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Background: Most patients with World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) grade 5 subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) have poor outcomes. Accurate assessment of prognosis is important for treatment decisions and conversations with families regarding goals of care. Unjustified pessimism may lead to “self-fulfilling prophecy,” where withdrawal of life-sustaining measures (WLSM) is invariably followed by death. Methods: We performed a cohort study involving consecutive patients with WFNS grade 5 SAH to identify variables with >= 90% and >= 95% positive predictive value (PPV) for poor outcome (1-year modified Rankin Score >= 4), as well as findings predictive of WLSM. Results: Of 140 patients, 38 (27%) had favorable outcomes. Predictors with >= 95% PPV for poor outcome included unconfounded 72-hour Glasgow Coma Scale motor score = 1 pupillary light reflex (PLR) at 24 hours, and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) score of >= 20 (volume >= 54.6 ml). Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) volume >= 53 ml had PPV of 92%. Variables associated with WLSM decisions included a poor motor score (p < 0.0001) and radiographic evidence of infarction (p = 0.02). Conclusions: We identified several early predictors with high PPV for poor outcome. Of these, lack of improvement in motor score during the initial 72 hours had the greatest potential for confounding from “self-fulfilling prophecy.” Absence of PLR at 24 hours, IVH score >= 20, and ICH volume >= 53 ml predicted poor outcome without a statistically significant effect on WLSM decisions. More research is needed to validate prognostic variables in grade 5 SAH, especially among patients who do not undergo WLSM.

Orbital lymphaticovenous malformations (LVM) are congenital vascular lesions that are typically infiltrative in nature. There have been reports of orbital LVMs extending intracranially through orbital fissures, but there have been no reports of intradural extension that we are aware of. We present the case of an otherwise healthy 25-year-old female with an orbital LVM extending intradurally. Imaging revealed an intraorbital lesion extending through a bony defect in the medial orbital roof to the orbitofrontal cortex. A modified orbitozygomatic approach was used to obliterate this lesion. A durotomy was created to examine the intradural extension of the lesion, which appeared as a lobulated red vascular structure emanating from the dura along the roof of the orbit. This was gradually and comprehensively bipolar coagulated and subsequently obliterated. Neurosurgical and ophthalmological collaboration was used in the surgical management of this case. In summary, we report the first case of an orbital LVM extending intradurally, and provide pre and post-operative imaging as well as images captured through the intraoperative microscope. Through this case we highlight the importance of an interdisciplinary approach when managing orbital LVMs, as both ophthalmological and neurosurgical expertise were critical in the success of the surgery.

A 42-year-old farmer was lifting a hay bale and experienced a sudden onset of sharp pain radiating down his left leg. Over the ensuing week, the pain became less pronounced, but was replaced with a progressive left greater than right leg numbness, foot weakness, and urinary hesitancy. He presented to his local hospital, where he was initially managed conservatively, and then transferred to our institution for consultation after an MR lumbar spine was completed. On physical exam, he had grade 1/5 weakness of left and right dorsi- and plantar flexion. Sensory testing showed a moderate decrease in pinprick sensation in his left leg from L1 to S1 dermatomes. He was symmetrically hyporeflexic with grade 1 knee reflexes and absent ankle jerks. Peri-anal sensation was intact, but there was moderately reduced rectal tone. The remainder of his neurological exam was normal.