Gülşen Çığşar

Pneumocephalus and Pneumorrhachis After Spinal Surgery.

Summary Background Pneumocephalus and pneumorrhachis are rare complications of neurosurgery. When a closed system such as the head and spinal area get injuried, it becomes open and the air can come in through that opening. In this case, we present a case of pneumocephalus and pneumorrhachis after spinal fusion surgery. Case Report Herein we present a case of diagnosis and treatment of pneumocephalus and pneumorrhachis after spinal fusion surgery. Conclusions Our patient developed postoperative pneumocephalus and pneumorrhachis as a late complication secondary to an infection. We wanted it to be considered as an important problem.

Traumatic laceration of the portal vein.

Despite its relatively protected position, the liver is the most frequently injured solid intra-abdominal organ. 1 Most liver injuries can be managed conservatively, but about 5% to 10% require urgent laparotomy, usually when the mechanism of injury involves a vehicle accident and hemodynamic instability persists, in spite of 40 mL/kg of blood transfusion. 2 , 3 In particular, grades IV and V liver injuries may pose a challenge to the surgeon trying to control hemorrhage, the leading cause of mortality. 4 Traumatic injuries to the portal vein are rare but devastating. The mortality rate for portal vein injury ranges from 50% to 70%. A recent study of portal triad injuries has highighted the higher mortality rates associated with combination injuries involving multiple portal triad components, especially those that include portal vein injury. 5 This case study describes a unique case of relatively minor trauma in a child resulting in portal triad injury, sudden demise, and surgical repair.

Accelerated Hypertension after Venlafaxine Usage

Venlafaxine is the first antidepressant that acts via inhibiting serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake. Hypertension is observed in doses exceeding 300 mg/day and is the most feared complication. We report a patient with accelerated hypertension after venlafaxine use observed at a dose of 150 mg/day. A 23-year-old patient with symptoms of insomnia, depression, anhedonia, fatigue admitted our clinic. Venlafaxine at a dose of 75 mg/day was initiated after he was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. After 5 months, venlafaxine dose was uptitrated to 150 mg/day due to inadequate response to drug. After using venlafaxine for ten months at the dose of 150 mg/day, he admitted our clinic with headache and epistaxis. He was hospitalized after his blood pressure was measured as 210/170 mmHg. No secondary causes for hypertension were found, and venlafaxine treatment was considered possible etiologic factor. After stopping venlafaxine treatment, his blood pressure was reverted back to normal limits. While mild elevation of blood pressure could be observed after venlafaxine treatment, this case shows that accelerated hypertension with a diastolic blood pressure rise above 120 mmHg could be observed at relatively low doses of venlafaxine. Close monitoring of blood pressure is necessary after initiation of treatment, as accelerated hypertension could cause endorgan damage with potentially catastrophic results.