• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 2001

Objectives : With the advancement of a social life, the pediatric head injuries(PHI) occur greater than ever. Since the PHI differs from adult head injury with regards to mechanism of trauma, prognosis, and mortality, it is important to identify the characteristics of the PHI for its proper treatments and prognosis. Methods : For this study, a series of 365 PHI patients under 15 years of age who were admitted to our hospital, were evaluated from January 1991 to December 1996. The clinical variable studied were age, sex, Glasgow coma score(GCS), causes of trauma, diagnosis, symptoms, associated injuries and Glasgow outcome score (GOS). The characteristics of PHI were evaluated according to presentations of skull fractures, intracranial hemorrhages, associated injuries, GCS at admission and GOS. Results : Mean age of the studied patients was 6.51 years of age. The majority of PHI patients were under the 7 years of age(66.7%). The ratio of male to female was 2.2:1. Seasonally, PHI occurred more frequently during March to August(61.6%). The main causes of the injuries were accidental falls and traffic accidents(47.1% and 46.3%). One hundred ninety seven(54%) patients suffered from skull fractures and 110(30.1%) patients were developed intracranial hemorrhages and acute epidural hematomas(17.8%) which were the most common intracranial hemorrhages. There was statistical significance between skull fractures and intracranial hemorrhage (p=0.032) and between GCS and GOS(p=0.001). However, there was no statistical significance between skull fractures and intracranial hemorrhage(epidural hematomas, subdural hematomas, and intracerebral, intraventricular and subarachnoid hemorrhage)(p=0.061, 0.251 and 0.880). Also there were no significance of prognosis between under the seven and over the 8 years of age(p=0.349). Conclusions : The core management for PHI is prevention from its occurrences. However, when unexpected accident occurs, early diagnosis and treatment for PHI by through examination for associated injuries and other damages even if there is no skull fracture are essential in managing patient's outcome.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.97-101
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• 2011

Objective : It is technically difficult to treat wide-necked intracranial aneurysms by the endovascular method. Various tools and techniques have been introduced to overcome the related technical limitations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiologic and clinical results of widenecked intracranial aneurysm treatment using the endovascular method. Methods : Fifteen aneurysms in 15 patients were treated by the endovascular method from October 2009 to August 2010. Seven patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), seven patients had unruptured aneurysms, and one patient had an intracerebral hemorrhage and intraventricular hemorrhage due to an incompletely clipped aneurysm. The mean dome-to-neck ratio was 1.1 (range, 0.6-1.7) and the mean height-to-neck ratio was 1.1 (range, 0.6-2.0). We used double microcatheters instead of a stent or a balloon for the first trial. When we failed to make a stable coil frame with two coils, we used a stent-assisted technique. Results : All aneurysms were successfully embolized. Eleven aneurysms (73%) were embolized by the double microcatheter technique without stent insertion, and four aneurysms (27%) were treated by stent-assisted coil embolization. One case had subclinical procedure-related intraoperative hemorrhage. Another case had procedure-related thromboembolism in the left distal anterior cerebral artery. During the follow-up period, one patient (7%) had a recanalized aneurysmal neck 12 months after coil embolization. The recurrent aneurysm was treated by stent-assisted coil embolization. Conclusion : We successfully treated 15 wide-necked intracranial aneurysms by the endovascular method. More clinical data with longer follow-up periods are needed to establish the use of endovascular treatment for wide-necked aneurysm.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2001

