Surgical Management of an Unusual Case of Malignant Middle Cerebral Artery Infarction

Abstract

Decompressive craniectomy for uncontrolled elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) from various etiologies including trauma and strokes is a topic that is gaining attention from many clinicians today. Decompressive craniectomies have been performed for the last century; however, only recently randomized studies have confirmed the beneficial and meaningful neurological outcomes of craniectomies. This case report presents an unusual case of an ischemic stroke of undetermined etiology, that morphed into a malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction, causing a life-threatening massive cerebral edema requiring a rapid neurosurgical intervention in the form of a decompressive craniectomy.




J Med Cases. 2013;4(4):242-246
doi: https://doi.org/10.4021/jmc1030w