title: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis following pleural empyema owing to Boerhaave's syndrome.
abstract: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is reported in a 14-year-old male patient associated with a pleural empyema caused by an esophageal perforation. During the hospital course, the patient experienced an episode of cardiac arrest, raising the question of hypoxic-ischemic cerebral injury, but the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and clinical course were most consistent with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. After a course of methylprednisolone, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and bilateral chest tube placement, the patient recovered with only mild residual deficits, along with resolution of his MRI findings.
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska, College of Medicine, Omaha, USA.
authors.forename: Bradette Z
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Varilek
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Rhonda R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.forename: Hilary K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Knapp
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D015505:Chest Tubes; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016124:Eikenella corrodens / Q000187:drug effects; D004569:Electroencephalography; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004673:Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000150:complications; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D012151:Resuscitation; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects; D013577:Syndrome; D014678:Veillonella / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008775:Methylprednisolone