Long survival following bacterial meningitis-associated brain destruction.
This report describes the brain autopsy of a boy who at age 4(1/2) years experienced an episode of fulminant Haemophilus influenzae type b bacterial meningitis, resulting in massive brain destruction and the clinical signs of brain death. However, medical intervention maintained him for an additional two decades. Subsequent autopsy revealed a calcified intracranial spherical structure weighing 750 g and consisting of a calcified shell containing grumous material and cystic spaces with no recognizable neural elements grossly or microscopically. This case represents an example of long survival of brain death with a living body.
Repertinger
Susan
S
Department of Pathology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE 68131, USA.
Fitzgibbons
William P
WP
Omojola
Mathew F
MF
Brumback
Roger A
RA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001926:Brain Death / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019741:Haemophilus influenzae type b; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy