[Decompressive craniectomy in a patient with herpetic encephalitis associated to refractory intracranial hypertension].

Abstract

Herpetic encephalitis is the most common cause of viral encephalitis in our country. Pathological studies show progressive necrosis and edema in specific territories of the brain. The mortality of herpetic encephalitis was reduced from 70% to 20% with the use of intravenous aciclovir in the first three days of illness. However, almost 50% of patients develop a neurological deficit. One of the most important causes of death in herpetic encephalitis is the refractory intracranial hypertension. There are anecdotal reports of patients with refractory intracranial hypertension due to herpetic encephalitis that were treated with decompressive craniectomy with good results. We report a 21 years old female patient with herpetic encephalitis and refractory intracranial hypertension that was successfully treated with a decompressive craniectomy.

• Authors: Patricio Mellado, Luis Castillo, Max Andresen, Manuel Campos, Carlos Pérez, René Baudrand
• Journal: Revista medica de Chile (Rev Med Chil) Vol. 131 Issue 12 Pg. 1434-8 (Dec 2003) ISSN: 0034-9887 [Print] Chile
• Vernacular Title: Craniectomía descompresiva en una paciente con encefalitis herpética asociada a hipertensión intracraneana refractaria.
• PMID: 15022407 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Craniotomy (methods)
• Decompression, Surgical (methods)
• Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex (complications, diagnosis, surgery)
• Female
• Humans
• Intracranial Hypertension (diagnosis, etiology, surgery)