title: Early decompressive hemicraniectomy in fulminant herpes simplex encephalitis.
abstract: Herpes encephalitis can be a life-threatening condition, despite early instauration of acyclovir treatment. In particular patients may succumb to rapidly progressive cerebral oedema. We report a 66-year patient with a Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of 6 and incipient uncus herniation of the right temporal lobe on the third day. Decompressive hemicraniectomy was immediately performed. The long-term outcome was satisfactory with unassisted gait and a Barthel Index score of 70 after 9 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Luxembourg-City, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maraite
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mataigne
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pieri
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Diederich
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D056424:Decompressive Craniectomy; D020803:Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome