Don't throw in the towel! A case of reversible coma.
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A young woman with pre-eclampsia became unresponsive shortly after delivery. Examination revealed extensive brain stem dysfunction with absent pupillary light reflexes and decerebrate posturing. Computed tomography showed hypodensity throughout the brain stem, and it was initially thought that she had suffered catastrophic brain stem infarction. However, magnetic resonance diffusion imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient mapping showed that she had brain stem vasogenic oedema (posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, PRES), rather than cytotoxic oedema. With antihypertensive and supportive treatment, she recovered rapidly, and had no abnormalities on repeat imaging. (+info)
Nature and nurture in vitamin B12 deficiency.
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We report on a child in whom severe nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency was exacerbated by a genetic impairment of the folate cycle, causing reduced CSF concentrations of the methyl group donor 5-methyltetrahydrofolate. Some patients with vitamin B12 deficiency may benefit from high dose folic acid supplementation, even if plasma concentrations are high. (+info)
Platelet aggregability in relation to impaired consciousness after head injury.
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ADP-induced platelet aggregation was studied for up to six weeks in 34 patients with head injuries. The patients were divided into three groups according to the degree of impaired consciousness assessed by a clinical coma scale, and change in platelet aggregation was related to the coma score. Platelet aggregation was markedly reduced in all eight patients dying within 24 hours of injury. All 17 patients who remained unconscious for four days or more showed decreased platelet aggregation up to nine days after admission, the most marked effect being on the second day. Platelet function in this group returned to normal within 16 days. Nine patients with only slightly impaired consciousness also showed subnormal platelet aggregation during the first few days with a return to normal by the fourth day. Platelet counts remained within normal limits in all groups. We suggest that during coma following head injury brainstem dysfunction induces neurohumoral changes in the blood which are responsible for a decrease in platelet function. (+info)
Death and conception.
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The complex moral, ethical and legal concerns that have arisen as a result of posthumous assisted reproduction (PAR) are examined in this report. Difficult questions such as what constitutes informed consent, and whether it is ethical to retrieve spermatozoa from patients who are in a coma, are considered. Legal issues, such as whether gametes can be considered as property and the need to clarify the legal definition of paternity in cases of children born in such circumstances, are also discussed, while other points regarding the advisability of PAR, respecting the wishes of the deceased donor and the need to protect the interests of the unborn child, are outlined. The motives of the gestating women, viewing their desire for PAR perhaps as part of the grieving process, and the effects on the children concerned are examined; it is concluded that there appears to be no adverse effect, but this finding might be premature. The report also asserts the need for responsible accounting on the part of fertility clinics, and calls for fairness, transparency and patience to help the bereaved reach an unbiased yet informed decision. This may be achieved by offering ample time for informed and support counselling. Finally, consideration should be expressed for the welfare of unborn child, in a balanced, pragmatic and sensible manner. (+info)
Implementation of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy on neurosurgical coma patients.
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OBJECTIVE: To present the authors' experience with percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT), with special attention to early and late complications, outcomes, and primary disease influence. METHODS: Between November 2000 and May 2001, 22 PDTs were performed with the aid of dilatating forceps in 21 neurosurgical coma patients. A Seldinger wire was introduced through a cannula into the trachea serving as a guide. The guidewire was threaded through the clamped guidewire dilating forceps and the forceps was advanced through the tracheal wall. The trachea was dilated by opening forceps. The guidewire was then threaded through the obturator of the tracheostomy tube and both were advanced into the trachea. Demographic data, patient disease variables and patient anatomical features, as well as perioperative and late complications were recorded prospectively. RESULTS: Completion of the procedure consumed 4 - 16 minutes (mean, 12 minutes). The procedure caused complications in 3 operations: 2 cases of stomal bleeding, 1 of intratracheal bleeding, but there was no severe tracheal injury or mediastinal emphysema. Furthermore, none of the cases required intervention due to complications. All patients were followed up for 1 to 6 months. Tracheostomy tubes were removed in 16 patients. All cervical incisions were closed with cosmetic demand. Two patients with tracheostomy tubes were retained for primary diseases. Causes of death in 3 others were unrelated to the PDT. No patient developed tracheomalacia or tracheal stenosis as a late complication. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy is a fast, safe and simple procedure for neurosurgical coma patients and can be safely performed by neurosurgeons. (+info)
"CADASIL coma": an underdiagnosed acute encephalopathy.
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The main clinical features of CADASIL (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leucoencephalopathy) are stroke, dementia, and migraine. A reversible acute encephalopathy was the principal presentation in six of 70 patients in a British prevalence study. The episodes lasted seven to 14 days, presenting with fever, acute confusion, coma, and fits; there was full recovery but in two cases identical episodes recurred some years later. All patients had a previous history of migraine with aura and were originally misdiagnosed as viral encephalitis. CADASIL should be considered in acute unexplained encephalopathies. MRI white matter changes, previous migraine with aura, and a family history of stroke and dementia may be useful pointers to the diagnosis. (+info)
Amitraz poisoning, an emerging problem: epidemiology, clinical features, management, and preventive strategies.
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BACKGROUND: Amitraz is a pharmaceutical, veterinary, and agricultural product which is used worldwide under numerous generic names as an acaricide and insecticide. Because of its widespread use amitraz poisoning has come emerged as a cause of childhood poisoning during the past decade, particularly more in certain countries such as Turkey. AIMS AND METHODS: To report the clinical features, the management, and the preventive strategies of amitraz poisoning in nine children, and review the previously reported 137 cases in humans. RESULTS: Five male and four female children aged 10 months to 8 years were admitted to our department. The estimated ingested dose ranged between 89.2 and 163 mg/kg and estimated time from ingestion to presentation was 30-120 minutes. The initial signs and symptoms were impaired consciousness, drowsiness, vomiting, disorientation, miosis, mydriasis, hypotension, bradycardia, tachypnoea, hypothermia, and generalised seizures. Hyperglycaemia, glycosuria, and minimal increase in transaminase levels were observed. None required mechanical ventilation. CNS depression resolved spontaneously within 4-28 hours in all. The length of hospital stay was two to three days; all had a good outcome. CONCLUSION: This review details preventive measures and management strategies of amitraz poisoning, including the importance of following patients closely in the intensive care unit, monitoring their respiratory, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems since they may occasionally experience serious cardiopulmonary side effects. (+info)
Pupillary evaluation for differential diagnosis of coma.
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OBJECTIVES: To determine the usefulness of bedside evaluation of pupils in determining the aetiology of coma by adopting a probabilistic approach. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and fifteen consecutive patients presenting with coma were enrolled in this prospective cohort during the 12 month study period in the emergency room of a community teaching hospital. Patients underwent structured clinical examinations and laboratory and imaging tests. Assignment of aetiology of coma was based on strict adherence to predetermined criteria and achieved by consensus of the two physician investigators. One year follow up was obtained in all patients. RESULTS: Aetiology of coma was determined in 98% of the patients. It was metabolic in 69 patients (60%) and structural in 46 patients (40%). Metabolic causes included drug overdose, acute alcohol intoxication, hypoglycaemia, sepsis, and pneumonia. Structural causes included intracerebral haemorrhage, subarachnoid haemorrhage, cerebral infarction, subdural haematoma, and epidural haematoma. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed light reflex loss (likelihood ratio for positive test result 3.59) and anisocoria (likelihood ratio for positive test result 9.0) as independent predictors of structural origin. CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective study of patients presenting to the emergency room of a community based teaching hospital with coma, in about 60% the coma is of metabolic origins and in about 40% of structural origins. Light reflex loss and anisocoria suggest a structural aetiology. (+info)