Clinical Characteristics of Poor-Grade Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Treatment

Background The initial clinical status after aneurysm rupture, whether primary or secondary, determines the final outcome. The most common cause of patient deterioration is a high Hunt and Hess (HH) score, which correlates closely with a high mortality rate. Poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is determined as an HH score 4 or 5. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of poor graded aneurysmal SAH at our institution.

Patients and Methods During the 5-year period, 415 patients with intracranial aneurysm were admitted to our institution. Patients with poor-grade aneurysmal SAH accounted 31.08% (n = 132) of the total number of ruptured aneurysms. Interventional treatment was predominantly in the form of surgery, whereas conservative treatment included medication and external ventricular drainage. Final outcome was assessed with a modified Rankin score (mRs). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23.0 with a significance level set to 5% (α = 0.05).

Results The majority of patients (57.6%) were in the age range from 51 to 69 years. Twenty-five patients (18.9%) had an HH score of 4, whereas 107 patients (81.1%) had an HH score of 5. Depending on the location, the majority of patients (n = 43) had an aneurysm on the medial cerebral artery (MCA). The final aneurysm occlusion was performed in 71 patients, of whom 94.36% were treated surgically. A positive outcome (mRs 0–4) was found in 49.25% of patients who underwent primarily surgical, treatment with a mortality of 42.3%. Although the outcome was better in patients with an HH score 4, both groups benefited from surgical treatment.

Conclusion Poor-grade aneurismal SAH is a condition of the middle and older age, with most patients with an HH 5 score and deep comatose state. There was better outcome in patients with an HH score of 4 compared to an HH score of 5 and both groups benefited from surgical treatment, which resulted in a positive outcome in almost 50% of surgically treated patients.

Association of IDH1 Mutations with Epilepsies in Patients with Diffuse Adult Glioma according to the WHO 2021 Classification

BACKGROUND: Tumors of the central nervous system comprise a wide range of over 100 histological distinct subtypes with different descriptive epidemiology, clinical features, treatments, and outcomes. The presence of isocitrate dehydrogenase gene mutation 1 (IDH1) has become one of the most critical biomarkers for molecular classification and prognosis in adult diffuse gliomas. About 65–90% of patients with adult diffuse gliomas have seizures as their initial symptoms. AIM: The objective of this study was to determine the association between IDH1 mutations in adult diffuse gliomas with an incidence of symptomatic epilepsy. METHODS: The study was conducted as an observational, cross-sectional, and prospective clinically controlled study at the Clinic of Neurosurgery of the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo. The research included a total of 100 patients treated at the Clinic of Neurosurgery, with pathohistological confirmation of glioma Grades II–IV who were stratified by groups according to tumor grade. Data were collected on tumor localization and grade, the presence of IDH mutations, and the presence of epileptic seizures as the first symptom of the glioma. RESULTS: Out of a total of 100 patients, 39 had IDH 1 mutations, while 61 patients were without them: Of these, diffuse astrocytoma Grade II 30 cases (30%), Grade III 5 (5%), and Grade IV 7 (7%), and the number of patients with glioblastoma was 58 (58%). In the group of patients with IDH 1 mutations, epileptic seizures were present in 87.2% compared to the group of patients without IDH 1 mutations (wild type) in which epileptic seizures were present in 16.4% of cases. Statistical analysis showed that the positive mutated IDH-type carries an almost 70% increase in the likelihood of epileptic seizures (χ2 = 8.378; p = 0.0001). If we separate the group of diffuse astrocytomas in the IDH 1-positive subgroup, 34 patients (85.81%) had epileptic seizures, while in the IDH 1-negative subgroup, there were no patients with epileptic seizures, which carries a statistically significant difference in frequency in favor of IDH 1-positive tumors (p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSION: There is a clear connection between the presence of IDH1 mutations and the occurrence of epileptic seizures in the clinical picture of patients with diffuse adult glioma.

