Stereotactic Brainstem Biopsy in a Patient with Coagulopathy of Unclear Etiology: Case Report

C. Beynon; T. Hoffmann; W. Wick; A. W. Unterberg; K. L. Kiening

doi:10.1055/s-0031-1297989

min - Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery, Table of Contents

Minim Invasive Neurosurg 2011; 54(05/06): 268-270
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1297989

Case Report

Stereotactic Brainstem Biopsy in a Patient with Coagulopathy of Unclear Etiology: Case Report

Authors

C. Beynon

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
T. Hoffmann

²Institute of Hemostasis and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
W. Wick

³Department of Neurooncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
A. W. Unterberg

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
K. L. Kiening

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany

⁴Division of Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany

Abstract

Background:

Parenchymal hemorrhage is one of the most feared risks of stereotactic brain biopsies potentially resulting in neurological deficits or even a fatal outcome. Patients with disorders of the coagulation system are at particular risk, so identifying these is one of the main tasks prior to surgery. Some patients may have a bleeding tendency despite normal laboratory values of the hemostatic system.

Case Report:

We report the case of a patient with coagulopathy of unclear etiology undergoing a stereotactic brainstem biopsy.

Conclusion:

A medication scheme with tranexamic acid and desmopressin effectively decreased the patient’s bleeding time in vivo and the procedure was carried out without complications.

Key words

intracranial tumor - anaplastic astrocytoma - stereotaxy - presurgical planning - coagulopathy

Full Text

References

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