Repair of a traumatic subarachnoid-pleural fistula with the percutaneous injection of fibrin glue in a 2-year-old

Traumatic Subarachnoid-Pleural Fistula with Pneumocephalus

Traumatic subarachnoid-pleural fistula is an uncommon occurrence. We present a case of a patient sustaining a subarachnoid-pleural fistula after a gunshot wound to the neck, which ultimately resulted in substantial pneumocephalus. The patient underwent successful operative repair of the fistula with notable improvement and resolution of pneumocephalus.

A subarachnoid pleural fistula with massive crystal-clear pleural fluid caused by a lumbar epidural teratoma

A subarachnoid pleural fistula - a connection between the pleural cavity and the subarachnoid space - generally presents after trauma or surgery. A 1-year 11-month-old girl without a history of trauma or surgery presented with fatigue, cyanosis and dyspnoea. A chest radiograph and computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a massive pleural effusion in the right hemithorax. About 300 ml of a crystal-clear pleural effusion, which looked like pure water, was removed by insertion of a chest drain, but it continued to collect. Cisternography and CT myelography confirmed leakage of cerebral spinal fluid into the right pleural cavity around the thoracolumbar region. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an 11-mm enhanced nodule in the epidural space around the right lumbar (L) 1/2 intervertebral foramen. The patient underwent surgery and epidural tumours attached to the L1 nerve root foramen were completely resected and a fistula of the dura adjacent to the tumour was sutured. Histopathological examination demonstrated a mature teratoma containing a pancreatic component. On retrospective analysis of stored pleural fluid, a raised level of pancreatic enzymes was detected. It is presumed that digestive enzymes secreted by the pancreatic component of the teratoma lysed the dura, resulting in formation of the fistula. When a crystal-clear pleural effusion is present, even in the absence of trauma or surgery, a subarachnoid pleural fistula should be considered. As far as we know, this is the first report of a subarachnoid pleural fistula caused by a paravertebral teratoma.Abbreviations: CSF: cerebrospinal fluid; CT: computed tomography; ¹¹¹In-DTPA: indium-111 diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; NIPPV: non-invasive positive pressure ventilation.

INTRAOCULAR APPLICATION OF FIBRIN GLUE AS AN ADJUNCT TO PARS PLANA VITRECTOMY FOR RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of intraocular application of fibrin glue to seal the retinal breaks during standard pars plana vitrectomy for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

METHODS

Twenty-six eyes of 26 rhegmatogenous retinal detachment patients were included in the study. Fibrin glue was used to seal the retinal breaks during standard pars plana vitrectomy in all 26 eyes. Each eye was completely filled with a balanced saline solution at the end of the surgery. The success rate of the reattachment surgery, change in best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and occurrence of intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

All eyes, with a mean age of 45.1 ± 18.3 years, were treated with pars plana vitrectomy surgery. During pars plana vitrectomy surgery, the fibrin glue showed excellent adherence and compliance to the retina. The glue was no longer visible through ultrasound scan 14.85 ± 4.56 days after surgery. The retinal breaks were sealed completely, and retina attached in all 26 eyes with no occurrence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment during the follow-up period. The best-corrected visual acuity at 6 months after operation was significantly improved from preoperation best-corrected visual acuity. After operation, two eyes (2/26) developed an epiretinal membrane. Although three eyes (3/26) had a transient increased intraocular pressure during the 1st week after surgery, the intraocular pressure lowered to the normal range after the application of timolol. One eye (1/26) required daily topical antiglaucoma drops to lower the intraocular pressure. No adverse effects of fibrin glue were observed.

CONCLUSION

The fibrin glue provided a superior adhesive effect for sealing retinal breaks, while showing no additional adverse effects. It is a worthy alternative to gas tamponade for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment vitrectomy surgery.