Objective : The popular grading systems in use, such as Hunt-Hess grade and Fisher scale score, are based primarily on the patient's clinical conditions or computerized tomography score after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH). The author investigated whether the need for ventriculoperitoneal(VP) shunt for chronic hydrocephalus and outcome can be predicted by Hunt-Hess grade and Fisher scale. Methods : A series of 146 patients admitted to our hospital from August 1991 to July 1999, who presented with SAH and underwent craniotomy for aneurysm clipping were studied retrospectively. Chronic hydrocephalus was defined as clinically and radiographically demonstrated hydrocephalus that lasted 2 weeks or longer after initial hemorrhage which required shunting. Patients were evaluated based on following factors : Hunt-Hess grade, Fisher scale, age, sex, hypertension, aneurysm location, and intervals from aneurysm rupture to operation. Results : The overall mortality rate of the study group was 8.2%. Hunt-Hess grade(p=0.001) or Fisher scale (p=0.001) at all pretreatment times was significantly correlated with outcome. In addition, there was an increased risk of poor outcome in older age(65<). However, there were statistically no significant relationship between outcome and sex, location of aneurysm, hypertension, and interval from aneurysmal rupture to operation(p>0.05). Of 134 surviving patients, 16 patients(12%) underwent VP shunt placement secondary to chronic hydrocephalus. Hunt-Hess grade(p=0.001) is more predictive of chronic hydrocephalus than Fisher scale(p=0.146). Aneurysm location was significantly correlated with development of chronic hydrocephalus (p<0.05), without significant correlations in sex, age, hypertension. IVH, and ICH. Conclusion : This study suggests that there is a high clinical correlation between outcome and Hunt-Hess grades and Fisher scales on admission, but Hunt-Hess grade is more predictive for chronic hydrocephalus than Fisher scale. In addition, age(<65 yrs) is the significant factor for prediction of outcome. There was a trend of increasing risk for chronic hydrocephalus according to aneurymal location.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.441-444
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• 2006

Objective : The goal of this study is to evaluate the clinical results in six patients who underwent surgical decompression for the acute subdural hematomas[ASDH] of posterior cranial fossa. Methods : Six patients [five males and one female] who had undergone surgery for ASDH of posterior cranial fossa between 2000 and 2005, were evaluated retrospectively with regard to clinicoradiological findings and surgical outcomes. The mean age was 45.8 years [range $9{\sim}67\;years$]. Results : Preoperative computed tomography showed ASDH on cerebellar hemisphere in four patients and on midline in two. All patients had the associated lesions such as subarachnoid hemorrhage, epidural or subdural hematoma, intraventricular hemorrhage, contusion or pneumocephalus in supratentorial area. Fracture of occipital bone was noted in two patients. Of the four patients who had 13 to 15 of Glasgow coma scale score at the time of admission, three were deteriorated within 24 hours after trauma. Of these three patients, delayed subdural hematoma developed 1 hour after initial normal CT finding in one patient and increased in thickness in another one. Postoperative outcome showed good recovery in three patients and moderate disability in one. Two patients were expired. Conclusion : This study supports that early diagnosis based on strict observation and prompt surgery in the patients with ASDH in posterior fossa will lead to the best results.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.76-78
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• 2015

This report details a case of unexpected, severe post-operative cerebral edema following cranioplasty. We discuss the possible pathological mechanisms of this complication. A 50-year-old female was admitted to our department with sudden onset of stuporous consciousness. A brain computed tomography (CT) revealed a subarachnoid hemorrhage with intracranial hemorrhage and subdural hematoma. Emergency decompressive craniectomy and aneurysmal neck clipping were performed. Following recovery, the decision was made to proceed with an autologous cranioplasty. The cranioplasty procedure was free of complications. An epidural drain was placed and connected to a suction system during skin closure to avoid epidural blood accumulation. However, following the procedure, the patient had a seizure in the recovery room. An emergency brain CT scan revealed widespread cerebral edema, and the catheter drain was clamped. The increased intracranial pressure and cerebral edema were controlled with osmotic diuretics, corticosteroids, and antiepileptic drugs. The edema slowly subsided, but new low-density areas were noted in the brain on follow-up CT 1 week later. We speculated that placing the epidural drain on active suction may have caused an acute decrease in intracranial pressure and subsequent rapid expansion of the brain, which impaired autoregulation and led to reperfusion injury.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.112-114
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• 2013

Bilateral abducens nerve palsy related to ruptured aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery (ACoA) has only been reported in four patients. Three cases were treated by surgical clipping. No report has described the clinical course of the isolated bilateral abducens nerve palsy following ruptured ACoA aneurysm obliterated with coil. A 32-year-old man was transferred to our institution after three days of diplopia, dizziness and headache after the onset of a 5-minute generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Computed tomographic angiography revealed an aneurysm of the ACoA. Magnetic resonance imaging showed focal intraventricular hemorrhage without brain stem abnormalities including infarction or space-occupying lesion. Endovascular coil embolization was conducted to obliterate an aneurysmal sac followed by lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage. Bilateral paresis of abducens nerve completely recovered 9 weeks after ictus. In conclusion, isolated bilateral abducens nerve palsy associated with ruptured ACoA aneurysm may be resolved successfully by coil embolization and lumbar CSF drainage without directly relieving cerebrospinal fluid pressure by opening Lillequist's membrane and prepontine cistern.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.107-109
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• 2018

An 8-year-old female Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) reared in a wetland center, died 2 h after sudden onset of astasia and dyspnea despite medical treatment. Gross examination of internal organs revealed 10 adult filarioid nematodes in the right ventricle of the heart and three between the left and right cerebral hemispheres. All nematodes were identified as Dirofilaria immitis by direct microscopy and polymerase chain reaction assay. Histopathological observation revealed multifocal hemorrhage in the cerebral subarachnoid space and focal necrosis with hemorrhage in the cerebellar parenchyma. Although rare, veterinarians should consider cerebral dirofilariasis as a differential diagnosis in unexplained neurological cases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.251-256
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• 2014

Severe intraventricular hemorrhaging (IVH) in premature infants and subsequent posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) causes significant mortality and life-long neurological complications, including seizures, cerebral palsy, and developmental retardation. However, there are currently no effective therapies for neonatal IVH. The pathogenesis of PHH has been mainly explained by inflammation within the subarachnoid spaces due to the hemolysis of extravasated blood after IVH. Obliterative arachnoiditis, induced by inflammatory responses, impairs cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) resorption and subsequently leads to the development of PHH with ensuing brain damage. Increasing evidence has demonstrated potent immunomodulating abilities of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in various brain injury models. Recent reports of MSC transplantation in an IVH model of newborn rats demonstrated that intraventricular transplantation of MSCs downregulated the inflammatory cytokines in CSF and attenuated progressive PHH. In addition, MSC transplantation mitigated the brain damages that ensue after IVH and PHH, including reactive gliosis, cell death, delayed myelination, and impaired behavioral functions. These findings suggest that MSCs are promising therapeutic agents for neuroprotection in preterm infants with severe IVH.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.104-112
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• 2014

Objectives: To date, studies have not comprehensively demonstrated the relationship between stroke incidence and socioeconomic status. This study investigated stroke incidence by household income level in conjunction with age, sex, and stroke subtype in Korea. Methods: Contributions by the head of household were used as the basis for income levels. Household income levels for 21 766 036 people were classified into 6 groups. The stroke incidences were calculated by household income level, both overall within income categories and further by age group, sex, and stroke subtype. To present the inequalities among the six ranked groups in a single value, the slope index of inequality and relative index of inequality were calculated. Results: In 2005, 57 690 people were first-time stroke patients. The incidences of total stroke for males and females increased as the income level decreased. The incidences of stroke increased as the income level decreased in those 74 years old and under, whereas there was no difference by income levels in those 75 and over. Intracerebral hemorrhage for the males represented the highest inequality among stroke subtypes. Incidences of subarachnoid hemorrhage did not differ by income levels. Conclusions: The incidence of stroke increases as the income level decreases, but it differs according to sex, age, and stroke subtype. The difference in the relative incidence is large for male intracerebral hemorrhage, whereas the difference in the absolute incidence is large for male ischemic stroke.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.142-150
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• 2010

Purpose: In this study, patients in whom two computed tomography (CT) scans had been obtained within 24 hours of injury were analyzed to determine the incidence, risk factors and clinical significance of a progressive intracerebral hematoma (PIH). Methods: Participants were 182 patients with a traumatic intracerebral hematoma and contusion who underwent a repeat CT scan within 24 hours of injury. Univarite and multivariate statistics were used to define growth (volume increase) and to examine the relationship between the risk factors and hemorrhage expansion. Results: Fifty-four percent of the patients experienced progression in the size of the lesion in the initial 24 hours postinjury. A PIH was independently associated with worsened Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score (2.99, 1.04~8.60), the presence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (6.29, 2.48~16.00), the presence of a subdural hematoma (6.18, 2.13~17.98), the presence of an epidural hematoma (5.73, 1.18~27.76), and the presence of a basal cistern effacement (10.93, 1.19~99.57). Conclusion: For patients undergoing scanning within 2 hours of injury, the rate of PIH approaches 61%. Early repeated CT scanning is indicated in patients with a nonsurgically-treated hemorrhage revealed on the first CT scan. Worsened GCS score, significant hematoma growth and effacement of the basal cisterns on the initial CT scan are powerful predictors of which patients will require surgery. These findings should be important factors in understanding and managing of PIH.