acute brain injury has been associated with reduced intracranial pressure and enhanced cerebral perfusion pressure and blood flow in animals. Noninvasive active intrathoracic pressure regulation lowers intrathoracic pressure, increases preload, reduces the volume of venous blood and cerebral spinal fluid in the skull, and enhances cerebral blood flow. We examined the feasibility of active intrathoracic pressure regulation therapy in patients with brain injury. We hypothesized that active intrathoracic pressure regulation therapy would be associated with lowered intracranial pressure and increased cerebral perfusion pressure in these patients. Methods At three institutions, active intrathoracic pressure regulation therapy (CirQlator™, ZOLL) was utilized for 2 consecutive hours in five mechanically ventilated patients with brain injury. A 30-minute interval was used to collect baseline data and determine persistence of effects after device use. End-tidal carbon dioxide was controlled by respiratory rate changes during device use. The intracranial pressure, mean arterial pressure, and cerebral perfusion pressure were recorded at 5-minute intervals throughout all three periods of the protocol. Results for each interval are reported as mean and standard deviation. Results Intracranial pressure was decreased in all five patients by an average of 21% during (15 ± 4 mmHg) compared to before active intrathoracic pressure regulation (19 ± 4) (p = 0.005). This effect on intracranial pressure (15 ± 6) was still present in four of the five patients 30 minutes after therapy was discontinued (p = 0.89). As a result, cerebral perfusion pressure was 16% higher during (81 ± 10) compared to before active intrathoracic pressure regulation (70 ± 14) (p = 0.04) and this effect remained present 30 minutes after therapy was discontinued. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions These data support the notion that active intrathoracic pressure regulation, in this limited evaluation, can successfully augment cerebral perfusion by lowering intracranial pressure and increasing mean arterial pressure in patients with mild brain injury. The measured effects were immediate on administration of the therapy and persisted to some degree after the therapy was terminated.

Introduction: Decompressive craniectomy (DC) has been recently proven effective tier II therapeutic procedure in the treatment of refractory posttraumatic intracranial hypertension. However, its full potential and effectivity is yet to be described and this surgery remains controversial. The goals of our study include analysis of efficiency of DC and description of risk factors associated with unfavourable outcome.

Point-of-care ultrasound is modifying conducts in emergency care. The various medical specialties, in addition to traditional indications in cases of multiple trauma, are using this technique for rapid diagnosis at the bedside without patient mobilization and without radiation. Point-of-care ultrasound in neurocritical patients, through its transorbital window, can estimate the intracranial pressure by a non-invasive method. Through the measurement of the diameter of the optic nerve sheath 3 mm posterior to the retina, the intracranial pressure is estimated if the value of the diameter is > 5 mm, as it has been verified in other studies. The present article describes the most current data on this topic, and it also highlights the need for more multicentric and randomized trials to determine the correct cut-off points that represent the high sensibility and specificity of the method.

Abstract Introduction Head injury is a direct determinant of morbidity, disability, and mortality in the young population. Sedatives and analgesics are commonly used in patients with brain injury to retrieve an ICP, CMRO2, and CBF, preserving the cerebral regulation system and self-avoiding hypotension. Objective The objective of this paper is to review on this topic, linking the main drugs, side effects, costs, anxiolytic properties, anticonvulsants, and correlating them with complacency and brain metabolism. Methods We perform a literature review using PubMed database, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Direct, The Cochrane Database, Google Scholar, and Clinical trials. We selected papers from the period between 1958 and 2014, which totaled 254 papers. Of these, we selected 129 papers based on keywords, inclusion, and exclusion criteria. Evidence Review The volume of the brain decreases due to dislocation of the CBV out of the skull. The main sedatives and analgesics are propofol, midazolam, etomidate, ketamine, barbiturates, dexedetomedina, morphine, fentanyl, alfentanil, sulfenatil, and remifentanil. We hereby discuss the algorithm for a fast intubation sequence and the algorithm for intracranial hypertension treatment regarding the systematic sedation therapy. A range of sedatives and analgesic agents are available for sedation. Each class has its own positive and negative effects on neurotrauma patients. Conclusions The correct analysis of sedation and analgesia in neurotrauma, rapid sequence intubation, and management of medications in intracranial hypertension can lead to an ideal management of brain injury.

A decompressive craniectomy is a therapeutic modality not commonly used in cases of refractory intracranial hypertension due to viral encephalitis. In this article the authors present two cases of patients with viral encephalitis that have undergone decompressive craniectomy to control intracranial pressure. Both evolved with Glasgow outcome score of 4. The main clinical data for the surgical decision are Glasgow coma scale and the pupils of the patient associated with the imaging tests showing a large necrotic area and perilesional edema. The evolution of the patients undergoing decompression was satisfactory in 92.3% of cases.