Remote cerebellar hemorrhage after unruptured cerebral aneurysm surgery: two cases report

Remote cerebellar hemorrhage following repeated lumbar punctures

BACKGROUND

Remote cerebellar hemorrhage (RCH) is a rare complication in neurosurgery. No case of RCH secondary to repeated lumbar punctures (LPs) has been previously reported.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 49-year-old man presented with impaired consciousness following persistent fever. Cerebrospinal fluid examination showed high opening pressure, elevated white blood cells, increased protein level, and decreased glucose level, resulting in a diagnosis of bacterial meningoencephalitis. Treatment with repeated LPs and intrathecal injection of ceftriaxone resulted in an improvement in neurological symptoms. However, on day 31 of treatment, brain magnetic resonance image (MRI) showed streaky bleeding in bilateral cerebellum (zebra sign), leading to a diagnosis of RCH. Close observation and repeated brain MRI imaging without specific treatments led to the absorption of bilateral cerebellar hemorrhage, and the patient was discharged with improved neurological symptoms. Repeated brain MRI scans one month after discharge showed that bilateral cerebellar hemorrhage had improved, and had disappeared one year after discharge.

CONCLUSION

We reported a rare occurrence of LPs-induced RCH presenting as isolated bilateral inferior cerebellar hemorrhage. Clinicians should be vigilant of the risk factors for RCH, closely monitoring patients' clinical symptoms and neuroimaging findings to determine the need for specialized treatment. Furthermore, this case highlights the importance of ensuring the safety of LPs and managing any potential complications appropriately.

Remote cerebellar haemorrhage: A case report

Intracranial haemorrhage after supra-tentorial craniotomies can occur in a typical pattern and location which may suggest the diagnosis of remote cerebellar haemorrhage (RCH) which is quite a rare occurrence. The ‘Zebra Sign’ refers to a pattern of hyperdensity indicative of blood and hypodensity indicative of normal cerebellar parenchyma in a curvilinear, stripe-like fashion along the cerebellar folia and is a characteristic imaging finding in RCH. RCH in general doesn't require surgical treatment, however in cases of significant hydrocephalus or progressive deterioration of consciousness surgical treatment may be warranted. The knowledge of this condition is important as it can pre-empt unnecessary further investigations and biopsy. Although imaging appearance may be striking, close imaging follow-up and clinical monitoring are often enough for the management of this entity.

Fatal remote cerebellar hemorrhage after supratentorial unruptured aneurysm surgery in patient with previous cerebellar infarction: A case report

RATIONALE

Remote cerebellar hemorrhage (RCH) is a rare complication of supratentorial and spinal surgeries, seldom requiring intervention but occasionally causing significant morbidity or even mortality. Although a number of theories have been proposed, the exact pathophysiology of RCH remains incompletely understood.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We present a 62-year-old patient with RCH encountered following surgical clipping of an unruptured middle cerebral artery bifurcation aneurysm in a patient with previous cerebellar infarction.

LESSONS

It is extremely rare, but sometimes, RCH can be life-threatening. It is necessary to check the patient's general condition, underlying diseases and medical history. And controlled drainage of the CSF seems to be most important. Arachnoidplasty may be a consideration and the position of the drain string might have to be carefully determined.

Upward transtentorial herniation following frontoorbital advancement for syndromic craniosynostosis: case report

The authors describe the case of a boy with Muenke syndrome, an autosomal dominant disorder associated with craniosynostosis. The family history was significant for syndromic craniosynostosis in the patient's maternal grandmother, who died in adulthood after a craniofacial reconstruction. The patient, her grandson, underwent craniofacial reconstruction surgery at the age of 9 months and developed upward transtentorial herniation. Imaging findings revealed remote cerebellar hemorrhage after a large quantity of supratentorial CSF was drained during postoperative Day 1. The clinical course was further complicated by cerebral sinus thrombosis, which was diagnosed after a fourth surgical procedure. Upward transtentorial herniation can occur when a significant increase in intracranial pressure in the posterior fossa causes displacement of the central lobule and superior surfaces of the cerebellum upward through the incisura tentorii. This is a rare but well-documented phenomenon that commonly occurs in the setting of an expansive posterior fossa lesion or excessive supratentorial CSF loss. To help clinicians recognize and prevent this rare but potentially fatal complication, the authors review the postulated mechanisms by which this process may occur.

Remote Cerebellar Infarction after Supratentorial Craniotomy and Its Management: Two Case Reports

The cerebellar infarction resulting from supratentorial craniotomy is uncommon event and its management has been controversial. After removal of space occupying lesion on right frontal area, two cases of remote cerebellar infarctions occurred. We reviewed each cases and the techniques to manage such complications are discussed. Early extraventricular catheter insertion and midline suboccipital craniectomy were effectively performed in obtunded patients from cerebellar infarction.