Relapsing Tumefactive Demyelination: A Case Report

OBJECTIVE

We present a case of relapsing tumefactive demyelination in a young female patient, that posed a real diagnostic challenge, with a heterogeneous clinical picture, atypical for multiple sclerosis (MS) presentation, and neuroradiological manifestations with a high suspicion of neoplastic diseases.

CASE REPORT

An 18-year old female patient presented to our Neurosurgical Out-patients' Clinic with symptoms atypical for multiple sclerosis, unremarkable neurological deficit, one tumefactive lesion on MRI, followed by relapse and another two lesions within a period of six months. We decided to perform biopsy of the tumefactive lesion with compressive effect. Serological and clinical data were negative for MS, and the patient did not respond well to corticosteroid therapy. Fresh frozen tumor tissue aroused a strong suspicion of gemistocytic astrocytoma, so total resection was done, but the definitive pathohistological examination confirmed tumefactive demyelination.

CONCLUSION

For clinicians, it is important to consider demyelinating disease in the differential diagnosis of a tumorlike lesion of the central nervous system, in order to avoid invasive and potentially harmful diagnostic procedures, especially in younger patients.

Sepsis Caused by Bacterial Colonization of Migrated Distal Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Catheter into the Pulmonary Artery: A First Case Report and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Migration of distal ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt catheter into another body part has been described as a potentially serious surgical complication. We present the first case of sepsis caused by transcardial and pulmonary migration of a distal catheter into the heart and pulmonary artery, which was subsequently colonized by Klebsiella pneumoniae.

CASE REPORT

A 56-year-old man underwent VP shunt insertion for hydrocephalus that developed after the surgery for intracranial meningioma. Three years later, he was admitted to department for infectious diseases because of persistent fever. Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from the blood cultures. Computed tomography (CT) of the thorax showed migration of the distal catheter into the heart and pulmonary artery. The migrated shunt catheter was retrieved without any complication with the assistance of a cardiovascular surgeon; microbiologic analysis confirmed that the catheter was colonized with K. pneumoniae. We decided to delay new VP shunt placement because of the positive blood cultures, and 3 weeks after the surgery, the patient was without signs of increased intracranial pressure and without any heart problems.

CONCLUSION

Migration of a distal VP shunt catheter into the heart should be considered in patients with a previously placed VP shunt presenting with cardiopulmonary problems, arrhythmia, and/or fever. Neurosurgeons should be involved as soon as possible, and a multidisciplinary approach is warranted.

Low back and lumbar radicular syndrome: comparative study of the operative and non-operative treatment

AIM

To compare the effectiveness of the discectomy and conservative treatment in patients with disc related low back and lumbar radicular syndrome.

METHODS

We performed retrospective-prospective cohort study enrolling 100 patients. According to our extended criteria all of them had operative indications. We operated 50 patients, 50 patients refused operation and they were treated non-operatively. The following measures of outcome were used: Sciatica Bothersomeness Index, leg and back pain depending on the activity, Lasègue test, contralateral Lasègue test, neurological deficit. Data were assessed at the beginning of the treatment and after 2 months, 7 months, and 18 months.

RESULTS

Treatment results were in favor of surgery for majority of outcome measures as well as for all periods of assessment. After 18 months there was significant difference between operated and non-operated patients related to Sciatica Bothersomeness Index (p less than 0,05), Lasègue test (p=0,002), neurological deficit (p less than 0,05) and leg and back pain depending on the activity (p=0,009). There was no significant difference between the groups related to contralateral Lasègue test (p=0,206).

CONCLUSION

We expended formerly accepted operative indications. There were better treatment results in the operated group of patients. A fast reduction of symptoms is the main advantage of the operative treatment strategy. Patients whose pain is controlled in a manner that is acceptable for them may decide to postpone surgery. Patients preference for the type of treatment is crucial for an ultimate surgical decision in cases without widespread neurologic deficits.