BACKGROUND Infection is a major complication in patients undergoing external ventricular drainage (EVD). Our study aimed to evaluate the incidence of infection in a series with the monoblock EVD system. MATERIAL AND METHODS 46 patients treated with EVD at our emergency department were analyzed prospectively to research the incidence of infections with a new EVD system. RESULTS The average r...

The results of treatment of 50 cases of ventriculitis associated with the use of cerebrospinal fluid shunts or external ventricular drains, and treated with intraventricular vancomycin, are reported. While the overall cure rate was 66% with four cases lost to follow-up, in those cases where treatment involved shunt removal, 20 mg vancomycin daily intraventricularly, and another appropriate syst...

To clarify the pathogenesis of two different types of adult-onset normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), we investigated cerebrospinal fluid distribution on the high-field three-dimensional MRI. The subarachnoid spaces in secondary NPH were smaller than those in the controls, whereas those in idiopathic NPH were of similar size to the controls. In idiopathic NPH, however, the basal cistern and Sy...

A 26-year-old man with no previous medical history presented with progressive dry cough of two-month onset. His blood pressure and heart rate were 100/65 mmHg and 125/bpm, respectively. Electrocardiography revealed sinus tachycardia with frequent premature ventricular contractions. A chest X-ray showed a globular-shaped cardiac silhouette. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a large pericardi...

Three patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (TAPVD) into the innominate vein were studied by using M-mode and pulsed Doppler echocardiography. An abnormal continuous flow towards the transducer in a suprasternal notch position detected by pulsed Doppler echocardiography in the left hemithorax leftward of the aortic echo is a sign of blood flow through the left vertical vein in...

BACKGROUND Traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation (AOD) is a rare but often fatal injury. Consequently, long-term data regarding surviving patients have been limited. In particular, the occurrence of hydrocephalus is not well-documented. CASE DESCRIPTION A 33-year-old male sustained AOD as a consequence of a motor vehicle collision. Although he did well initially after an occipitocervical fu...

The penetration of ofloxacin was studied in 22 patients with purulent meningitis or ventriculitis treated with conventional antibiotics. Three successive doses of 200 mg were infused at 12-h intervals during the acute stage of the disease. Ten patients received three additional doses when the meninges were considered to be healed. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was drawn 0.5, 3, 6, or 12 h after the...

Sir, I note with interest the recent report by Dr Menzies et al. of a patient with cranial diabetes insipidus secondary to arrested hydrocephalus.1 In his discussion he did not identify any previously reported cases of diabetes insipidus secondary to hydrocephalus. I recently reported a patient with diabetes insipidus which developed after subarachnoid haemorrhage.2 In the discussion, I noted a...

A 68-year-old avid deer hunter with ischemic cardiomyopathy underwent left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation for destination therapy two years ago. He was living an active lifestyle, tracking deer and fishing in a Midwestern forest in November. His wife removed an engorged tick on his thorax. A few days later, he experienced fever, confusion, and ataxia and was hospitalized with sep...

years were under supervision for periods ranging from several months to more than 9 years. The obstruction was subvalvar in 3. Additional malformations were aortic regurgitation, persistent ductus arteriosus, coarctation of the aorta, ventricular septal defect, partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, and mitral stenosis. Bacterial endocarditis complicated 3. Of 5 deaths unrelated to operat...