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Pre-Chiasmatic, Single Injection of Autologous Blood to Induce Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in a Rat Model
Published on: June 18, 2021
Partly reversible central auditory dysfunction induced by cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage
Ester Ponzetto1, Marco Vinetti, Cécile Grandin
1Departments of Intensive Care.
Journal of Neurosurgery
|August 27, 2013
Summary
A rare case of central auditory dysfunction following cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is presented. This condition, though uncommon, highlights potential auditory pathway impacts from cerebrovascular events.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) can lead to serious neurological complications.
- Cerebral vasospasm is a known complication of SAH, typically affecting major cerebral arteries.
- Central auditory dysfunction is an infrequently reported consequence of SAH and its associated vasospasm.
Observation:
- A 55-year-old woman developed refractory cerebral vasospasm, primarily affecting the right middle cerebral artery (MCA), after aneurysmal SAH.
- The patient subsequently exhibited severe central auditory dysfunction, including nonverbal agnosia and pure word deafness.
- Neuroimaging revealed infarcted areas in the right hippocampus, medial occipital lobe, and thalamus.
Findings:
- Audiometry, speech testing, auditory evoked potentials, functional MRI, and cerebral PET confirmed central auditory dysfunction.
- Despite initial severe symptoms, the patient showed partial recovery of auditory function over six months.
- Persistent symptoms included hyperacusis, tinnitus, and amusia, suggesting complex and lasting effects on auditory processing.
Implications:
- This case underscores that central auditory dysfunction can occur after SAH, even with predominantly unilateral cerebral lesions.
- The findings suggest that thalamocortical pathways and interthalamic connections may play a role in auditory processing following unilateral vascular insults.
- Further research is warranted to understand the mechanisms and potential treatments for auditory dysfunction post-SAH.
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