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Biomedical subjects

B Pfausler

Publications and source records attributed to B Pfausler.

45 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Cerebral and spinal nocardia infection. A case report].

We report a case of multiple cerebral and spinal abscesses due to Nocardia asteroides in a non-immunocompromised patient. The initial central nervous system manifestation was a sterile meningitis, with secondary development of multiple cerebral and spinal abscesses. Since the location of the abscesses did not allow neurosurgical exploration and the cultures remained negative, the diagnosis was finally established by raised antibody titres to Nocardia asteroides. After specific antibiotic therapy, resolution of the spinal and cerebral abscesses was documented on the basis of serial magnetic resonance tomography and computed tomography controls.

Abscess↗
PubMed1992

Diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis by detection of tuberculostearic acid in cerebrospinal fluid.

Tuberculous meningitis still poses a major diagnostic problem. Recently, several new techniques for rapid diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis have been developed. One of these newer techniques is the detection of mycobacterial fatty acids, using gas chromatography--mass spectroscopy. In this study we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of this recently reported method in a blind trial. The sensitivity was found to be 100%, specificity only 91%. The number of false positive results limits the value of this test in the primary diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis. Nonetheless, we consider this method to be a valuable tool for establishing the diagnosis in culture-negative patients presenting with signs and symptoms suggestive of tuberculous meningitis.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1990

[Clinical aspects of brain death].

The cause of brain death must be known irreversible primary or secondary structural damage of brain and brain stem. The clinical signs and symptoms of the irreversible cessation of brain functions enable to diagnose brain death. An EEG at maximal gain reflects absence of cerebral electrical activity. The presence of an isoelectric EEG is a mandatory requirement for the diagnosis of brain death. Angiographic, sonographic or other methods to assure cessation of cerebral blood flow but also other methods as the apnea test etc. are helpful but seem to be not necessary. Nearly in every case typical signs and symptoms of an acute midbrain- and bulbar brain syndrome can be diagnosed in the pre-stage of brain death. In about 60% medullary-initiated movements and spinal reflexes can appear and persist for prolonged periods in brain dead patients.

Brain Death↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Syndrome of the anterior spinal artery as the primary manifestation of aspergillosis.

Aspergillosis of the central nervous system (CNS) is an uncommon infection, mainly occurring in immunocompromised patients. Beside cerebral involvement spinal cord lesions are extremely rare. To our knowledge, aspergillosis initially presenting with acute paraplegia due to mycotic thrombosis of the anterior spinal artery in a formerly healthy patient has, so far, not been reported. Neither a primary focus nor an underlying disease had been detected.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prognostic value of intraventricular blood in perimesencephalic nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: Perimesencephalic nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (PNSH) is a distinct type of subarachnoid hemorrhage with a characteristic bleeding pattern, and an excellent clinical outcome. However, the clinical course of patients presenting with a perimesencephalic nonaneurysmal bleeding pattern and intraventricular blood has not yet been investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study we describe the cisternal blood distribution and the clinical course of 34 PNSH patients with (10 patients) and without (24 patients) intraventricular blood. RESULTS/DISCUSSION: Patients without intraventricular blood were in good clinical condition on admission; the in-hospital course was uneventful except for acute hydrocephalus, which was detected in two cases and improved spontaneously in both patients. All patients resumed their previous lifestyles. In contrast, two patients with PNSH and intraventricular blood were drowsy and had focal neurologic deficits on admission. Four patients developed an acute hydrocephalus, and two of these patients needed ventricular shunting. There was evidence for delayed cerebral ischemia in one of these patients. Outcome was excellent in eight cases, and one patient was moderately and one patient was severely disabled at dismissal from the hospital. Rebleeding did not occur in all patients, and repeated four-vessel angiography did not reveal the source of bleeding in any of our patients. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that the presence of intraventricular blood may be a good indicator for the development of acute hydrocephalus in PNSH. Moreover, our results suggest that PNSH patients with ventricular blood may have a higher complication rate and a poorer outcome compared with PNSH patients without intraventricular blood.

Acute Disease↗