Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
09:57

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Published on: September 20, 2024

Fulminant sepsis-associated encephalopathy in two children: serial neuroimaging findings and clinical course

A Kondo1, C Sugiura, Y Fujii

  • 1Division of Child Neurology, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan. holbergs@nifty.com

Neuropediatrics
|February 6, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy can cause severe, rapid brain damage in children, leading to coma and mimicking brain death. Neuroimaging reveals extensive edema and lesions, indicating profound neurological injury.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a serious complication of sepsis.
  • Early recognition and understanding of SAE's neurological impact are crucial for pediatric critical care.

Observation:

  • Two children presented with acute, severe neurological deterioration following sepsis.
  • Clinical presentation included status epilepticus, deep coma, and near brain death.
  • Initial CT scans showed diffuse brain edema, and EEG revealed severe brain dysfunction.

Findings:

  • MRI demonstrated restricted diffusion in basal ganglia and white matter, indicating cytotoxic edema.
  • Serial imaging over months showed progressive, severe lesions in cerebral white matter, cerebellum, and brainstem.
  • MR angiography revealed diminished intracranial arteries, suggesting widespread vascular compromise.

Implications:

  • SAE can lead to devastating, long-term neurological damage in children.
  • Findings suggest a mechanism of severe brain injury due to rapid intracranial pressure elevation, mimicking "respirator brain".
  • Highlights the need for advanced neuroimaging and monitoring in pediatric sepsis cases.

More Related Videos

Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy10:22

Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy

Published on: December 6, 2016

A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis08:46

A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis

Published on: August 12, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology01:26

Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...
Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
Brain Abscess l: Introduction01:26

Brain Abscess l: Introduction

A brain abscess is a focal, intracerebral infection characterized by a localized collection of pus within the brain parenchyma, resulting from microbial invasion and the body’s inflammatory response. It progresses through stages: early and late cerebritis, followed by early and late capsule formation, reflecting tissue destruction, immune response, and eventual encapsulation.Etiology and PathogenesisCausative organisms vary with source and host factors, often involving polymicrobial infections,...
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...
Hepatic Encephalopathy01:29

Hepatic Encephalopathy

DefinitionHepatic encephalopathy is a reversible neurologic syndrome that results from advanced liver dysfunction or portosystemic shunting. It leads to disturbances in cognition, behavior, and motor function due to the brain’s exposure to gut-derived toxins that the liver fails to detoxify.EtiologyThis condition develops either in the setting of acute fulminant hepatitis or progressively during chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Portosystemic shunting—including...
Viral Meningitis01:18

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...