Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in the setting of trauma: A case report

Reports of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in the setting of trauma and acute care surgery are scarce. PRES presents rapidly with a variety of symptoms including headaches, visual disturbances, altered consciousness, and seizures. It is associated with acute hypertensive episodes. PRES is diagnosed with a specific neuroimaging pattern and a constellation of clinical symptoms. This case report presents two traumatically injured patients with one confirmed case of PRES and the other with a potential case of PRES. The diagnosis was made through neuroimaging showing patchy T2 and diffusion hyperintensity in the periphery of both occipital lobes and adjacent cerebellar hemispheres on MRI in one case. The other case highlights extensive stable white matter disease without evidence of acute infarct on MRI, as well as diminished attenuation within the cerebral white matter in the occipital lobes on CT scan. There was resolution of visual symptoms in one patient while the other patient's neurologic status did not allow for evaluation of symptom resolution. This report aims to emphasize the possibility of PRES in trauma patients with a specific pattern of neuroimaging and clinical symptoms, and to increase the index of suspicion in acute care providers.