scholarly journals Monthlong Intubated Patient with Life-Threatening COVID-19 and Cerebral Microbleeds Suffers Only Mild Cognitive Sequelae at 8-Month Follow-up: A Case Report

Author(s):  
Linda Backman ◽  
Marika C Möller ◽  
Eric P Thelin ◽  
Daniel Dahlgren ◽  
Catharina Deboussard ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective To elaborate on possible cognitive sequelae related to COVID-19, associated cerebrovascular injuries as well as the general consequences from intensive care. COVID-19 is known to have several, serious CNS-related consequences, but neuropsychological studies of severe COVID-19 are still rare. Methods M., a 45-year-old man, who survived a severe COVID-19 disease course including Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), cerebral microbleeds, and 35 days of mechanical ventilation, is described. We elaborate on M’s recovery and rehabilitation process from onset to the 8-month follow-up. The cognitive functions were evaluated with a comprehensive screening battery at 4 weeks after extubation and at the 8-month follow-up. Results Following extubation, M. was delirious, reported visual hallucinations, and had severe sleeping difficulties. At about 3 months after COVID-19 onset, M. showed mild to moderate deficits on tests measuring processing speed, working memory, and attention. At assessments at 8 months, M. performed better, with results above average on tests measuring learning, memory, word fluency, and visuospatial functions. Minor deficits were still found regarding logical reasoning, attention, executive functioning, and processing speed. There were no lingering psychiatric symptoms. While M. had returned to a part-time job, he was not able to resume previous work-tasks. Conclusion This case-study demonstrates possible cognitive deficits after severe COVID-19 and emphasizes the need of a neuropsychological follow-up, with tests sensitive to minor deficits. The main findings of this report provide some support that the long-term prognosis for cognition in severe COVID-19 may be hopeful.

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 6-10
Author(s):  
I. S Skopets ◽  
N. N Vezikova ◽  
I. M Marusenko ◽  
O. Yu Barysheva

A number of studies demonstrate that patients with traditional risk factors (TRF) have not only increases primary risk of atherothrombotic events, but are also associated with many complicates and poor prognosis.Purpose: assessment of TRF effect on the incidence of complications and outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Materials and methods: in 255 patients hospitalized with ACS were retrospective determined the TRF prevalence, frequency of the complications and correlation between the presence of TRF and the risk of complications and long-term prognosis (follow-up 1 year).Results: patients had TRF very often, 80% patients had more than 3 TRFs. The presence of some TRFs (smoking, abdominal obesity, family history) was associated with a significantly increased risk of complications in patients with ACS, including life-threatening. Effect of TRF on long-term prognosis was not determined.Conclusion: the findings suggest the need to evaluation TRF not only in primary preventive and also to improve the effectiveness of risk stratification in patients with ACS.


2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S154-S155
Author(s):  
Yoshiki Akagawa ◽  
William Honer ◽  
Ken Sawada

