Transient symptomatic vasospasm following antero-mesial temporal lobectomy for refractory epilepsy.
BACKGROUND
Arterial vasospasm has rarely been reported following temporal lobectomy for intractable epilepsy.


METHODS
A 31-year-old patient presented with a global aphasia 2 days after a left dominant anteromesial temporal lobectomy for intractable epilepsy. Magnetic resonance imaging on 5th post-operative day revealed severe narrowing of M1 segment of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) and Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography an increased velocity of the MCA that suggested a severe vasospasm. The patient received continuous intravenous hyperhydratation and nimodipine; aphasia improved within 24 h and resolved completely within 6 weeks, associated with velocity reduction on control TCD.


CONCLUSIONS
Transient vasospasm is a likely underestimated cause of focal deficit following temporomesial resection that deserves appropriate treatment.
Department of Neurosurgery, Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne, Paris, France.
E
E
Mandonnet
F
F
Chassoux
O
O
Naggara
F X
FX
Roux
B
B
Devaux
D000328:Adult; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020301:Vasospasm, Intracranial / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology