Respiratory failure caused by Chiari I malformation with associated syringomyelia.
The authors report a case of a 38-year-old male with a Chiari I malformation and syringomyelia that presented with acute respiratory distress. Pulmonary function testing was consistent with respiratory muscle weakness. A suboccipital craniectomy and C1, 2, 3 laminectomies were performed on an emergent basis. Postoperatively the patient had significant improvement in his respiratory status associated with a reduction in the size of the syringomyelia on follow-up imaging.
Gentry
J B
JB
Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Gonzalez
J M
JM
Blacklock
J B
JB
D000328:Adult; D001139:Arnold-Chiari Malformation / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology*; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome