Computed tomography may demonstrate pseudosubarachnoid hemorrhage in diffuse cerebral edema after cardiorespiratory arrest.
OBJECTIVE
To report the cases of two children who died from diffuse cerebral edema after cardiorespiratory arrest and who had radiologic findings of subarachnoid hemorrhage on computed tomography, the presence of which was excluded on subsequent postmortem examination.


METHODS
Case notes, clinical records, and postmortem reports of two children who became brain stem dead after cardiorespiratory arrest.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiologic mimics of subarachnoid hemorrhage have been reported in the adult literature and are termed pseudosubarachnoid hemorrhage. A diagnosis of pseudosubarachnoid hemorrhage, rather than true subarachnoid hemorrhage, should be considered in the context of diffuse cerebral edema after cardiorespiratory arrest. Interpretation of the radiologic finding of subarachnoid hemorrhage in a child after a prolonged cardiac arrest should be cautious to avoid unnecessary and deleterious management and investigation for aneurysms.
Wong
Leonie C
LC
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK.
Schelvan
Chris
C
Mitchell
L Ann
LA
Inwald
David Philip
DP
D000293:Adolescent; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D003422:Critical Care; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed