Acute small fiber neuropathy following Mycoplasma infection: a rare variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a well-described condition involving the peripheral nervous system. The most well-known form of this disease is acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. Among the different variants of GBS described in the literature, the sensory variant is scantily recognized.

Brachial plexopathy associated with Q fever: case report and review of the literature.

Neurologic manifestations of Q fever are predominantly central. We report the case of a 35-year-old man with recurrent fever and motor and sensory deficits in the right C5, C6 territories. Electrophysiological findings were consistent with a right upper-trunk brachial plexopathy or with suprascapular and axillary neuropathies.

Predictors of extubation failure in myasthenic crisis.

Background: The ideal timing for extubation of patients with myasthenic crisis (MC) and the factors that influence extubation outcome are not well established.

Objectives: To assess the risk of extubation failure in MC and to identify predictors of extubation failure.

Design: We reviewed consecutive episodes of MC treated with endotracheal intubation from January 1, 1987, through December 31, 2006.

Noninvasive ventilation in myasthenic crisis.

Background: Myasthenic crisis (MC) is often associated with prolonged intubation and with respiratory complications.

Objectives: To assess predictors of ventilation duration and to compare the effectiveness of endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation (ET-MV) with bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) noninvasive ventilation in MC.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Ophthalmoplegia in tiger snake envenomation.

Herein, we present the case of a 67-year-old grazier who was bitten by a tiger snake and developed coagulopathy and respiratory distress. The patient required intubation and ventilation in intensive care. There was delayed detection of snake envenomation and administration of antivenom.

An unusual case of hypertensive encephalopathy.

This case report describes a 59-year-old male who presented with headaches, seizures and hypertension followed by coma. Initial magnetic resonance imaging showed T2 hyperintensities typical of Hypertensive Encephalopathy (HE), the follow up scans showed diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) hyperintensities which is a rare finding in HE. DWI hyperintensities are typically suggestive of areas of cytotoxic damage, and the presence of these changes makes this case unusual, since the pathogenesis of HE is usually due to vasogenic oedema rather than cytotoxic damage of the brain tissue.