Abstract Background Several studies showed that patients with schizophrenia have a lower musical ability that correlates with poorer cognitive functions and severer negative symptoms. Despite the strong relevance of musical ability to cognitive functions and psychiatric symptoms, little is known about the correlation of each subscale of musical ability to cognitive functions and psychiatric symptoms. Therefore, we sought to analyze the correlations of the subtests of musical ability to cognitive functions and psychiatric symptoms. Methods Sixty-four patients with schizophrenia (36 males, mean age = 48.6 ± 10.9 years old) and 80 healthy control subjects (44 males, mean age = 45.3 ± 12.3 years old) consented to participate. We measured musical ability, cognitive functions, and symptom severity using the Montreal Battery for Evaluation of Amusia (MBEA), Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), respectively. MBEA subscales include melody discrimination, rhythm discrimination, and musical memory. BACS subscales are comprised of verbal memory, working memory, motor speed, word fluency, attention/processing speed, and executive function. We used the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. For the BACS six subscales, and the three musical subscales, we considered p < 0.00278 to be significant (18 tests), and for PANSS three symptom subscale scores and three musical subscales, we considered p < 0.0056 to be significant (9 tests). Results All musical subscale scores of patients were significantly lower than controls. Lower musical ability subscales were correlated with lower cognitive functions in both healthy controls and patients. In schizophrenia, as previously reported, there were associations between lower musical ability subscales, lower cognitive functions, and more severe psychiatric symptoms. In patients with schizophrenia, while melody discrimination was not correlated with cognitive functions, rhythm discrimination was correlated with verbal memory (beta = 0.378, SE= 0.010, t = 3.42, p = 0.0012) and attention/processing speed (beta = 0.433, SE= 0.013, t = 3.20, p = 0.0022) adjusted for age, gender, and years of musical education. PANSS negative symptoms were correlated with melody discrimination (beta = 0.346, SE= 0.051, t = -2.82, p = 0.0066) and rhythm discrimination (beta = 0.3259, SE= 0.045, t = -2.88, p = 0.0056), but not musical memory. Discussion This study revealed an association between performance on rhythm discrimination and both verbal memory and word fluency. Furthermore, more severe negative symptoms were associated with lower abilities in melody and rhythm discrimination. Rhythm discrimination could be associated with language disturbances, possibly providing a new insight into the language and musical deficits contributing to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.


2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 873-883 ◽  
Author(s):  
SUSAN F. TAPERT ◽  
ERIC GRANHOLM ◽  
NATHAN G. LEEDY ◽  
SANDRA A. BROWN

This study prospectively examined neuropsychological (NP) functioning associated with adolescent substance use and withdrawal. Participants were youths with histories of substance use disorders (n = 47) and demographically comparable youths with no such lifetime histories (n = 26). They were followed with NP testing and substance involvement interviews at 7 time points spanning 8 years, from ages 16 to 24, on average. After controlling for recent use, age, education, practice effects, and baseline NP functioning, substance use over the 8-year follow-up period significantly predicted performances on tests of memory and attention at Year 8. Additionally, withdrawal symptoms during the follow-up predicted visuospatial and attention scores at Year 8. Findings suggest that use and withdrawal may differentially impact neurocognitive functioning during youth, with heavy use leading to learning, retention, and attentional difficulties, and withdrawal leading to problems with visuospatial functioning. (JINS, 2002, 8, 873–883.)


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu Ma ◽  
Bing Jie ◽  
Dong Yu ◽  
Ling-Ling Li ◽  
Sen Jiang

Abstract Background The life-threatening haemorrhagic complications of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are extremely rare, and only described in isolated cases. This study was designed to comprehensively investigate management of ruptured PAVMs. Methods We retrospectively assessed clinical and imaging data of ruptured PAVMs to summarize incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes following embolisation between January 2008 and January 2021. Results Eighteen of 406 (4.4%) patients with PAVMs developed haemorrhagic complications. Twelve of 18 patients were clinically diagnosed with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Haemorrhagic complications occurred with no clear trigger in all cases. Eight of 18 patients (44.4%) were initially misdiagnosed or had undergone early ineffective treatment. 28 lesions were detected, with 89.3% of them located in peripheral lung. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed indirect signs to indicate ruptured PAVMs in all cases. Lower haemoglobin concentrations were associated with the diameter of afferent arteries in the ruptured lesions. Successful embolotherapy was achieved in all cases. After embolotherapy, arterial oxygen saturation improved and bleeding was controlled (P < 0.05). The mean follow-up time was 3.2 ± 2.5 years (range, 7 months to 10 years). Conclusions Life threatening haemorrhagic complications of PAVMs are rare, they usually occur without a trigger and can be easily misdiagnosed. HHT and larger size of afferent arteries are major risk factors of these complications. CTA is a useful tool for diagnosis and therapeutic guidance for ruptured PAVMs. Embolotherapy is an effective therapy for this life-threatening complication.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 2050313X2110377
Author(s):  
Yasuhito Nakamura ◽  
Kiyoshi Doi ◽  
Syojiro Yamaguchi ◽  
Etsuji Umeda ◽  
Osamu Sakai ◽  
...  

