We studied the clinical characteristics, location of epileptogenic regions, and the surgical outcomes in 18 patients with intractable epilepsy associated with previous CNS infections. All patients underwent an extensive presurgical evaluation and 11 patients had intracranial EEG monitoring. On the basis of presurgical evaluation, epileptic regions were localized to the mesial temporal (n = 12) and the neocortical (n = 6) regions. The age of the time of CNS infection was significantly younger and the latent period of non-febrile seizures after CNS infection was longer in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). MRI showed hippocampal atrophy and hippocampal signal changes in 11 of 12 patients with MTLE. Among 6 patients with neocortical epilepsy (NE) 5 patients had normal MRI and one showed cerebral hemi-atrophy. Surgery was successful (class I & II) in all patients with MTLE, however, in the patients with neocortical epilepsy, seizure-free results were not achieved in any patients after resective surgery (6 patients) and only 2 patients achieved Class II outcomes after a second epilepsy surgery consisting of neocortical resection. Patients with MTLE after CNS infection were differentiated from the group of neocortical epilepsy by an earlier onset of CNS infection, a prolonged latent period and a higher frequency of meningitis. The characteristic pathology in this group was hippocampal sclerosis and the surgical result was excellent. Neocortical epilepsy following CNS infection usually had no focal lesion on MRI and was associated with a relatively poor surgical result. This study suggested that the surgical outcome was influenced by the type of epileptic syndromes rather than the etiology of seizures. The association of MTLE with the younger age of CNS infections and with meningitis more frequently suggested that the neocortical neurons during infancy or early childhood may be more resistant to the epileptogenesis, or that the CNS infections in patients with MTLE might be milder in severity to cause selective injuries to the hippocampal neurons during their vulnerable stage.
Adolescence ; Adult ; Encephalitis/surgery* ; Epilepsy/surgery* ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Meningitis/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the time and effect of shunt operation on cryptococcal meningitis.
 METHODS: A total 7 patients received shunt operation for the therapy of cryptococcal meningitis patients and the data was retrospectively analyzed.
 RESULTS: Intracranial hypertension-caused symptoms were resolved immediately. There was no complication, no infection dissemination and no recrudescence of cryptococcal meningitis. 
 CONCLUSION Shunt operation is effective for intracranial hypertension caused by cryptococcal meningitis. It does not affect the antifungal treatment.
Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drainage ; Humans ; Intracranial Hypertension ; surgery ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics and surgical outcome of cerebellopontine angle (CPA) epidermoids presenting with trigeminal neuralgia. METHODS: Between 1996 and 2004, 10 patients with typical symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia were found to have cerebellopontine angle epidermoids and treated surgically at our hospital. We retrospectively analyzed the clinico-radiological records of the patients. RESULTS: Total resection was done in 6 patients (60%). Surgical removal of tumor and microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve were performed simultaneously in one case. One patient died due to postoperative aseptic meningitis. The others showed total relief from pain. During follow-up, no patients experienced recurrence of their trigeminal neuralgia (TN). CONCLUSION: The clinical features of TN from CPA epidermoids are characterized by symptom onset at a younger age compared to TN from vascular causes. In addition to removal of the tumor, the possibility of vascular compression at the root entry zone of the trigeminal nerve should be kept in mind. If it exists, a microvascular decompression (MVD) should be performed. Recurrence of tumor is rare in both total and subtotal removal cases, but long-term follow-up is required.
Cerebellopontine Angle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Trigeminal Nerve ; Trigeminal Neuralgia

Shunt malfunctions that require surgical intervention during pregnancy and the postpartum period are rare. Furthermore, no study has reported on an acute shunt malfunction immediately after cesarean section. Here, we describe the case of a 32-yr-old woman who became drowsy 12 hr after cesarean section delivery of her second child. She had a ventriculoperitoneal shunt placed to treat hydrocephalus associated with meningitis at 26 yr of age. Marked ventriculomegaly was seen on brain computed tomography and her consciousness recovered temporarily after aspirating cerebrospinal fluid from the flushing device. At surgery, the distal catheter tip was plugged by a blood clot. We believe that the blood spilled over during the cesarean section. The clogged catheter end was simply cut off and the remaining catheter was repositioned in the peritoneal cavity. Her consciousness recovered fully.
Adult ; *Cesarean Section ; *Equipment Failure ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus/etiology/surgery ; Meningitis/complications ; Pregnancy ; *Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt/adverse effects/instrumentation

Dermoid sinuses and meningoceles are seldom encountered in the cervical region. Besides, to the best of our knowledge, the coexistence of these types of congenital abnormalities with recurrent meningitis, as well as with mirror movement, has never been reported before. A 14-year-old female with the diagnosis of recurrent meningitis was referred to our clinic from the Department of Infectious Diseases. She had a cervical meningocele mass that was leaking cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) and an associated mirror movement symptom. Spina bifida, dermoid sinus and meningocele lesions were demonstrated at the C2 level on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). She underwent an operation to remove the sinus tract together with the sac, and at the same time the tethered cord between the sac base and the distal end of the spinal cord was detached. The diagnosis of dermoid sinus and meningocele was confirmed histopathologically. These kinds of congenital pathologies in the cervical region may also predispose the patient to other diseases or symptoms. Herein, a case of meningocele associated with cervical dermoid sinus tract which presented with recurrent meningitis and a rare manifestation of mirror movement is discussed. Neurosurgeons should consider the possible coexistence of mirror movement and recurrent meningitis in the treatment of these types of congenital abnormalities.
Adolescent ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Dermoid Cyst/complications/*pathology/surgery ; Female ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningitis/complications/*pathology ; Meningocele/complications/*pathology/surgery ; Movement Disorders/etiology/pathology ; Recurrence

Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Chondrosarcoma ; surgery ; Endoscopy ; Enterococcus ; pathogenicity ; Humans ; Male ; Meningitis ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Middle Aged ; Skull Base ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVE: Microvascular decompression(MVD) for hemifacial spasm(HFS) is well established. However delayed postoperative facial palsy has not been substantially reported. The authors reviewed patients with HFS who underwent MVD in our institution to evaluate the post-operative courses with special attention to the development of delayed facial palsy. METHODS: Records of 144 cases(137 patients) from 1988 to 1997 were reviewed. Of these patients, 12(8.3%) developed delayed facial palsy. Follow-ups via chart and phone records were available for 10 of 12 patients. RESULTS: Reviews of these 12 cases demonstrated that 3 men, 9 women of with average age of 53(range 45-60) had delayed facial palsy. Among them, 2 had repeated operation. The preoperative duration of symptoms averaged 12 years(range 1-30) and 4 patients had mild preoperative weakness. All were improved their HFS within 7 days after MVD. Offending vessels were anterior inferior cerebellar artery(AICA) in 7. Five of these were meatal branches and 2 were sandwich type compressions. One case was combined compression of AICA and posterior inferior cerebellar artery. Three to 7 pieces of Teflon felt were necessary for the decompression of offender. The onset of weakness occurred invariably between postoperative day 6 and 11. Two cases had associated complications. The one was hearing loss and the other was meningitis accompanied by cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea. Ten cases received steroids following the onset of their facial palsies. Duration of follow up of 10 cases was 21months(3months-5years). Three cases showed complete recovery at 4, 8 and 12 weeks, respectively. Four patients have improved to House Grade II at 5 weeks and remaining three showed continuing improvement until last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed facial palsy following MVD in HFS patients is not uncommon, being 8.3% in our series. It occurs consistently 1-2 weeks postoperatively. Possible causes include facial nerve exit zone injury with Teflon felt or delayed facial nerve edema. Spontaneous recovery usually occur within several weeks.
Arteries ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea ; Criminals ; Decompression ; Edema ; Facial Nerve ; Facial Paralysis* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing Loss ; Hemifacial Spasm* ; Humans ; Male ; Meningitis ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery* ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Steroids

It is well known that newborns and pregnant women typically show higher rates of Streptococcus agalactiae infection. However, the incidence of group B streptococcal (GBS) disease in nonpregnant adults is increasing, particularly in elderly persons and those with significant underlying diseases, such as diabetes, neurologic impairment, and cirrhosis. Skin infections, osteoarticular infections, and pneumonia are commonly associated with GBS, while meningitis and endocarditis are less common. S. agalactiae endocarditis is an uncommon but important condition with a high mortality rate. Several cases of endocarditis due to S. agalactiae have been reported in the literature, but there have been no reports of S. agalactiae meningitis associated with endocarditis in Korea. Here, we describe a case of S. agalactiae meningitis and endocarditis in a 50-year-old man who was successfully treated with intravenous antibiotics and cardiac surgery.
Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Endocarditis ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Meningitis ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; Pregnant Women ; Skin ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Thoracic Surgery

Epidural neuroplasty is a treatment modality for back pain and/or radiating pain caused by mechanical compression or neural inflammation of intra-spinal neural structures. Since epidural neuroplasty was first introduced as a treatment for pain caused by epidural adhesion such as failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), it has been performed as a treatment for many kinds of pain of spinal origin including acute/chronic herniation of intervertebral disc, radiculopathy, spinal stenosis, FBSS, epidural adhesion, vertebral compression fracture, vertebral metastasis, resistant multilevel degenerative arthritis, epidural scar pain by infection or meningitis, and whiplash injury. Epidural neuroplasty is a catheterization technique used to treat back pain and/or radiating pain by injecting therapeutic drugs into lesions of epidural space shown as a filling defect in epidurogram. Usually, normal saline, local anesthetics, and steroid are used as therapeutic drugs. The exact mechanisms of action of the procedure are unknown but include 2 postulated mechanisms of action for pain relief. i.e., mechanical adhesiolysis by volume effect and chemical adhesiolysis by injected drugs. Relative large volumes of normal saline injection resolve adhesions and wash out accumulated pain substances; local anesthetics are used for stabilization and analgesia of flaring neural structures and for pain management for procedure related pain; and steroid is used for the treatment of inflammation of neural and peri-neural structures. The resolution of filling defect can be verified by post-procedure epidurogram. The key point of epidural neuroplasty for good results, is the exact localization of the epidural catheter into the epidural lesion.
Analgesia ; Anesthetics, Local ; Back Pain ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Cicatrix ; Epidural Space ; Failed Back Surgery Syndrome ; Fractures, Compression ; Inflammation ; Intervertebral Disc ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Meningitis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Osteoarthritis ; Pain Management ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Stenosis ; Whiplash Injuries

OBJECTIVETo explore the common complications related to acoustic neuromas and to search methods for preventing from them.

METHODSOne hundred and five patients with acoustic neuromas underwent 110 operations with the retrosigmoid approach, middle cranial fossa approach and labyrinth approach. All cases were followed up more than 1 month after surgery.

RESULTSOf 110 cases, the most frequent complication was hearing disability which occurred in 95 cases (95/110, 86.4%). and the facial paralysis was in 63.6% (70/110) after one month. Other complications were cerebrospinal fluid fistulas (CSF, 12.7%, 14/110) , intracranial hematoma (5.5%, 6/110), cranial nerve palsies (4.5%, 5/110), meningitis (3.6%, 4/110), tetraparesis (3.6%, 4/110), balance disturbance (1.8%, 2/110), hemiparalysis and anepia (0.9%, 1/110). Effective stopping bleeding during operation and controlling blood pressure after operation, as well as keeping effective sedation in 24 hours after operation were the important ways to prevent from intracranial hematoma The haemorrhage often accrued in 48 hours post-operation. CSF in this series was another common complication in acoustic neuroma surgery. Ten cases with CSF subcutaneous retro-auricular had been successfully controlled by conservative treatment. Of 4 cases with rhinorrhea CSF, 3 of them were required surgical management, another one got self-cure by bed rest. The ventricular drainage pro-operation was the most important procedure for drawdown the hypsi-cranium pressure.

CONCLUSIONSThe key factors to avoid the complications include mastering the anatomy of different surgical approach, how much of the tumor size, surgical experience and preoperative evaluation of patients' imaging information and other clinical data.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Facial Paralysis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meningitis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Middle Aged ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Young Adult