Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) is an anatomic variant that consists of enlargement and dilatation, often associated with a tortuous and elongated vessel 1 . The anomaly is probably due to a marked thinning of the internal elastica lamina and media, most likely as a consequence of prolonged systemic arterial hypertension 2 . It accounts for approximately 3 to 5% of all cerebellopontine mass lesions. A variety of clinical syndromes have been related due to pulsatile compression by the aberrant vessel: cerebellar dysfunction, hydrocephalus, ischemic stroke, transient or permanent motor deficits, central sleep apnea, trigeminal neuralgia, as well as brain stem compression syndrome 1,3,4 . Microvascular decompression surgery was introduced in the 1960s and was initially used to treat trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm and glossopharyngeal neuralgia 5 . Lately, it was used to treat brainstem dysfunction caused by an ectatic vessel 1 . Nowadays, microvascular decompression with repositioning of the ectatic vessel is a new technique that has been used successfully.The purpose of this study is to report and discuss a rare case of brain stem compression syndrome caused by vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia successfully treated with microvascular decompression repositioning technique and documented by computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CASEA 60-years old man with a past medical history of diabete mellitus type 2 sought neurological treatment after experiencing mild progressive disartria for eight months. He did not have other complaints. The patient's neurologial examination revealed, besides the speech abnormality, left side pyramidal syndrome with hiperreflexia and Babinski´s sign. All the other aspects of the neurological examination were intact. Imaging investigationMRI and CTA showed an elongated and tortuous vertebrobasilar artery that crossed the ventral aspect of the medulla oblongata causing mechanial compression at the left side (Figs 1 and 2). Surgical techniqueThe patient was placed in the prone oblique (park bench) position, and a left far lateral suboccipitoretromastoidea approach was performed with left vertebral artery exposure. The dura was opened, and cerebrospinal fluid was released at the cisterna magna to provide a capacious working environment.Arachnoid dissection revealed a large vascular structure, identified as the basilar dolichoectatic artery, dislocating and compressing the brain stem (medulla oblongata) in its left ventral region. As soon as the neurovascular conflicting area was

4 dias), doença crônica, trauma e internação prolongada na UTI (> 30 dias). Os fatores de risco associados à morte foram idade, APACHE II, falência orgânica e prótese em via aérea com ou sem ventilação mecânica. CONCLUSÕES: A infecção adquirida na UTI é comum e freqüentemente associada a isolados de microorganismos resistentes. Este estudo, apesar de sua abrangência regional, serve de referência epidemiológica para ajudar a programar políticas de controle de infecção.]]>

Background:As a consequence of the progressive evolution of neurosurgical techniques, there has been increasing concern with the esthetic aspects of burr holes. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the use of cortical bone graft and bone dust for correcting cranial deformities caused by neurosurgical trephines.Methods:Twenty-three patients were enrolled for cranial burr hole reconstruction with a 1-year follow-up. A total of 108 burr holes were treated; 36 burr holes were reconstructed with autogenous cortical bone discs (33.3%), and the remaining 72 with autogenous wet bone powder (66.6%). A trephine was specifically designed to produce this coin-shaped bone plug of 14 mm in diameter, which fit perfectly over the burr holes. The reconstructions were studied 12 months after the surgical procedure, using three-dimensional quantitative computed tomography. Additionally, general and plastic surgeons blinded for the study evaluated the cosmetic results of those areas, attributing scores from 0 to 10.Results:The mean bone densities were 987.95 ± 186.83 Hounsfield units (HU) for bone fragment and 473.55 ± 220.34 HU for bone dust (P < 0.001); the mean cosmetic scores were 9.5 for bone fragment and 5.7 for bone dust (P < 0.001).Conclusions:The use of autologous bone discs showed better results than bone dust for the reconstruction of cranial burr holes because of their lower degree of bone resorption and, consequently, better cosmetic results. The lack of donor site morbidity associated with procedural low cost qualifies the cortical autograft as the first choice for correcting cranial defects created by neurosurgical trephines.

Our purpose is to report a case of trigeminal neuralgia caused by vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia treated with microvascular decompression. A 63-year-old man sought treatment for a recurrent lancinating left facial pain in V2 and V3 trigeminal territories. The computed tomography angiography revealed a mechanical compression of the left trigeminal nerve due to vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia. The patient was submitted to a left suboccipital craniotomy. Shredded Teflon® was introduced in the conflicting neurovascular area, achieving a satisfactory decompression. The patient’s pain resolved immediately. Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia is a rare cause of trigeminal neuralgia and a successful outcome can be achieved with microvascular decompression.

Introduction: Although the 2019 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) pandemic poses new challenges to the healthcare system to provide support for thousands of patients, there is special concern about common medical emergencies, such as stroke, that will continue to occur and will require adequate treatment. The allocation of both material and human resources to fight the pandemic cannot overshadow the care for acute stroke, a time-sensitive emergency that with an inefficient treatment will further increase mortality and long-term disability. Objective: This paper summarizes the recommendations from the Scientific Department on Cerebrovascular Diseases of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology, the Brazilian Society of Cerebrovascular Diseases and the Brazilian Society of Neuroradiology for management of acute stroke and urgent neuro-interventional procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic, including proper use of screening tools, personal protective equipment (for patients and health professionals), and patient allocation.

Cerebral vascular events constitute the most common group of neurological diseases, and are usually followed by systemic infections, being pneumonia, urinary tract infection and sepsis the most frequent 1 . Brain abscess compromising the infarcted cerebral tissue is a rare condition 2,3 . It most frequently happens a few weeks after an infectious systemic insult, which had usually followed the ischemic stroke. There are only a few case reports on this subject in the literature. In spite of that, those patients with ischemic stroke should be considered at high risk of developing brain abscess, and should have this condition included in their differential diagnosis once neurologic or even systemic deterioration takes place following previous recovery. Cerebral ischemia is considered to be a predisposing factor for the genesis of brain abscess after stroke 4 . Due to impaired cerebral oxigenation and blood brain barrier disruption in the infarcted area, the formation of an abscess becomes feasible following bacteremia, a fact that has recently caught the attention of neurologists and neurosurgeons 2,3,5 . CASEA previously healthy 33-year-old white woman is admited to the emergency room complaining of severe right hemiparesis of acute onset and motor disphasia, which progressed to complete aphasia in a few minutes. Brain computed tomography (CT) revealed no abnormalities. Due to the hypothesis of acute obstruction of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA), a cerebral angiography was performed five hours after the onset of the symptoms, indicating oclusion of the distal portion of the left intracranial carotid artery, compromising both anterior and middle cerebral arteries. Intra-arterial thrombolytics were administered, with total reperfusion of the anterior cerebral artery territory. A MCA suboclusion (M2 segment) remained, despite multiple attempts to perform angioplasty with stent deployment. Patient was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) and was started on intravenous anticoagulants. About 24 hours after the procedure, patient developed anisocoria with left mydriasis, and tomographic evidence of hemispheric edema compromising the left MCA distribution with intracerebral hemorrhage and significant mass effect. A decompressive craniotomy was performed, and a ventricular catheter for intracranial pressure (ICP) measurement was placed (Fig 1).Elevated ICP was managed with mannitol and hypertonic saline. Four days after the ictus, patient developed fever (38 o C)with negative blood cultures. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were then isolated in the tracheal aspirate, being both ciprofloxacin sensitive. Patient persisted febrile after seven days of antimicrobial therapy, and the previous germs were both once again isolated in the tracheal aspirate. Anaerobic gram positive cocci disposed in chains were identified in the blood culture; piperacilin and tazobactan for ciprofloxacin resistant pseudomonas were introduced, with favorable outcome. Seven weeks after the stroke, patient started with lo...

The purpose of this study is to report a rare case of primary meningeal high grade Burkitt-type lymphoma presenting as the first clinical manifestation of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. A 38-year-old Caucasian man, with a negative past medical history, sought treatment after experiencing global headache for five days. CT-Scan revealed a right front-temporo-parietal hyperdense subdural expansive mass. A craniotomy was performed and a hard white subdural was microsurgically dissected. Some hours after the surgery, the patient developed hemispheric cerebral edema and intracranial hypertension syndrome. Decompressive craniotomy was performed and the patient had an excellent recovery. Screening blood tests diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus infection. Further investigation ruled out systemic diseases. Eleven days after the initial surgery, the patient developed an acute respiratory failure and sepsis, dying on that day. Pathological studies diagnosed Burkitt-type lymphoma.

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