title: [Decompressive hemicraniectomy for malignant middle cerebral artery infarction. Report of two cases].
abstract: Malignant middle cerebral territory infarction represents 5 to 10% of all brain infarctions. Its mortality is 80%, due to brain herniation and it is not reduced by medical treatment. Decompressive hemicraniectomy reduces mortality to 12%, and the subsequent quality of life of patients is acceptable. We report two male patients aged 61 and 54 years, with a malignant middle cerebral territory infarction who were treated with decompressive hemicraniectomy. After two years of follow up, both patients are self-sufficient and live at home with their families.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurología, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital Clinico de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Patricio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mellado T
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castillo F
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campos P
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bugedo T
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dougnac L
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andresen H
mesh_terms: D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed