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Background: The present study explores the frequency, diagnostic approach, and therapeutic management of cerebral vasospasm in a cohort of children with moderate-to-severe traumatic and nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study performed over a 10-year period, from January 2010 to December 2019. Children aged from one month to 18 years who were admitted to the pediatric or adult intensive care unit with a diagnosis of SAH were eligible. Cerebral vasospasm could be suspected by clinical signs or transcranial Doppler (TCD) criteria (mean blood flow velocity > 120 cm/s or an increase in mean blood flow velocity by > 50 cm/s within 24 h) and then confirmed on cerebral imaging (with a reduction to less than 50% of the caliber of the cerebral artery). Results: Eighty patients aged 8.6 years (3.3–14.8 years, 25–75th centiles) were admitted with an initial Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8 (4–12). SAH was nontraumatic in 21 (26%) patients. A total of 14/80 patients (18%) developed cerebral vasospasm on brain imaging on day 6 (5–10) after admission, with a predominance of nontraumatic SAH (12/14). The diagnosis of cerebral vasospasm was suspected on clinical signs and/or significant temporal changes in TCD monitoring (7 patients) and then confirmed on cerebral imaging. Thirteen of 14 patients with vasospasm were successfully treated using a continuous intravenous infusion of milrinone. The Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category score at discharge from the intensive care unit was comparable between children with vasospasm (score of 2 [1–4]) vs. children without vasospasm (score of 4 [2–4]) (p = 0.09). Conclusions: These findings indicate that cerebral vasospasm exists in pediatrics, particularly after nontraumatic SAH. The use of TCD and milrinone may help in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of cerebral vasospasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vasospasm may occur following intracranial tumor resection but is uncommon following resection of tumors in the posterior fossa. Methods: Case report. Results: Here, we report an unusual pediatric case of symptomatic cerebral vasospasm following resection of a posterior fossa medulloblastoma in a 10-year-old child. CT angiogram and serial Transcranial Doppler (TCD) studies confirmed the presence of vasospasm and response to hemodynamic augmentation therapy, resulting in favorable outcome. Conclusion: This case illustrates an unusual complication of posterior fossa tumor resection, and the potential utility of TCD studies in the detection and management of vasospasm in pediatric neurocritical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]