Cerebellar infarction

Surgical indications

Abstract

During the last 6 months, we encountered 3 male patients with cerebellar infarction who recovered well following neurosurgical decompressive therapy. In the cases of patients No. 1 (59-year-old) and No. 3 (79-year-old), at 5 days after the onset, their consciousness level decreased to J.C.S. IIIrd grade and brain herniation was found to be progressing. In these cases, external ventricular drainage was effective. In the case of patient NO. 2 (61-year-old), the neurological findings were worsening, and a CT scan demonstrated a tight posterior fossa. We performed decompresion the patient was surgery by extended suboccipital craniectomy, and the patient was discharged quite soon after with full recovery. It is usually difficult to make an accurate diagnosis in patients with cerebellar infarction because they do not display typical symptoms, signs and severity. Nevertheless, neurosurgical decompressive therapy gives them a chance of following a good clinical course.
It is very important therefore to observe the changes in neurological findings carefully, including the consciousness level, while serial examinations by CT scan can provide us with useful information.