Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery in Children Through Novel Biomarkers and Enhanced Localization
Published on: September 20, 2024
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a patient with a Chiari I malformation
David R Hansberry1, Nitin Agarwal, Krystal L Tomei
1Department of Neurological Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
Background:
The authors describe a unique case of a patient who developed posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) following postoperative treatment of a Chiari I malformation.
Case Decsription:
A 25-year-old female presented with complaints of left upper and lower extremity paresthesias and gait disturbances. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and cervical spine showed a Chiari I malformation with tonsillar descent beyond the level of the C1 lamina. She underwent a suboccipital craniectomy and C1 laminectomy with cerebellar tonsillar cauterization and duraplasty. Postoperatively, an MRI showed bilateral acute infarcts of the cerebellar vermis. She was initially treated for cerebellar ischemia with hypertensive therapy with a subsequent decline in her neurologic status and generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Further workup showed evidence of PRES. After weaning pressors, the patient had a significant progressive improvement in her mental status.
Conclusion:
Although the mechanism of PRES remains controversial given its diverse clinical presentation, several theories implicate hypertension and steroid use as causative agents.
More Related Videos
14:59Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus
Published on: October 14, 2022
03:13Author Spotlight: A Single-Entry Point Endoscopic Intraventricular Approach for Third Ventriculostomy and Pineal Biopsy
Published on: June 28, 2024
Related Concept Videos
Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology
Hepatic Encephalopathy
Increased Intracranial Pressure ll: Pathophysiology
Increased Intracranial Pressure l: Introduction
Encephalitis l: Introduction
Cerebral Edema l: Introduction