2002 Volume 13 Issue 3 Pages 181-185
There is a potential risk of sacrificing the cortical vein during neurosurgical operations, especially in the interhemispheric or subtemporal approach. Impaired cortical vein might cause venous circulatory disturbances resulting in venous infarction. In this article, we reviewed the management and results of 9 cases with postoperative venous infarction.
We have encountered 8 cases with postoperative venous infarction (0.3%) during the past 5 years. The series is composed of 3 male and 5 female, ranged in age 43 to 76 year-old (a mean age of 58.1 year-old), and consisted of five brain tumors, one cavernoma, one dural AVF, one trigeminal neuralgia. Initial symptoms occurred intraoperatively in two, 0 day after the operation in three, 1 day in one, 3 days in one, and 4 days in one case. Symptoms were intraoperative brain edema in two cases, disorientation in one, cerebellar sign in one, hemiparesis in one, aphasia in two, headache in one. Two cases required surgical intervention. Results were good outcome in 6 and fair in two cases.
In conclusion, there are two types in postoperative venous infarction; severely and gradually progressed. The former needs immediate treatment including operation, and the prevention of the ongoing venous thrombosis is substantial in the latter .
