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Biomedical subjects

N K Venkataramana

Publications and source records attributed to N K Venkataramana.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Spontaneous spinal extradural hematomas.

We review three patients who presented with acute spontaneous spinal extradural hematomas (SSEH). We discuss the presentation, imaging and management strategies. All three patients were adult women with thoracic SSEH. All had motor weakness prior to surgery. One patient recovered completely, one partially recovered and one did not recover. SSEH, although rare, should be considered in cases of acute onset paraparesis. The diagnostic modality of choice is magnetic resonance imaging. Favourable outcome is related to aetiology, interval between the ictus and presentation, and the severity of the neurological deficits. Emergent surgical drainage is the treatment of choice.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2006

Aplasia cutis congenita of the scalp: therapeutic modalities.

Agenesis of scalp is an uncommon but well-recognized clinical entity. Congenital scalp and skull defects can be either obvious or occult; over 300 cases have been reported in literature. Aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) is recognized as a heterogeneous disorder, all characterized by focal absence of the epidermis, dermis and sometimes the calvarium and/or dura. We present a case of ACC in an infant whose mother was exposed to a teratogenic drug (Methimazole--an antithyroid drug) during pregnancy. This case report is presented to highlight the steps to successful management. Definitive full thickness scalp cover at the earliest avoids secondary infection, eschar formation and exsanguination.

Ectodermal Dysplasia↗
PubMed1990

Exophytic gliomas of the spinal cord.

Intradural extramedullary glial tumours of the spinal cord are rare. We report for such tumours arising from the dorsal cord. Myelography and operative findings were almost similar to that of an intradural neurofibroma. Surgical removal had resulted in rewarding neurological recovery. One of them had a recurrence after six years and was re-explored. Anterolateral attachment near the root entry zone suggests its origin probably from the spinal cord with an exophytic growth.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Intramedullary cysticercosis.

We are reporting two cases of intramedullary cysticercus cysts. Both patients presented with a clinical picture of progressive cord compression. One of them also had bilateral radicular pain. In the female patient the symptoms became exaggerated during her two consecutive pregnancies which is a rare and interesting observation. Excision of cyst resulted in significant improvement in both the patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Progressive unilateral hydrocephalus in adults.

Unilateral dilatation of the lateral ventricle in adults is rare. We report 2 cases of unilateral hydrocephalus with obstruction at the foramen of Monro. Both patients presented with symptoms of raised intracranial pressure.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Paraganglioma of the orbit with extension to the middle cranial fossa: case report.

Intraorbital paragangliomas are rare. A case of intraorbital paraganglioma with extension to the middle cranial fossa is reported. Progressive throbbing, hemicranial headaches, unilateral proptosis, and visual failure are the presenting symptoms. The computed tomographic and operative findings suggested a meningioma. Surgical removal of the tumor resulted in total relief of symptoms and recovery of vision. The pathogenesis and pathological findings are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Calvarial tuberculosis: a report of two cases.

Two cases of calvarial tuberculosis associated with neurological involvement are presented. The radiological features and therapeutic management are discussed and the literature is reviewed.

Child↗
PubMed1989

Surgery in spontaneous intra-cerebral haematoma.

Twenty-six patients of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) were treated by surgical evacuation of clot. Six patients were operated within 24 hour, four on the second day, seven between the third and fifth day and nine after five days. Their therapeutic out-come was compared with an equal number of age, location and severity matched group of patients of ICH who did not undergo surgery. Mortality in surgically treated group (16/26) was comparable to control group (20/26), however, follow up of survivors showed slightly reduced morbidity in operated group. Patients in grade III (level of consciousness) were the only ones who were benefited from surgery. The timing of the surgery did not affect the immediate mortality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation of brainstem auditory evoked responses in congenital hydrocephalus.

Brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAER) were studied in 20 children with clinically diagnosed and CT-confirmed congenital hydrocephalus before and after shunt surgery. Ninety-five percent of the children showed abnormal responses preoperatively. Prolonged wave V latency was the most common abnormality, followed by increased interwave latencies. Total absence of evoked responses was more common in children with communicating hydrocephalus. Following shunt surgery 50% of cases returned to normal and 20% showed a significant improvement. Abnormalities persisted in 10% of cases. BAER abnormalities referrable to caudal brainstem dysfunction recovered first, following CSF diversion. Study of BAER is useful for identifying physiological brainstem abnormalities in hydrocephalic children and promises to be a sensitive non-invasive diagnostic tool for the detection of "non-infective complications" of shunt surgery, if performed serially during follow up.

Brain Stem↗
PubMed1986

Brain abscess in children.

During that last 6 years, 100 children have been treated for brain abscess at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore. Of these, 69 abscesses were otogenic. The treatment included aspiration of the abscess (84% of cases) and antibiotic therapy. CT scan as a diagnostic tool was available only for a few cases in the last year. In 16% of the cases the abscess was excised. The overall mortality was 21%. Of the surviving children, 76% recovered totally. Epilepsy as a sequel occurred in 21% of the cases. The fact that mortality continues to be high is attributed to the degree of impairment of consciousness of the children at the time of admission. Early detection and successful treatment of brain abscess in children still remain a clinical challenge.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Final results of MRC CRASH, a randomised placebo-controlled trial of intravenous corticosteroid in adults with head injury-outcomes at 6 months.

MRC CRASH is a randomised controlled trial (ISRCTN74459797) of the effect of corticosteroids on death and disability after head injury. We randomly allocated 10,008 adults with head injury and a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 14 or less, within 8 h of injury, to a 48-h infusion of corticosteroid (methylprednisolone) or placebo. Data at 6 months were obtained for 9673 (96.7%) patients. The risk of death was higher in the corticosteroid group than in the placebo group (1248 [25.7%] vs 1075 [22.3%] deaths; relative risk 1.15, 95% CI 1.07-1.24; p=0.0001), as was the risk of death or severe disability (1828 [38.1%] vs 1728 [36.3%] dead or severely disabled; 1.05, 0.99-1.10; p=0.079). There was no evidence that the effect of corticosteroids differed by injury severity or time since injury. These results lend support to our earlier conclusion that corticosteroids should not be used routinely in the treatment of head injury.

Craniocerebral Trauma↗