Discharge management of an adolescent female with posterior fossa syndrome: a case report.
Posterior Fossa Syndrome (PFS) is a constellation of neurological, behavioural and psychological symptoms occurring in pediatric patients following surgical resection of posterior fossa brain tumours. The clinical presentation of PFS typically includes cerebellar mutism, bulbar dysfunction, ataxia, cranial nerve palsies, flaccid hemiparesis and emotional lability. The intent of this paper is to (a) provide an overview of PFS, (b) explore the case of a 16-year-old adolescent who presented with PFS following surgical resection of a fourth ventricle medulloblastoma, (c) reveal the complexity of her discharge, and (d) describe a discharge management framework used by the authors to guide the discharge process from a general pediatric unit in a tertiary care hospital.
Pearlman
Lisa S
LS
Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre. lisa.pearlman@lhsc.on.ca
McVittie
Alison
A
Hunter
Kerry
K
D020434:Abducens Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000293:Adolescent; D001259:Ataxia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002551:Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D020546:Fourth Ventricle; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000209:etiology; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D009123:Muscle Hypotonia / Q000209:etiology; D009155:Mutism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D013577:Syndrome