Diagnose and treatment of traumatic pleural-subarachnoid fistula in children: A case report and systematic review

Background

Pleural-subarachnoid fistula (PSF) is a rare disease that is difficult to diagnose and treat. Secondary intracranial hypertension and the treatment are seldom mentioned previously among PSF.

Case presentation

A 1-year-old boy diagnosed PSF developed into secondary intracranial hypertension after conservative treatment. He was finally cured by down-step treatment of mannitol, avoiding form ventricle-peritoneal shunt. Then, we reviewed the literature of pleural-subarachnoid fistula. Fifty-six cases have been reported so far. Most of the cases (51.8%) were caused by surgery; only 17.9% were caused by car accidents. Regarding the treatment, half of the cases cured by surgery and the other by conservative measures. Our case is the first one involving secondary intracranial hypertension and cured by down-step treatment of mannitol.

Conclusions

A comprehensive examination should be performed before the treatment to avoid any inappropriate medical strategies. Secondary acute intracranial hypertension may be cured by down step treatment of mannitol, evading from the long-term ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

A Case of Ventral Spinal Cord Herniation from a Chronic Dural-pleural Fistula Resulting in Thoracic Myelopathy

Formation of a dural-pleural fistula is uncommon after anterior thoracic spine surgery, tumor, or trauma. The goal of surgical management is to terminate the connection between the pleura and subarachnoid space. We describe a case of chronic dural-pleural fistula in a 70-year-old woman and present a unique surgical treatment option. The patient presented 25 years after an anterior thoracic surgery she had undergone for a thoracic disc herniation, with a dural-pleural fistula and ventral herniation of the spinal cord into the defect. She was treated with a bovine pericardium sling patch to cover the defect. This case highlights the identification of a chronic thoracic dural-pleural fistula and surgical treatment with double intradural and extradural layering of bovine pericardium sling patch, which has not been described previously for chronic thoracic dural-pleural fistula.

A Novel Technique for Prevention of Subarachnoid-Pleural Fistula After Incidental Durotomy During Transthoracic Spinal Surgery

BACKGROUND

Subarachnoid-pleural fistulas (SPFs) are rare but significant complications of transthoracic spinal surgery. Whether noted intraoperatively or in the postoperative period, SPF requires implementation of aggressive management, with consideration given to direct surgical repair. Additionally, the physical constraints of the thoracic cavity often hinder direct SPF repair.

OBJECTIVE

To present a novel operative technique that can be used to easily and quickly address incidental durotomy incurred during transthoracic spinal surgery while working within the confines of the thorax.

METHODS

Surgical hemostatic clips were used to affix a patch-graft of dural substitute to the parietal pleura surrounding the site of a transthoracic spinal decompression in which an incidental durotomy was incurred. The patch-graft was augmented with the application of biological glue and was successful in preventing symptomatic SPF.

RESULTS

The use of surgical clips to affix a patch graft is a quick, easy, and effective means of addressing an incidental durotomy during thoracotomy and preventing SPF. The clip applier is significantly easier to maneuver within the narrow working channel of the thorax than are instruments used during direct repair.

CONCLUSION

Preventing SPF can be challenging. The physical constraints of the thoracic cavity make water-tight repair difficult and time-consuming, particularly when the morphology of the dural tear prevents primary apposition of the defect. The authors present a novel technique of preventing development of SPF using hemostatic clips to simply and quickly affix suturable dural substitute to the parietal pleura overlying the site of an incidental durotomy.

CT-guided epidural blood patch for treatment of CSF leak and pseudomeningocele following tethered cord release in a 3-year-old

An epidural blood patch (EBP) has become standard of care for management of postdural puncture headache, and in recent years, attempts have been made to expand its applicability. Its utility in the management of postsurgical pseudomeningocele remains poorly defined, and few reports describe its use in children. In this case, we report the successful management of lumbar pseudomeningocele via EBP in a 3-year-old after tethered cord release, thereby obviating the need for surgical repair and its potential morbidity.