Journal of neurosurgical anesthesiology
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Apr 2007
Midline-shift corresponds to the amount of brain edema early after hemispheric stroke--an MRI study in rats.
Vasogenic brain edema formation is a serious complication in hemispheric stroke. Its space-occupying effect can lead to midline-shift (MLS), cerebral herniation, and death. Clinical studies indicate that quantification of MLS can predict cerebral herniation and subsequent death at early time-points, even before clinical deterioration becomes apparent. ⋯ No significant correlation could be detected between MLS and clinical scores (r=0.26; P>0.05). MLS thus quantitatively reflects the amount of vasogenic brain edema within the affected hemisphere at early time-points. MLS quantification can be regarded as an easily assessable and valid global quantitative parameter for brain edema and thus might facilitate the surgical and nonsurgical management of edema in acute stroke patients.