The clinical features, treatment, and outcome were reviewed for 48 patients with a haematoma and 71 patients with an infarct in the posterior fossa in order to develop a rational plan of management. Clinical features alone were insufficient to make a diagnosis in about half of the series. Patients with a haematoma were referred more quickly to the neurosurgical unit, were more often in coma, and more often had CT evidence of brain stem compression and acute hydrocephalus. Ultimately, 75% of the patients with a haematoma required an operation. By contrast, most patients with an infarct were managed successfully conservatively. Early surgical management in both cerebellar haemorrhage and infarct (either external ventricular drainage or evacuation of the lesion), associated with early presentation and CT signs of brain stem compression and acute hydrocephalus, led to a good outcome in most patients. Of the patients with cerebellar haematoma initially treated by external drainage, over half subsequently required craniectomy and evacuation of the lesion; but, in some cases, this failed to reverse the deterioration. In patients with a cerebellar infarct, external drainage was more often successful. The guidelines, findings, and recommendations for future management of patients with posterior fossa stroke are discussed. (J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1995;59:287-292)
We have retrospectively reviewed 23 conscious patients, in whom a CT scan diagnosis of acute subdural haematoma was made, and in whom craniotomy for evacuation was not initially performed. These highly selected patients represent 3% of 837 patients with acute subdural haematoma, presenting over a five year, eight month period to the Institute of Neurological Sciences, in Glasgow (1986-1991). Patients with any other associated intracranial abnormalities, such as cerebral contusions, as shown on CT, were excluded from this report. All patients were followed by serial CT scanning, and neurological assessments. Cerebral atrophy was present in over half of the sample. In 17 of our patients, the acute subdural haematoma resolved spontaneously, without evidence of damage to the underlying brain, as shown by CT or neurological findings. Six subsequently required burr hole drainage of a hypodense liquid subdural haematoma. In each of these patients, haematoma thickness was greater than 10 mm. Haematoma volume was significantly larger (53 +/- 6 ml versus 32 +/- 2 ml) in the group who came to operation. The mean delay between injury and operation in this group was 15 days. We conclude that certain conscious patients with small acute subdural haematomas, without mass effect on CT, may be safely managed conservatively.
This is a retrospective review of the clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of 62 patients with histologically proven intradural conus and cauda equina tumours. In the majority of cases the clinical presentation clearly suggests the need for further investigation. One fifth of the patients had small intramedullary tumours, which presented particular diagnostic difficulty and required sophisticated cross sectional imaging. ( Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1993;56:69-74)
Perinatal deaths and major lethal and non-lethal congenital malformations occurring in this hospital from 1979-82 inclusive were related to the ethnic group of the 15 438 mothers. The highest crude perinatal mortality rates occurred in Indian and Pakistani populations (18-3 per 1000 and 24-1 per 1000 respectively). The highest incidence of congenital abnormality also occurred in these groups (13-3 per 1000 and 12*8 per 1000 respectively), but there was considerable variation in the distribution of different malformations.
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