We reported a rare case of spontaneous frank rupture of a small (4 mm) penetrating aortic ulcer in the ascending aorta resulted in catastrophic bleeding. The ulcer only created a pinhole wound in the adventitia without saccular aneurysms, intramural hematomas, or aortic dissections. Notably, the wound could be directly closed because the aortic wall was intact only 5 mm away from the bleeding site. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the 11th postoperative day. After 8 months, follow-up computed tomography showed no abnormality of the aortic wall at the repair site.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuya Kato ◽  
Yoshikazu Ogawa ◽  
Teiji Tominaga

Abstract Background Pregnancy is a known risk factor for pituitary apoplexy, which is life threatening for both mother and child. However, very few clinical interventions have been proposed for managing pituitary apoplexy in pregnancy. Case presentation We describe the management of three cases of pituitary apoplexy during pregnancy and review available literature. Presenting symptoms in our case series were headache and/or visual disturbances, and the etiology in all cases was hemorrhage. Conservative therapy was followed until 34 weeks of gestation, after which babies were delivered by cesarean section with prophylactic bolus hydrocortisone supplementation. Tumor removal was only electively performed after delivery using the transsphenoidal approach. All three patients and their babies had a good clinical course, and postoperative pathological evaluation revealed that all tumors were functional and that they secreted prolactin. Conclusions Although the mechanism of pituitary apoplexy occurrence remains unknown, the most important treatment strategy for pituitary apoplexy in pregnancy remains adequate hydrocortisone supplementation and frequent hormonal investigation. Radiological follow-up should be performed only if clinical symptoms deteriorate, and optimal timing for surgical resection should be discussed by a multidisciplinary team that includes obstetricians and neonatologists.


Author(s):  
Flavia Mattioli ◽  
Chiara Stampatori ◽  
Francesca Righetti ◽  
Emma Sala ◽  
Cesare Tomasi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zai-Qiang Zhang ◽  
Jia-Wang Ding

Abstract Background While the perforation of the atrial wall and aortic sinus after closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD) is rare, it’s life-threatening, with rapid progress and high mortality. To the best of our knowledge, 21 similar cases have been reported since 1976. Case presentation We report a 16-year-old male whose atrial septal defect (ASD) was closed using a 12-mm Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO). Atrial wall and aortic sinus perforation occurred 3 months after transcatheter closure, and the patient was discharged after emergency operation. He was discharged on the 12th postoperative day in good overall condition. Conclusions With this case report, we want to illustrate that although percutaneous closure of ASD is regarded as a routine procedure, we should not forget the potentially lethal complications, especially cardiac erosion. Therefore, we should carefully evaluate the risk of erosion before surgery, and careful lifelong follow-up is needed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeong-Seon Lee ◽  
Joong-Gon Kim ◽  
Soyoung Lee

AbstractChildhood-onset polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a rare and systemic necrotising vasculitis in children affecting small- to medium-sized arteries. To date, there have been only a few reports because of its rarity. Thus, we aimed to investigate the clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment, and long-term outcomes in patients with childhood-onset PAN and to evaluate the usefulness of the paediatric vasculitis activity score (PVAS). We retrospectively analysed the data of nine patients with childhood-onset PAN from March 2003 to February 2020. The median ages at symptom onset, diagnosis, and follow-up duration were 7.6 (3–17.5), 7.7 (3.5–17.6), and 7.0 (1.6–16.3) years, respectively. All patients had constitutional symptoms and skin manifestations, while five exhibited Raynaud’s phenomenon. Organ involvement was observed in one patient. The median PVAS at diagnosis was 7 (range: 2–32). Prednisolone was initially used for induction in all patients, and other drugs were added in cases refractory to prednisolone. All patients survived, but three patients with high PVAS at diagnosis experienced irreversible sequelae, including intracranial haemorrhage and digital amputation. In conclusion, early diagnosis and treatment may minimise sequelae in patients with childhood-onset PAN. This study suggests that high PVAS score at diagnosis may be associated with poor prognosis.


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